Showing posts with label worship service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship service. Show all posts
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
I Want to be an Open Place
sermon and communion by Carrie Eikler
Acts 17:22-31
So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. "It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I'm here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you're dealing with.
I want to be an open space. I want the unknown God to come into this open space. Not so we can finally see Or ultimately understand. Not so the unknown is finally codified in our understanding, but so the unknown can dwell richly in the midst of our not fully knowing it in the bliss of what it means to have something we can’t control in the presence of One that loves us no matter what we do to it that has been present throughout time And what…does that even mean?
And friends, it seems like open spaces are fewer and fewer these days. When conversations are cut down to tired tag lines or sarcastic memes on social media. Where who’s in and who’s out in our hearts is based on what people believe about global warming or gay marriage or taxes, Open spaces are rare.
Hospitable God,
Who has created an open space before us through bread and cup
may we see the place set for us so that, in turn, we may welcome others
to your table.
As the bread and cup, settles in you, becomes one with you, as you are one with God, may you be blessed by being part of this. May God bless your journey this week as you move into the world of those very much like you and those very different. And by coming to this table, may you be transformed into an open space where all can experience the Grace of God, the Peace of Christ.
Acts 17:22-31
So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. "It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I'm here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you're dealing with.
"The God who made the world and everything in it, this
Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human
race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes
the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the
entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space
for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark
but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote;
he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets
said it well: 'We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't
make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of
stone for us, does it?
"God overlooks it as long as you don't know any better—but
that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he's calling for a radical
life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and
everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him
before everyone by raising him from the dead."
(Acts 17:22-32; The
Message)
I like how Eugene Peterson’s reframing of this story starts
out with “Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus…”
I want to be an open space. I want to be in the place of Paul, in an open space standing within and among people.
I want to be an open space, surrounded by culture and infused with the questions. Not taking for granted that it is what it is… challenging the notion that how it has been is what it will
forever be. I want to be an open space surrounded by beauty and
questions.
I want to be an open space ... a space that makes room for Athenians and Jews, Romans and Christians, Gay and straight, Muslims and Hindus, Republican and Democrat, Scientists and Creationists, those who love McDonalds and those who love sushi. I want to be the open space where they all can come, and dwell and feel loved. And see God.I want to be an open space. I want the unknown God to come into this open space. Not so we can finally see Or ultimately understand. Not so the unknown is finally codified in our understanding, but so the unknown can dwell richly in the midst of our not fully knowing it in the bliss of what it means to have something we can’t control in the presence of One that loves us no matter what we do to it that has been present throughout time And what…does that even mean?
I want to be in an open space where I am exposed to this God and we can join together in, as Peterson says, a radical life-change.
I want to be an open space. Do you?
What does it mean for you to be an open space?
What does that even look like?
Well for Paul, standing in the midst of the cultural and intellectual
capital of Greece, we see him being surprisingly…open. He addresses them in the context of their culture. He even refers to God in ways that their poets have spoken: “for In him we live and move and have our being; as even
some of your own poets have said.”
He begins with a common area of interest and speaks to them
with respect. He speaks of the “unknown God,” with whom they are familiar. He uses vocabulary they understand. Not dumbing down or demeaning. And yet he delivers the gospel in its entirety and without
watering it down.
Now maybe this was all tinged with sarcasm. Maybe he said it with gritted teeth. Whether or not Paul intended it to be a moment of openness, does not diminish the fact that this is a snapshot of what we encounter every day.
Every day we wake up in a world with people like us and people different from us. With different beliefs in God and values and politics. Which is why I’m not saying I want to be like Paul.
Nope, I sure don’t.
I am saying, I want to be like the space Paul is in. An open space.
And there is the tricky part, I think. To be an open space, we think we have to acquiesce to every
cultural whim every expression of truth, every claim every belief and say, “OK, I guess I will believe that.” But I don’t think that is what it means.
