A unique need a church sometimes has is a litany, dedication, or responsive reading at the beginning of a pastor search process.  Here is one I wrote for use at our church that may be a help to yours.

Charge to the Pastor Search Team (PST)

Pastor: As an elected member of the search team for Forest Hills Baptist Church, do you accept the responsibility given to you by God and this church membership?

Search Team: We accept this responsibility.  

Pastor: Do you commit to being faithful in prayer, holy in your Christian walk, and dedicated in your sense of purpose?

Search Team: We make this commitment. 

Pastor: Do you promise to strive for unity in your decisions, to represent the congregation’s trust in you, and to seek God’s will for his direction?

Search team: We make this promise.

Pastor: Do you seek the goal of confidentiality in matters regarding the search process to protect the church’s relationship with whom God calls as its next Shepherd?

Search Team: We seek this goal. 

Pastor: Will you dedicate yourselves to meet regularly, keep the congregation informed, and stay the course despite discouragements or redirection that may come your way?

Search Team: We make this dedication. 

Charge to Church

Pastor: To the congregation of Forest Hills Baptist Church, do you promise to pray for your search team, support them with encouragement, and stand behind them in their work?

Church: We do.

Pastor: Do you promise to exercise patience, kindness, and love with the search team and with each other during the pastoral search process, in anticipation of the calling of the man God has for us to lead us into the next phase of the church’s history?

Church: We do.  

Pastor: Do you strive to continue in the work of the Lord through His church in exercising unity, refraining from gossip, and seeking to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart during this journey?

Church: We do.

Christmas Expectations - Responsive Reading for Christmas Eve

We were expecting a special guest, royalty, a coming King

Receiving instead a humble visitor clothed in frail humanity

We were expecting a conqueror and a warrior

Receiving instead someone who would conquer our sins 

We were expecting a royal court

Receiving instead the brays of donkeys and the company of shepherds

We were expecting a royal pedigree

Receiving instead a line that included prostitutes, adulterers, gentiles, and evil kings

We were expecting a great light

Receiving instead a light that we are to share and to shine

We were expecting an example of boldness and charisma

Receiving instead an example of meekness and humility

Thank you O Lord for teaching us your plans are better than our expectations

And help us, God, to shine Your Kingdom’s light in this dark world

Memorial Litany

 This is a responsive reading/litany for use on Memorial Day, that pairs well with a sermon on unity and the worship songs "Make Us One" and/or "Let the Peace of Christ Rule In Your Heart."  

Leader: As we strive for unity in our homes and churches, our prayer is also for unity in our nation

People: United we stand, divided we fall

Leader: We yearn to be indivisible, yet seem more divided than ever

People: United we stand, divided we fall

Leader: Let the remembrances of the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price hold us together on this day.

People: We can stand united, because of the fallen

Leader: Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts

People: We were fallen in our sins, but can have God’s peace through forgiveness.

Leader: We thank God for His peace that unites us, and pray for peace, unity, and righteousness for our nation.  

People: Lord, hear our prayer for solidarity of heart this day. 

Leader: Amen.

 “Your Bethlehem”

By Chris Bridges

Weary travelers set about

To Bethlehem for a Roman count.

A virgin mother, Joseph her aid,

Looking there for a place to stay.

No lodging there for a special birth,

The world knew not yet of His worth.

A place where animals fed and slept

Transformed to a place where Messiah was kept.

Shepherds bowed to the angels’ story

Of the mighty King of glory.

Many would then think it stranger

That Jesus was born in a manger.

Rushing now then to the stall,

They found Him there, our All-in-all.

And later, Magi from far off lands

Also beheld the Son of Man.

Today, through clouds of deepest gloom

Our heart may have an empty room

Invite Him in this Christmas night

And you too may now find the light

One brighter than that Christmas star

Your Bethlehem is not that far.

Christ is Risen, Hallelujah - Responsive Reading

Leader: Orange haze and morning dew, greets Christ followers with this news!

People:  He is Risen, Hallelujah!

Leader: Our precious Lord was crucified. For us, He suffered and He died.

People: He is Risen,Hallelujah!

Leader: Death defeated, it has no sting, we now serve a risen King!

People: He is Risen, Hallelujah!

Leader: Grace, forgiveness, free for all! Listen for the Spirit’s call

People: He is Risen, Hallelujah!

Leader: The curtain in the temple torn, The Son has risen this Easter morn.

People: He is Risen, Hallelujah!

Leader: Peace and blessings without measure, eternal life is now our treasure

People: He is Risen, Hallelujah!

Hosea chapter 14, in my own words

Hosea is a hard book to read.  Sure, it's the first few chapters are are quite dramatic and deal with the bizarre love story with Gomer and it's Jerry Springer-esque plot.  But the middle part is just a lot of doom and gloom judgement.  That's no fun!  But then, tucked in the end of this weighty little book is one of the simplest and most beautiful "sermons" I've seen in scripture.  After the complex details of judgement and guilt-trips in the middle of the book, this felt more like a Billy Graham message.  It moved me.  So, I decided to rewrite it in my own words as sort of a therapeutic exercise for myself as I begin my day. 

It is your own sin that's brought you to this place.

Admit your failures and disobedience to God.

Ask Him for forgiveness and praise Him for it.

Our networks and allies ultimately can't save us.  Our tried and true best methods won't always work. 

We have got to put aside the things that we hold in higher regard than God. 

It is only in God that the weak, lonely, isolated, and unconnected find mercy. 

God says He will forgive us our lack of faith, show us unlimited love, and will no longer show His anger. 

God will provide refreshment, renewal, and sustenance to our weary malnourished spirits and make us strong.

Our reach and influence will be wide and others will be drawn to us looking for our source of strength. 

Stay away from the things that keep God in second place. 

God always answers prayers, always provides, and always loves. 

Can't you see the wisdom in this, and the evidence for all of these truths?  Keeping in line with God's principles is the way to go. 

Going the other way leads to problems and pain.

Memorial Day Responsive Prayer

A responsive reading/prayer for Memorial Day
by Chris Bridges

Leader:  Eternal Father, strong to save, we pause now in thankfulness

People:  We remember the acts of soldiers and statesmen

Leader:  We are thankful for the blessings of freedoms that we now enjoy as a result of the fruit of their labor.  

People:  We are strengthened by the resolve of those who considered freedom more important than their own lives.

Leader:  Help us now, in acts both small and grand, to embrace sacrifice as a worthy attribute

People:  Being willing to share, willing to serve, willing to give, and willing to lay down our lives

Leader:  Protect, we pray, the lives of those in service even now for our nation

People: Give comfort to all who grieve those who have paid freedom’s biggest price

Leader: We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, who Himself is acquainted with grief and sacrifice.

People:  We remember, and say “let this be done.”

Leader:  Let us now pause for a moment of silence to remember those who have died for our freedom.