Kathryn Ritsema Roelofs

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 12: The Healing Tree."Call to ConfessionWe come before God to confess our lack of trust. We sing “Jesus is Lord” and declare him King of kings over all creation, but too often we act as though he is powerless in the face of the events in our world today. Our broken world and our broken lives are in need of Christ our King. The war-torn countries and poverty-stricken cities are in need of Christ our King. Our groaning planets and our aching hearts are in need of Christ our King. In this silent time of confession, let us acknowledge this need.Prayer of ConfessionMighty and tender God, voice of the voiceless, power of the powerless, we praise you for your vision of a community of wholeness, a realm of peace in which all hunger and thirst are nourished, in which the stranger is welcomed, the hurting are healed, and the captive is set free. Guide us by your truth and love until we and all your people make manifest your reign of justice and compassion. Open our minds and our imaginations to see and participate in your kingdom already at work in this world, and help us to dream and continue to long for a kingdom yet to come. We pray in the name of your anointed one, our King and our Savior, to whom, with you and the Spirit, be honor, glory, and blessing, this day and forever. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 10: The Fruitful Tree."Call to ConfessionGalatians 5 calls us to confess our sins: So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.—Galatians 5:16–17 NLTPrayer of Confession “Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading”(st. 1–3) Niwaglia Gracious Spirit, you desire good: good in the world and good in our lives. You have given us ways to know you and ways to know what your will is for us. But we confess that our wants and our desires cause us to turn away, to choose our own will and our own way. We think it will lead us to where we want to be, but God, we know that your way is the way of life eternal. So we pray for your Holy Spirit to work within us, to guide and lead us, to help us bear fruit, to grow and cultivate in us the way of life. Come, Holy Spirit, come. —Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Revised Common LectionaryYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 8 (13)

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 9: The Giving Tree."Remembering Your BaptismFriends, we are baptized people. God has chosen and named us, and we respond with the faith he alone gives. But we respond. We have to do something. We have to get out of the boat if we want to walk on water. We have to live lives worthy of the grace we’ve been given. So let’s together affirm what God makes possible. I’ll ask a series of questions, and you’ll answer all together with a collective “I do!”[Leader asks a series of questions that resonate with themes that may be present in the sermon. Supplement this list with your own questions.]Do you trust in God’s gracious promises, signed and sealed to you in your baptism?Do you believe that God, who always makes the first step toward us in love, has planted you by streams of water and calls you to bear fruit?Do you turn your back on evil and turn toward God and God’s law as a gracious guide for your life?Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, as the one who watches over us and continually calls us back to the living waters?Finally, have you decided, by God’s grace, to choose the path of righteousness, turning away from all the wicked things that lead to destruction?Song of Response“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Anonymous

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 9: The Giving Tree."PrayerRefrain: “Take, O Take Me As I Am” BellCreator God, loving Father, Redeemer Son, Holy Spirit, living breath of God:In the waters of baptism you claimed us and marked us as your own. From before time began you hovered over the waters, you called us by name, and you made known your promises of faithfulness and love. It is in these waters that we find our roots. It is water that is life-giving and nourishing, helping us to grow wide our faith and grow out with our love for the good creation you have put around us. In these waters, we see life. In these waters, we dwell with you just as we are meant to be.RefrainBut Lord, how often and how quickly the chaos disrupts us, uproots us, holds back nourishment from the fruit we are called to bear. The way of the wicked seems to flourish and we are unable to find ways to resist it. We know from your Word and we know in our heads that the wicked will not prosper, but how hard it is to remember that when our hearts ache, our eyes see the unimaginable, our minds cannot comprehend. We see wicked prospering all over your world, the world you love so dearly. We see it in the marring and destruction of creation, lives lost in natural disasters and epidemics. We see it in the unfair distribution of goods and wealth leading to poverty, hunger, and a lack of dignity for some and wealth for others. We see it in the seemingly never-ending conflicts between nations. We see it in abuse—of power, of substances, of other human beings. We see it in our cities,  our classrooms, the conference rooms we sit in, and, when we are honest, our own selves. Everywhere around us we see it. And everything inside of us cannot comprehend it. So we sit baffled, stunned, apathetic, and helpless to change the course. So take us as we are, O God. Summon out what we will be.RefrainGod, where we lack wisdom, where we sit baffled and stunned, apathetic and helpless to change course, you remind us that you entered into this mess we have made of your good world and you whisper reminders from the waters that you will be with us. For you are always at work in us, prompting us and leading us by your Holy Spirit, opening opportunities for us to be righteous in our lives because you were already righteous on our behalf. In your uncommon wisdom, you chose us. You work through us. You love us. You use us to do your work here on earth. Open wide our eyes to see you. Open wide our hands to share and serve. Open wide our mouths to declare your praise. Open wide our imaginations to dream, create, and catch a glimpse of your uncommon wisdom. Open wide our hearts to be used by you. Take us just as we are, O God, and live in us.RefrainCall us back to the waters of baptism to again hear your promises—promises that are sure and eternal—and a wisdom that is far beyond our comprehension. Then send us forth, renewed and planted deeply in your streams of water to bear fruit and grow in your grace.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen —Romans 11:33–36 NIV