But to be an open space, We need to entertain those who believe differently. To show hospitality within our beings, in our conversation, and our interaction.
To be an open space, we must know who we are and what we believe, so we can live our lives grounded while at the same time reaching out to those who are
different. I like to use the image of a tall tree, with roots going
deep, deep into the ground and branches that reach out to provide shelter and shade and
a resting place for all manner of creatures.
It’s not necessarily to claim their beliefs as our own, but to claim that we are connected.
To claim the two greatest commandments: to love God, the God who created these
wildly different people—and to love those people. We are indeed siblings, of one God. Children of the Creator in whom we live and move and have our being. And friends, it seems like open spaces are fewer and fewer these days. When conversations are cut down to tired tag lines or sarcastic memes on social media. Where who’s in and who’s out in our hearts is based on what people believe about global warming or gay marriage or taxes, Open spaces are rare.
So, no friends, I don’t seek to be just like Paul: eloquent, pointed, passionate with the ability to slide in a zinger to the elite. I want to be that open space where he stands, and you stand and whoever you don’t really agree with stands.
And in that open space, where we see each other face –to-face brother to sister, sister to brother, open before God in whom we live and move and have our being, in that open space we will see one another.... And maybe reach out, and claim one another, as beloved.
Just like Jesus did, stretching out his arms to embrace the world. And as he stretched out to embrace us he stretched his arms in welcome around the table, instituting a ritual that for two thousand years has reminded us that we are one with him, with God, with the
Spirit, and yes, dear friends, one another.
So you are invited to participate in embodying that reminder that in Christ we are all called beloved children of God. In preparing our hearts to come to this table, I invite you
to turn in your green sing the journey songbook to #170. We are
going to speak this invitation in unison. Hear it as an invitation for yourself, but also hear the words of your sisters and
brothers inviting you to
join them at the table....
This is the Welcome Table of our Redeemer and you are invited.
Make no excuses, saying you cannot attend; simply come, for around this
table you will find your family. Come
not because you have to, but because you need to.
Come not to prove you are saved, but to seek the courage to follow wherever Christ leads.
Come not to speak but to listen, not to hear what’s expected, but to be open to the ways the Spirit
moves among you.
So be joyful, not somber, for this is the feast of the reign of God,where the broken are molded into a Beloved Community, and where the celebration over evil’s defeat has already begun.
Let us pray…Hospitable God,
Who has created an open space before us through bread and cup
may we see the place set for us so that, in turn, we may welcome others
to your table.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
[communion taken]As the bread and cup, settles in you, becomes one with you, as you are one with God, may you be blessed by being part of this. May God bless your journey this week as you move into the world of those very much like you and those very different. And by coming to this table, may you be transformed into an open space where all can experience the Grace of God, the Peace of Christ.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Meditations on Surprise
Meditations by Torin Eikler
“Surprising Hope”
Isaiah 11:1-9
Ever since these words were spoken they have brought hope to those who heard them. And why not? Isaiah describes the perfect king. One who will come into power and make everything the way it should be. All injustice will be ended. The wicked – powerful and weak alike – will be punished. The righteous – both meek and bold – will be rewarded. And every person will have exactly what they need … no indecent wealth … no grinding poverty. No one will fall through the cracks.
It was good news to the people of Israel. From the golden age of David and Solomon, the country had fallen onto hard times. Conflict and infighting among the leaders had split the country into a northern and southern kingdom that had been to war more than once, calling into question the identity of the chosen people. The wealthy elite were not much concerned with injustices or the suffering of the rest of people, seeking instead to increase their own wealth and power in any way they could. On top of all that, the Assyrian Empire was at their doorstep.
And in the midst of all the turmoil, the fear, and the distress, Isaiah prophesied a surprisingly bright future. Despite all the evidence to the contrary – and there was very little chance that either kingdom could stand against the Assyrians … despite the sense of doom, God’s promise still held true. There would be a new king in Jerusalem – a king of David’s line, and not only would that king bring justice and wisdom to the throne, he would bring peace to the whole world. Surprising words that brought hope to a troubled people threatened with destruction.
