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This litany may be
used during
congregational
worship, women's
organization events
or meeting, or at
any other times when
women and girls are
gathered. It is
framed by a leader's
voice and has nine
opportunities for
other voices. Be
creative. For
example, two
grandmothers, a
group of young
girls, or five
sisters can serve as
a voice.
Leader:
Lord of all that is
good, we celebrate
and give thanks this
day for the examples
of bold you have
given us through
ordinary women like
us. You have shown
us in every
situation and time
women who have
responded to your
call in bold ways —
quiet and unnoticed,
demanding and
commanding, planned
or spontaneous,
trusting or in doubt
— they all have been
bold for us to see.
Thank you, Lord, for
bold eyes to see
what you have done.
Voice:
For the bold
devotion of Anna,
who stayed in the
temple for years
until that moment of
praising you and
telling all about
the child who would
bring redemption.
All: Thank you, Lord, for
bold eyes to see
what you have done.
Voice: For
the bold wisdom of
Tirzah and her
sisters, who used
their gifts to stand
together and make a
request that would
change an injustice
on behalf of their
community.
All: Thank you,
Lord, for bold eyes
to see what you have
done.
Voice: For
the bold trust of
Hagar, who named you
El-roi, God of
seeing, and
continued to believe
what you had
promised.
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Voice: For
the bold defiance of
Esther, who was
willing to go
against the law and
authority to save
the lives of her
people.
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Voice: For
the bold
determination of the
sick woman who made
her way through the
crowd, touched
Jesus, and was made
well so that the
community would
believe.
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Voice:
For
the bold choice of
Philip's daughters,
who chose to spread
the gospel and
encourage the
Christian community
rather than choose a
traditional way of
life.
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Voice: For
the bold
encouragement of
Eunice and Lois, who
passed on the faith
and hope for
generations to come.
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Voice: For
the bold dedication
of Mary and Mary
Magdalene, for being
living examples of
faithful followers
all the way to the
cross.
All: Thank you,
Lord, for bold eyes
to see what you have
done.
Leader:
There are bold women
in our families,
homes, schools,
congregation, and
places of work and
play whom we have
not seen. Whom do we
celebrate and thank
God for today? Name
her aloud and let us
thank God for her
bold witness.
(All assembled
may speak the names
of bold women aloud.)
All: Thank
you, Lord, for bold
eyes to see what you
have done.
Leader:
For the example of
bold women
everywhere, O Lord,
we give you thanks
and praise. Let
their examples of
boldness move us to
find our boldness
and give us bold
eyes to see it in
others as we serve
you and all
creation.
All: Thank
you, Lord! Alleluia!
This litany was
written by Valora K
Starr, associate for
programs for Women
of the ELCA in the
areas of global
education and
evangelism &
discipleship.
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