Wholehearted Thankfulness

A Founder’s Day Litany Leader On this day, we pause to remember, reflect, reclaim, and recommit. We gather in your holy temple to worship you for your steadfast love and faithfulness to us, your children who bear witness under the banner of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. People We give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole hearts. Leader With thankful hearts, we remember the life, ministry, and vision of the founder of our church, your servant, Bishop Richard Allen, born a slave yet his freedom bought by his will, determination, giftedness, and hard work. His spirit set free years before through the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s grace and mercy. Whom the son sets free is free indeed. People We remember and we give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole hearts. Leader While, we make no claim to be the one, true church, the best, or even the greatest, we give you thanks for this African Methodist Episcopal Church, a faithful part of the Church Universal founded by Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. We reflect on the rich legacy, which we have inherited from the leaders and countless dedicated members across the globe who you called to bear witness to your light and love. For the institutions, which they built, the lives, which they changed, the sacrifices, which they made, we are thankful. Reflecting on this heritage, which has been gifted to us, we worship you as the way making and miracle working God who is worthy of our praise and our service. People We reflect and give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole hearts. Leader Where we have strayed, God return us to the path of righteousness. When we falter, please hear our cries and increase our strength of soul. When we would hesitate, make excuse, or say no to your call, remind us that your call is not dependent on our worthiness but on our willingness. We reclaim the call to live lives worthy of the name, “A liberating and reconciling people.” People We reclaim our name and give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole hearts. Leader God, all you have created you called “good.” Yet sin and evil seek to contaminate and destroy. Haughtiness, greed, and the false belief that the creatures can be the Creator have wreaked havoc in our communities, countries, in creation, and even in the church. We hear these words, “For though the Lord is high, God regards the lowly; but the haughty God perceives from far away.” We also hear your call to us to holiness, both personal and social, that we might be partners with you in justice and peace, not because you need us; but, because you love us and have chosen us. All We recommit our whole selves to your purpose, knowing your purpose will be fulfilled. Your steadfast love endures forever. Your name be praised, hallelujah and Amen. By Rev. Garland F. Pierce, Executive Director, AMEC Department of Christian Education Inspired by Psalm 138 (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C)