Are things really so different for us today? There are still a very few people whose wealth and power are increasing while most of us are working very hard just to keep our heads above water. There are still many, many people who are suffering injustice and struggling to find a place to live or food to east.
And into our turmoil, our fear, and our distress, Jesus comes, bringing hope of a bright future. Despite what our eyes, our pocketbooks, and our newspapers tell us, God’s promise comes to us again. When true justice is done. When someone reaches out to help another in need or to encourage someone lost in despair. When people work together to build a better life for all of us instead of tearing things down to raise themselves up. In those moments, we can see the coming of the day when wickedness and injustice will cease to be, when the wolves of suffering and vipers of fear will no longer threaten us, when everyone will have what she or he needs and no one will hurt or destroy anywhere on the earth that God has made holy.
Each year, at Christmas, we look for perfect king that was born in Bethlehem, lived with us for a time, and died for our sakes. But Jesus comes to us – to the world – every day, speaking over and over Isaiah’s promise … a surprising future is coming. A future that comes tomorrow. A future that comes the next day … and the next … and the next. A future that comes, little by little, whenever the Christ enters our hearts and leads us, step by step, into hope.
“Surprising Peace”
Isaiah 52:7-9
Peace…. Peace …. What is peace?
Is it the lack of war … or of violence? Is it the quiet that falls deep in the woods or in the living room with the children are finally asleep? Is it the sense of freedom and calm that comes from accepting the world as it is?
It seems to me that peace is all of those things … and more.
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” It was the word used to greet people and to bid them farewell. It still is in some places because it expresses a wish for the well-being of someone…. Shalom is much more … much deeper than a simple lack of violence. It is wholeness. It points to a world where all of society is in harmony … where every person is healthy, safe, and fulfilled.
As Bible scholar Cornelius Plantinga describes it, it is:
The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight…. [It] means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.
It’s a wonderful and inspiring vision. It’s a peace that’s almost beyond understanding and seems entirely beyond our reach. And yet God chose to make it ours … not by reaching out an all-powerful hand and changing the world, but by coming among us in the weakest and most helpless form we can imagine. A baby … with tiny, beautiful feet to carry the good news of peace to all who will listen.
“Surprising Joy”
Luke 1:26-35 Matthew 1:18-24
There is a simple joy in watching children play. As they discover their own bodies and the world around them … as they delight in the new and explore the smallest details, they take us with them. They take us back to our own childhood, and as we see things through their eyes, hear things through their ears, and learn through their experiences, we rediscover wonder and awe.
That sense of wonder and joy is multiplied many times over when we watch a child being born. If you haven’t had the experience yourself, just ask someone who has and watch as their face changes. The cares and worries of their lives melt away and are replaced by smiles that reach all the way down to their toes and transform their entire being. Each birth is different, of course, and sometimes memories are colored by worries or sorrows that came later, but the moment of watching new life born into the world has a power that cannot be denied.
I imagine that the experience was multiplied even beyond our experiences for Mary and Joseph. For nine months … nine long months … from the moment when the angel came to them and announced the coming of Jesus, they would have been filled with tension and anxiety. It’s not an easy time … even for people who have a lot of support, and to be young and pregnant before marrying would have added the pressure of society’s disapproval to the mix.
Then they were forced to travel far from the comforts of home just when it was time for the baby to come. And to top it all off, they couldn’t even find a comfortable room to stay in. A stable… a stable and a pile of hay surrounded by the noise and the smells of animals was the only space left.
I imagine that when the birth started, they were more than a little scared. No clean cloths. No hot water. No midwife to offer support and wisdom. No way to know what was normal or that everything was okay. No family to hold their hands or give them support as they struggled through it all for the first time.
