Liturgy of Lament (Mental Health)

This semester I focused on the intersection of lament, anger, and mental health through the lense of “You Can Talk to God Like That” by Abby Norman & “All Who are Weary” by Emmy Kegler. What follows are liturgical elements that create the structure for a worship service. My Collaborative Learning congregation has been using resources from Sanctified Art. Sanctified Art provides words for worship, poetry, artwork, and sermon materials for congregations to build upon. I modeled this resource off their words for worship by including Call to Worship, Confession and Forgiveness, Prayer of the day, Offering Prayer, and Benediction, as well as some suggested texts as we dig into the focus of lament and mental health. 

In a culture that celebrates capitalism and workism, and frequently induces burnout, this order of worship invites the worshiping community to rest. This service reminds the community of God’s presence, and names some of the real concerns that are often left unnamed by the Church. 

I also imagine this service including a time of “sacred space”, during the prayers of the people. In our congregation, “sacred space” is something that requires movement in the worship space, or work on a collective project. For example, I’m envisioning prayer stations around the room that give space for reflection. (eg. candle lighting, music, sticky note prayers, etc) This time could also include Stephen Minister’s offering personal prayers and anointing with oil. 

In short, my vision for this service is one that allows everyone to come as they are and lay their burdens down. Trusting that this community will see them in their full identity and wrap each other in the love of God.

Call to Worship:

L: The savior did not say, “come to me, all who are faithful, all who are righteous, all who have proven themselves worthy…

P: Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

L: Jesus’ words are not meant to fix us, or make the pain go away, and yet these words give us something to cling to when the pressures of the world are bearing down upon us. They remind us that we are in need of rest.

P: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

L: We come together today, weary from the journey. Longing for more than empty platitudes, longing for support and understanding, longing for prayer, longing for community.

P: “Come to me all who are weary”

L: In the waters of Baptism, in the bread and wine of Communion, and in every place God finds us this day, God bends down and whispers:

P: “Come to me.”

Confession & Forgiveness:

L: Blessed be the Holy Trinity, + one God,

who calls us beloved children, 

who hears our cries,

who wraps us in love. Amen

Let us come before God in prayer.

Silence for reflection

God of Love, 

P: You knit us together in the womb, you placed the stars in the skies, you formed us from the earth, and you said that it was very good. Yet we forget your love for us in this world. Our minds convince us that we are not worthy. Doubts creep in and tell us that we are inadequate. In the midst of sharing our sadness we feel compelled to remind ourselves how good we have it, instead of fully feeling our emotions. Forgive us. Open our hearts to your promises in our lives. Remind us that our worth is not determined by material possessions or outside expectations. When we turn away, O God, assure us that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Amen. 

L: People of God, 

“Be not afraid. Be not afraid of being honest with how your mind spins.

Be not ashamed of worrying in a world that is sometimes truly scary.

Be not afraid of being afraid.”

Your sins have been forgiven through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May God, Creator, + Redeemer, Sustainer strengthen and comfort you this day, and always. Amen.

Gathering Hymn: Christ Be Our Light – ELW 715

Prayer of the Day:

Comforting God, 

You know the pain and suffering we experience in this world. Guide us in our interactions with others that we might help ease the burdens of those in our community wrestling with grief, anger, depression, anxiety, or any burden that is weighing on them this day. Open our hearts to your Word today that we might receive grace and share it with the world, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Focal Scripture Ideas:

Psalm 22:1-11

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;

    and by night, but find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,

    enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 In you our ancestors trusted;

    they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 To you they cried, and were saved;

    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm, and not human;

    scorned by others, and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock at me;

    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;

8 “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—

    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb;

    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.

10 On you I was cast from my birth,

    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,

    for trouble is near

    and there is no one to help.

Genesis 16 (God who Sees)

7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Now you have conceived and shall bear a son;

    you shall call him Ishmael,[a]

    for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.

12 He shall be a wild ass of a man,

with his hand against everyone,

    and everyone’s hand against him;

and he shall live at odds with all his kin.”

13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El-roi”;[b] for she said, “Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?”[c] 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi;[d] it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him[e] Ishmael.

Offering Prayer:

God, our comfort and our strength, bless our offerings and renew our spirits. As you call the faithful to courage in these days, we hope to rise to the occasion. Where you ask us to endure, bring us companionship in the struggle. Where you ask us to share what we have, may our hearts overflow with generosity. Where you ask us to open ourselves to radical change, make us brave and wild with imagination. For your Kindom, enable us to live the love we desire. Amen. 

Benediction:

L: May God meet you today on your journey for justice in this world. 

Whatever obstacles stand in the way of peace, they will crumble before love. 

And so let us press on together,

shouldering grief in community,

pursuing wisdom with patience and urgency, 

and seeking justice through the Spirit of Christ alive in us. 

God will sustain us and hope will not disappoint. 

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Sources

Call to Worship, Confession and Forgiveness, & Prayer of the Day adapted from You Can Talk to God Like That by Abby Norman and All Who are Weary by Emmy Kegler

Offering Prayer & Benediction adapted from enfleshed.com

Scripture and Music from Sundays & Seasons