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Worship Program
Worship styles vary among churches. Below are suggested components that can be incorporated into your regular worship order.
Scripture Reading
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18 NIV).
Responsive Reading (Matthew 25:34-40 CEV)
Leader: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.
All: When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.'
Leader: Then the ones who please the Lord will ask,
All: 'When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?'
Leader: The king will answer, 'Whenever you did it for any of my people no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.'"
Leader: Brothers and Sisters, people are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and in prison. How will you respond?
All: "Whenever you did it for any of my people no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."
Meditation
Use the Web links listed on this Web site to explore poverty for your state and county. You might also consider contacting your state Baptist convention office and your associational office for facts for your area.
While background music is playing, enlist children, youth, and adults in your congregation to read facts about poverty.
- 37 million Americans live in a state of poverty, hunger, and hardship. (www.povertyusa.org)
- Children represent 35.2 percent of all people in poverty. (www.povertyusa.org)
- In 2004, the number of Americans living in extreme poverty reached the highest level on record since 1975. (www.povertyusa.org)
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