And then Jesus arrived. On the tide of one final push, he found his way into Joseph’s arms, and Joseph watched him … heard his first cries … looked into his eyes as they opened for the first time. And I imagine that he was lost in the moment … at least until Mary’s anxious voice brought him back, asking if everything was alright, begging without words to see the baby. And Joseph carried Jesus to her and set him in her arms, and they both reveled in the wonder of the moment. Their first child … their son … later their Messiah … right now their son – a tiny new life with wrinkled fingers and toes. And as they cleaned him up and wrapped him cloths to keep him warm … JOY.
God offers us … invites us … to enter into that joy. Look inside yourself. Set aside your own fears and worries. Set aside your own feelings of frustration and your need to make everything just right for tomorrow morning. Look into your mind, into your heart and watch the baby Jesus being born. Cradle him in your arms and wonder, again, at the miracle of Immanuel – of God come to be with us. Wonder and joy.
“Surprising Love”
Luke 2:8-20
And God so loved the world that he sent an only son….
They expected a King who would come and change the world. Wrapped in majesty and power, he would overthrow the Roman Empire and free the chosen people. He would rule with wisdom and understanding and justice and mercy would govern the lives of a people who lived in peace. But that’s not what happened.
The shepherds sitting on the hill that night got to see it. They were no different from any of the others. They expected a Mighty Messiah to come … if any came at all. It would be someone who would make their lives better, but they would probably never get to see him since they were on the edge of what society found acceptable. They certainly wouldn’t get to see him up close.
And then the world changed.
As they sat around their little fire, watching their sheep and talking as the stars followed their familiar patterns across the sky, that sky seemed to split open. Something … an angel maybe … stood before them and told them of the birth of the Messiah. Told them. Not some powerful or holy person. Not a prophet or a priest or a leader of the people. But simple, poor, everyday shepherds.
It was so amazing that they left their sheep behind to go and see if it was true. And they found the baby just as the angel said they would. And they left the manger to share the news. The Messiah had come.
Not a king resplendent in find clothing with an army and heralds to announce his coming. Only a baby lying in a stable with dirty clothes to wrap him, with livestock as a court, and with shepherd to announce his coming.
Only a baby came. Only God born in a stable … only love become flesh …
and the world would never, could never be the same.
Hallelujah! “Glory to God in the highest heaven!”
“Surprising Hope”
Isaiah 11:1-9
Ever since these words were spoken they have brought hope to those who heard them. And why not? Isaiah describes the perfect king. One who will come into power and make everything the way it should be. All injustice will be ended. The wicked – powerful and weak alike – will be punished. The righteous – both meek and bold – will be rewarded. And every person will have exactly what they need … no indecent wealth … no grinding poverty. No one will fall through the cracks.
It was good news to the people of Israel. From the golden age of David and Solomon, the country had fallen onto hard times. Conflict and infighting among the leaders had split the country into a northern and southern kingdom that had been to war more than once, calling into question the identity of the chosen people. The wealthy elite were not much concerned with injustices or the suffering of the rest of people, seeking instead to increase their own wealth and power in any way they could. On top of all that, the Assyrian Empire was at their doorstep.
And in the midst of all the turmoil, the fear, and the distress, Isaiah prophesied a surprisingly bright future. Despite all the evidence to the contrary – and there was very little chance that either kingdom could stand against the Assyrians … despite the sense of doom, God’s promise still held true. There would be a new king in Jerusalem – a king of David’s line, and not only would that king bring justice and wisdom to the throne, he would bring peace to the whole world. Surprising words that brought hope to a troubled people threatened with destruction.
Are things really so different for us today? There are still a very few people whose wealth and power are increasing while most of us are working very hard just to keep our heads above water. There are still many, many people who are suffering injustice and struggling to find a place to live or food to east.
And into our turmoil, our fear, and our distress, Jesus comes, bringing hope of a bright future. Despite what our eyes, our pocketbooks, and our newspapers tell us, God’s promise comes to us again. When true justice is done. When someone reaches out to help another in need or to encourage someone lost in despair. When people work together to build a better life for all of us instead of tearing things down to raise themselves up. In those moments, we can see the coming of the day when wickedness and injustice will cease to be, when the wolves of suffering and vipers of fear will no longer threaten us, when everyone will have what she or he needs and no one will hurt or destroy anywhere on the earth that God has made holy.