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 8: The Family Tree."Song“Beneath the Cross”(st. 1–2) GettyPrayer of ConfessionWe stand beneath the cross, confident that God hears our prayers and has already accomplished the great work of redemption for us. But as we look up at the cross and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we acknowledge the sin and brokenness in our world and in our own lives. Please pray with me.Life-giving God, Creator of all things good, Redeemer of the cosmos, breath of life for all living things, we praise you for the many ways you are at work in this world. At your word, creation came to life—vast oceans with unfathomable depths, mountain peaks reaching up to the heavens, golden prairies that reach as far as the eye can see, trees of every variety and size providing us with shade, air to breathe, colors to stand in awe of. You, O Lord, have also created us in your image and called us to be good stewards of your creation. You call us to tend the earth, to bring forth your kingdom through our vocations, to be your body here on earth, united with your church in doing your will. We confess that in so many ways we fall short of these mandates. Instead of seeking unity, we seek conflict. Instead of seeking community, we choose to isolate. Instead of seeking peace, we tolerate dysfunction. You do not call us to a life of relying on our own selfish pride and independence; you call us to be your body: joined together, working together, seeking you together. Forgive us when our own actions have a negative impact on your world—creation and people alike. May we and all your children strive to bring you all the honor and glory and praise you deserve, until we as your people are united with each other and all the world in singing an unending hymn of praise to you, our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Song“Beneath the Cross”(st. 3) Getty

