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A Litany to Celebrate God's Gift of Bold 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.
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.
Voice: For
the bold trust of
Hagar, who named you
El-roi, God of
seeing, and
continued to believe
what you had
promised.
Voice: For
the bold defiance of
Esther, who was
willing to go
against the law and
authority to save
the lives of her
people.
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.
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.
Voice: For
the bold
encouragement of
Eunice and Lois, who
passed on the faith
and hope for
generations to come.
Voice: For
the bold dedication
of Mary and Mary
Magdalene, for being
living examples of
faithful followers
all the way to the
cross. 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.)
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. 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. |