Each year, at Christmas, we look for perfect king that was born in Bethlehem, lived with us for a time, and died for our sakes. But Jesus comes to us – to the world – every day, speaking over and over Isaiah’s promise … a surprising future is coming. A future that comes tomorrow. A future that comes the next day … and the next … and the next. A future that comes, little by little, whenever the Christ enters our hearts and leads us, step by step, into hope.
“Surprising Peace”
Isaiah 52:7-9
Peace…. Peace …. What is peace?
Is it the lack of war … or of violence? Is it the quiet that falls deep in the woods or in the living room with the children are finally asleep? Is it the sense of freedom and calm that comes from accepting the world as it is?
It seems to me that peace is all of those things … and more.
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” It was the word used to greet people and to bid them farewell. It still is in some places because it expresses a wish for the well-being of someone…. Shalom is much more … much deeper than a simple lack of violence. It is wholeness. It points to a world where all of society is in harmony … where every person is healthy, safe, and fulfilled.
As Bible scholar Cornelius Plantinga describes it, it is:
The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight…. [It] means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.
It’s a wonderful and inspiring vision. It’s a peace that’s almost beyond understanding and seems entirely beyond our reach. And yet God chose to make it ours … not by reaching out an all-powerful hand and changing the world, but by coming among us in the weakest and most helpless form we can imagine. A baby … with tiny, beautiful feet to carry the good news of peace to all who will listen.
“Surprising Joy”
Luke 1:26-35 Matthew 1:18-24
There is a simple joy in watching children play. As they discover their own bodies and the world around them … as they delight in the new and explore the smallest details, they take us with them. They take us back to our own childhood, and as we see things through their eyes, hear things through their ears, and learn through their experiences, we rediscover wonder and awe.
That sense of wonder and joy is multiplied many times over when we watch a child being born. If you haven’t had the experience yourself, just ask someone who has and watch as their face changes. The cares and worries of their lives melt away and are replaced by smiles that reach all the way down to their toes and transform their entire being. Each birth is different, of course, and sometimes memories are colored by worries or sorrows that came later, but the moment of watching new life born into the world has a power that cannot be denied.
I imagine that the experience was multiplied even beyond our experiences for Mary and Joseph. For nine months … nine long months … from the moment when the angel came to them and announced the coming of Jesus, they would have been filled with tension and anxiety. It’s not an easy time … even for people who have a lot of support, and to be young and pregnant before marrying would have added the pressure of society’s disapproval to the mix.
Then they were forced to travel far from the comforts of home just when it was time for the baby to come. And to top it all off, they couldn’t even find a comfortable room to stay in. A stable… a stable and a pile of hay surrounded by the noise and the smells of animals was the only space left.
I imagine that when the birth started, they were more than a little scared. No clean cloths. No hot water. No midwife to offer support and wisdom. No way to know what was normal or that everything was okay. No family to hold their hands or give them support as they struggled through it all for the first time.
And then Jesus arrived. On the tide of one final push, he found his way into Joseph’s arms, and Joseph watched him … heard his first cries … looked into his eyes as they opened for the first time. And I imagine that he was lost in the moment … at least until Mary’s anxious voice brought him back, asking if everything was alright, begging without words to see the baby. And Joseph carried Jesus to her and set him in her arms, and they both reveled in the wonder of the moment. Their first child … their son … later their Messiah … right now their son – a tiny new life with wrinkled fingers and toes. And as they cleaned him up and wrapped him cloths to keep him warm … JOY.
God offers us … invites us … to enter into that joy. Look inside yourself. Set aside your own fears and worries. Set aside your own feelings of frustration and your need to make everything just right for tomorrow morning. Look into your mind, into your heart and watch the baby Jesus being born. Cradle him in your arms and wonder, again, at the miracle of Immanuel – of God come to be with us. Wonder and joy.