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 8: The Family Tree."Morning Prayer[The following prayer could be interspersed with the singing of Tommy Walker’s “Beatitudes Song” (charts available at tommywalkerministries.org), another song on the Beatitudes, or a simple prayer refrain. You could also choose to use two voices, one to read the Scripture texts included throughout and the other to offer the prayer.]Using Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, we turn to our God in prayer. This morning we are praying through the Beatitudes, remembering the weaker parts of our family tree—the branches who lack nutrients, who are suffering from illness, who are tossed about in the winds, who feel alienated from the whole. Let’s bow our heads in prayer.“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).We pray for the poor: for those globally and within our borders who lack basic necessities like healthy and nutrient-rich food, clean water, shelter, and clothing. We pray also for the poor in spirit. We pray that all might have a spiritual humility that turns us towards our saving Lord.“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).We pray for those who mourn the loss of loved ones, good health, regular employment, mental faculties, and more. There are many among us who grieve, some more publicly and some in the quiet ache in their own hearts. Be close to those who mourn.“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).We pray for those who willingly serve God in whatever place or task to which they are called. We pray for their efforts to be obedient in building Christ’s kingdom. We pray for our missionaries: for [name missionaries and their fields]. We pray for the many members of our church family who are currently serving abroad in their own vocations, bringing forth your kingdom all over the world: for [name the families]. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).We pray for those who ardently desire and pursue righteousness and goodness in the world. We pray for those who give their lives and service in pursuit of justice.“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).We remember those who are daily in the trenches of dealing with human misery and suffering. We pray for health care professionals globally and domestically. We pray for those who work for disaster aid agencies.“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).We pray that you will help us all to be pure in heart, to see God and do everything for God’s glory. We pray that our love for you will be unadulterated and unswayed. Give us pure hearts to seek after you, to serve you, and to love you with all our heart, mind, and strength.“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).We pray for those who strive for shalom in their own lives and in the lives of others—to be right with God, to trust him wholeheartedly and obey him. In a world where there seems to be little peace between countries, between people and their governments, between brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, we pray for peace. We pray for mutual respect, for a recognition of each other’s worth, for a willingness to seek peace.“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).We pray for the millions of Christians in the world who are persecuted for their belief in you. Give them strength in the face of trial and courage in the face of danger. On this day, when many around the world are praying for the persecuted church, we join our voices and cry to you. We pray for the persecuted church and the people you love so dearly.“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12).We pray for those building the kingdom of God by living with countercultural values—for those who choose your way instead of the easy way. For those who choose to stand up for their beliefs when conforming to popular opinion is the more attractive option.We rejoice and we are glad, for you are blessed, you are holy, you are worthy of all our praise. Hear our prayers and hear our praises. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Epiphany—Fourth Sunday after the EpiphanyYear A: Season after Pentecost—All Saints Day

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 7: The Saving Tree."Prayer of ConfessionRefrain: “Jesus, Remember Me” Taizé Father of all creation, before the world began, you were there. Before there was time and before there was space, you—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—dwelled in perfect unity, in perfect harmony, in perfect knowledge of all that would be in this world and in the world to come. You called this world into being from nothing, filling the earth with the beautiful, the strange, and the unique, the cosmic and the particle. From the dust of the ground you formed us in your own image. Father of all creation, you knew us, you remembered us, you loved us from the very beginning.RefrainGod our redeemer, in the garden, through Adam and Eve, sin entered our world. Your desire for human flourishing and delight was marred and destroyed by sin, and that sin continues in us today. We prove each day that we are guilty sinners through our actions, our inaction, our words, our thoughts, our motivations, and our very lives. Forgive us. Have mercy on us. Remember us.RefrainEmmanuel, God with us, you did not turn away from a world bent on destruction, but instead you turned toward it in love. You are the long-awaited Messiah, the Word that became flesh and dwelled among us in our brokenness and sin. On that night in Bethlehem, you entered in, you chose the path of love, you remembered us.RefrainJesus, Emmanuel, you came into this world for us. You endured trials and temptations for us. You suffered and cried at the last, “It is finished!” for us. For us you rose to newness of life to prove that death no longer has the final word. For us you were victorious, you were obedient, and you are now crowned Lord of all, and now you stand before the Father interceding for us. In the midst of all these things, you remembered us—from death to life, you remembered us.RefrainHoly Spirit, Breath of God, given to us so that through true faith we may share in Christ and all his benefits: you are our comfort, and you promise your presence will be with us through our joys and our sorrows, our fears and our rejoicing. Forgive us for the times we doubt and lose sight of your presence working within us. Forgive us when we ignore your prompting, favoring our own competency and will. Like the wind, you blow through our hearts and our lives, unseen yet ever felt, ever moving, ever changing us, ever challenging us to trust and obey. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God, you remember us and continue your ongoing work in our lives as we bring forth your kingdom here on earth.RefrainWe praise you, God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for the multitude of ways you remember us, from the beginning of time through your life, death, and resurrection. Thanks be to you, O God. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 4: The Justice Tree."Call to ConfessionOn this World Communion Sunday, we are cognizant that there are many around the world—many of our brothers and sisters in Christ—who are on the margins. They gather around the table to celebrate, but some do so in fear of persecution. Some do so with true physical hunger plaguing their bodies so their “feast at the table of the Lord” is only something that is hoped for and longed for. In our broken world, God gathers us all: the marginalized, the powerful, the weak, the strong, the broken, and those seemingly put together. God gathers us together as God’s one church, as brothers and sisters, which means that when they suffer, we suffer with them. So we turn to the Lord in prayer—for them, for us, for all—asking for forgiveness where it is needed and for grace that can always be found.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.We grieve that the church,which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,and spans all time, place, race, and language,has become a broken communion in a broken world.When we strugglefor the truth of the gospeland for the righteousness God demands,we pray for wisdom and courage.When our pride or blindnesshinders the unity of God’s household,we seek forgiveness.—Our World Belongs to God, para. 40, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.Let us pray for the world that God so dearly loves.Let us pray for the troubles and the sufferings of the world.Prayer of ConfessionSung Prayer: “Pelas dores deste mundo / For the Troubles” NetoSpoken Prayer: Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come. While we see glimpses of that kingdom that is already before us, we long for the day when your kingdom and your reign will be complete and all will acknowledge your rule and praise your name.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come in areas of our world that so desperately need your grace. We pray for all who are on the margins: for those without adequate food and water; for those who have been affected by natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come and your peace to reign in areas of conflict: for the fear of nuclear development in North Korea; for the ever present tensions in the Middle East; for terrorist attacks and constant clashes of power. We pray for all the people who live in the shadow of these conflicts, people whose very lives are destroyed because of them.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to a world so rich in resources, yet so unfairly distributed; for a world so beautiful, yet cared for so poorly, with waste and little care for creation.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our country: to our government, to our leaders and local officials, to our schools, to our cities and our farmlands.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our city, a hub of political power where many important decisions are made daily that affect not only the city and the country, but the world; a city that struggles with inequality and poverty, a city that needs you.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our own lives, with whatever we face: financial struggle, illness, depression, lack of enthusiasm for our work, boredom, major life transitions, parenting, “adulting,” grieving.For all these things and more, we pray for peace, the blessed peace that comes from seeking justice in your world for all the people you love so dearly.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Sung Prayer: “Pelas dores deste mundo / For the Troubles” Neto

