By Marty Haugen, Gia Publications, Inc., 1994
1.
Let us build a house where love can dwell
And all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell
How hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
Rock of faith and vault of grace;
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
2.
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
And words are strong and true,
Where all God’s children dare to seek,
To dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
And as symbol of God’s grace;
Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
3.
Let us build a house where love is found
In water, wine, and wheat:
A banquet hall on holy ground,
Where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
Is revealed in time and space:
As we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Loving God, you have called us together today in the spirit of service and unity. We thank you for Dr.
Martin Luther King and all others who have been filled with your vision for a world united in love. We
pray that you will use our hands to build a kingdom where all shall be welcomed, all shall be valued, and
all your children may live lives filled with peace and happiness. Amen.
Reader 1:
“As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God
has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each
other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united.
Do this by living at peace. All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit
of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people.
We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God who is the Father
of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he
lives in all of us.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Reader 2:
“To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with
tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break
through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope!” (Pope Francis 3/19/13)
Reader 3:
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight
of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become
a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
1. Where did you meet Christ in the community you served today?
2. Where did you encounter glimpses of the “horizon of hope” Pope Francis mentioned?
3. How does Dr. King’s message speak to you in light of your service today and recent events in this
nation?
4. What is one word to describe what you are taking away from this experience?
Leader:
We pray for the gifts of strength and grace to be a source of life and wholeness for our
community. We seek to be a manifestation of your love in our world.
All:
For the gift of vision – that we may see one another with God’s eyes, so that all feel safe in our
presence.
Make us a people with vision.
All:
For the gift of courage – that we may stand up to injustice, lending our voice to the cause of
freedom, equality, and love.
Make us a people of courage.
All:
For the gift of compassion – that we may be a healing presence, bending tenderly to wash each
other’s feet.
Make us a people of compassion.
All:
For the gift of hope – that we may never forget your promises, keeping our focus on your
Kingdom, which promises to make the broken whole again.
Make us a people of hope.
All:
For the gift of humility – that we may recognize our wrongdoings and seek forgiveness from
those we’ve hurt through our words, actions, and inactions.
Make us a people of humility.
All:
For the gift of reverence – that we may always recognize and honor your presence in all
creation.
Make us a people of reverence.
We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and
pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you.
Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep
us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together
until that day when all God's children - Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow - will rejoice in one
common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen.
By Marty Haugen, Gia Publications, Inc., 1994
4.
Let us build a house where hands will reach
Beyond the wood and stone
To heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
And live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
Bear the image of God’s face;
Let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
5.
Let us build a house where all are named,
Their songs and visions heard
And loved and treasured, taught and claimed
As words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
Prayers of faith and songs of grace,
Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.