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I Call You Friend
A Liturgy of Welcome

Designed by Heather Luehrs and Ann Ito, UCC DM

[Especially good for groups, conferences, retreats, etc.]

Leader: Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck
him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he
wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is
breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless
me.”

So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but
Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have
prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”
But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he
blessed him. Genesis 32:24-30

Each person shares his or her name and where he or she is from—and the community responds:

We bless you.

All: Opening Prayer

Gentle God, You have gathered Your friends together on this day to share our names, our lives, our experiences, our hopes and dreams. Grant us grace in our communications and deliberations as we move forward with our work and refreshment as we join each other in sharing and play. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.

Reading: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends….” John 15:12-16

Reflection:Please take a few minutes of silence to reflect on friends in your life: friends who play special roles in your life; friends who share your daily and ordinary journey; friends who live apart and share on special occasions; friends who are lost or departed.

The community shares names (only) of friends to hold in prayer.

Leader: Loving Friend, Hear and bless these sacred names of our friends, those whom we have shared out loud and those whose names who remain in the silence of our hearts.

All: Bless these friends, Amen.

All: Prayer of Sending Forth:

We are all on a journey together…
To the center of the universe…
Look deep
Into yourself, into another.
It is to a center which is everywhere
That is the holy journey…
First you need only look:
Notice and honor the radiance of
Everything about you…
Play in this universe. Tend
All these shining things around you:
The smallest plant, the creatures and
objects in your care.
Be gentle and nurture. Listen…
As we experience and accept
All that we really are…
We grow in care.
We begin to embrace others
As ourselves, and learn to live
As one among many…

Anne Hillman

Note: Anne Hillman’s prayer is published without her permission.

From Jo Clare Hartsig, Ed., A2A Study Guide