“Surprising Love”
Luke 2:8-20
And God so loved the world that he sent an only son….
They expected a King who would come and change the world. Wrapped in majesty and power, he would overthrow the Roman Empire and free the chosen people. He would rule with wisdom and understanding and justice and mercy would govern the lives of a people who lived in peace. But that’s not what happened.
The shepherds sitting on the hill that night got to see it. They were no different from any of the others. They expected a Mighty Messiah to come … if any came at all. It would be someone who would make their lives better, but they would probably never get to see him since they were on the edge of what society found acceptable. They certainly wouldn’t get to see him up close.
And then the world changed.
As they sat around their little fire, watching their sheep and talking as the stars followed their familiar patterns across the sky, that sky seemed to split open. Something … an angel maybe … stood before them and told them of the birth of the Messiah. Told them. Not some powerful or holy person. Not a prophet or a priest or a leader of the people. But simple, poor, everyday shepherds.
It was so amazing that they left their sheep behind to go and see if it was true. And they found the baby just as the angel said they would. And they left the manger to share the news. The Messiah had come.
Not a king resplendent in find clothing with an army and heralds to announce his coming. Only a baby lying in a stable with dirty clothes to wrap him, with livestock as a court, and with shepherd to announce his coming.
Only a baby came. Only God born in a stable … only love become flesh …
and the world would never, could never be the same.
Hallelujah! “Glory to God in the highest heaven!”
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Breaking Bread Together
Sermon by Torin Eikler followed by
Communion Service (For All Who Minister Communion Service 4, adapted)
Isaiah 55:1-5 I Corinthians 11:17-22,27-29, 33
Some years ago, a study was done that looked at what was important to several North American denominations by examining their worships over time. In each case the authors were able to pull out one or two things that were. For Roman Catholics the central feature was communion. For Lutherans it was the sermon. For Mennonites and Brethren it was singing and sharing joys and concerns for prayer. These were the rituals that were always present and without which, it seemed, a gathering of believers would not be considered worship.
I think that the study was flawed because of a narrow definition of worship.
Brethren and Mennonites love to sing … and are good at it. And, after four years of planning both “traditional” and “unusual” worships here, I can say with certainty that Carrie and I only leave sharing prayer requests out with fear and trembling. But worship is more than all those things that we associate with Sunday morning. Worship is anything that takes us into the presence of God – anything that bring us into the Realm of God more fully. And there is something else that does that – something that has been part of the Christian community since its beginnings - something that we learned from the example of Jesus and that this church does very well. We eat. We love a good pot luck or picnicking together, and for some of us (raise hand sheepishly) those times around the table may well be more important than the sermon or the prayer or even the singing we do in church.
Surprising? … maybe, … but I don’t think so. Embarrassing? … perhaps, but it shouldn’t be. Sitting at the table with the people we love and care about has been a central practice in the lives of people for thousands of years. How many of us have happy memories of Sunday dinners or birthday meals or gathering with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles around the table to celebrate Thanksgiving? For many people, that particular holiday is more significant than all the others put together and it crosses the boundaries that make Christmas, Hannukah, or Ramedan greetings so contentious.
Sitting down to eat together is a huge part of our national mythology, holding us together in the face of so many forces pulling us apart. And, it’s not just about eating. The table is a place where we feed the relationships that connect us. It’s a place where we open up to one another, tell the stories that make us who we are, and talk about what’s important in our lives.
In the last few decades we have lost some of that value. Three fourths families still report sitting down to eat together most of the time, but 70% of them have the TV on or regularly use phones to talk, text, or update Facebook pages. But that image of the family around the table is a big part of our cultural mythology. It’s in magazine and television ads. It’s in many of our books. And you’ll find peaple sitting down to dinner in many of our most popular movies (at least the ones that aren’t thrillers or adventure stories). One of my favorite examples is “Big Night” because it shows just how much power the table has for bringing people together across all sorts of boundaries.