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 2: The Dying Tree."Prayer of ConfessionRefrain: “Your Mercy Flows” Sutton  (refrain only, repeating as indicated)Hear our cry, O Lord, for we are a broken people desperately in need of your grace and mercy. We are a broken people whose sins overwhelm us like a flood—some sins blatant, and some so secret we dare not think about them or acknowledge them before you. Hear our cry, O Lord. Hear our silent prayers, our silent longings, our silent confessions before you, laying bare our guilt and sin.We confess our personal sins, the ones we try so hard to hide from others but which are so known to you. We confess all the things that stand as a barrier between us and your gracious desire for our lives. Hear our prayers.RefrainWe confess systemic sins, the troubles and the sufferings in this world that seem so vast and oftentimes so far removed from our daily lives. But we are guilty before you for the sins of this world. Hear our prayers.RefrainWe confess the sins committed against us and our response to those sins. We lament the brokenness we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hear our prayers.RefrainWe call out to you as those who are broken by our own inability to fix our own problems and by our ever-present propensity to make a mess of the beautiful world you have so graciously given us. Take these broken pieces of our lives and our souls and restore them with your mercy.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Song“Amazing Grace” Newton

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 2: The Dying Tree."Call to WorshipOn this Lord’s day, we, as beloved and chosen people of God,      are graciously called into this place for worship.Christ, who is our Redeemer, our Savior, healer, and giver of life,      beckons our community of faith to come together      and lift our individual and corporate voices to our Lord.It is by God’s gracious invitation that we are called to worship.So, people of God,      we are invited to come to worship not because we ought to,            but because we may;      we come and worship not because we are righteous,            but because we acknowledge our own sinfulness;      we come and worship not because we are strong,            but because we are weak and in need of God’s grace;      we come and worship not because we are whole,            but because we are broken and long for Christ’s restoration.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.