The movie takes place in the 1950s – the same era as “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Donna Reid Show.” Two Italian brothers, Primo and Secundo, have set up a restaurant where they serve authentic and … unfortunately … unpopular Italian food. In a last bid to make the venture a success, they throw a banquet party which Jazz and Big Band star Louis Prima is invited. Their hope is that by impressing Prima they will get on the map, but it wouldn’t be very impressive to have an empty restaurant when the singer arrives.
So, the brothers invite all sorts of people: the owner of the successful Italian restaurant down the street, the neighborhood florist, the “booze guy,” their grocer, the barber, and even a car salesman that Secundo met walking around on the big day. As the evening approaches, the brothers work feverously to get the meal ready, pulling out all the stops. And it is a meal to remember: six courses (at least), including roast fish, pasta, risotto, a roasted suckling pig, and timpano (a secret family recipe filled with “everything that is good”).
The guests gather over drinks and appetizers, greeting the others they know while the music of Louis Prima plays in the background, but the singer doesn’t arrive. Eventually, they sit down and begin the feast without him, and in the midst of the eating and drinking, they get to know each other. Stories are traded over the food. People dance between courses. And by the end of the evening, Italians, Irish, and Americans; successful and struggling, older and younger – the guest leave, obviously reluctant to say goodbye to the sense of community they have built.
If there’s anything that sounds like the banquet table of the King, that’s it – a place where strangers become friends and friends become brothers and sisters as they share in the richness and the power of the grace and the mercy … and the love of Christ.
And yet, it doesn’t always work out that way. There are times when meals become times of sorrow and brokenness. When people bring their frustrations, their anger, or their hatred to the table and use them to dig trenches between themselves and others. Worse yet, they take advantage of the openness and vulnerability that is so often shown and strike out to wound – deeply and painfully wound – those who would offer them love.
That is what Paul was warning the Corinthians about in his letter. They were ignoring the needs of their sisters and brothers in their selfish indulgence. Eating whenever they felt like it. Drinking too much. Letting others go hungry to sate their own desires for more.
That kind of perversion of the communal table makes a joke of the Lord’s banquet and turns its blessings of unity into sins of cruelty and division. Those who eat and drink in that way turn away from the grace they have been offered. They eat and drink judgment against themselves.
That’s not us. When we sit down together we use the time to reconnect with one another. For some of us, it the only time we talk to our brothers and sisters which is a little bit sad. Still, when I look around at a potluck – in those rare moments when Sebastian and Alistair are occupied – I see people talking and laughing together with a real sense of community and joy. I see a holy space where people share their lives and themselves with each other, finding food for their spirits that is just as important as the food that sustains their bodies.
That is making of the table a place where grace and healing give birth to a deep and rich community of the Spirit and that is worship. That is living into being a part of the Realm of God. It’s just a hint of the richness that is to come … and we enjoy it every time we sit down together with this community of faith that has become of family.
That is what the church is called to be and to do. That is the community of the body of Christ living as sisters and brothers.
We do that … and in those moments, we are gifted with a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.
Hallelujah … AMEN!
Communion:
We will be singing each of the three verses of “Let us break bread together” at different times during communion this morning. And so I invite you to open your hymnals to #453 as we prepare to celebrate this meal made holy by the rich blessings of God’s love.
The ordinance of communion symbolizes our unity as the body of Christ. It unites each of us in a common bond with each other and with other believers around the world. Just as many grains of wheat and many grapes come together to form one loaf and one cup, so too the people of God, coming from many places and backgrounds, are made into one community in Christ.
Bread: a common, mundane part of everyday life. Yet, it was in the breaking of bread that the risen Christ often revealed himself. On the last night he spent with his followers, Jesus gave them a powerful symbol of his presence. He made special that which was commonplace and ordinary by taking bread, and, as he had done so often before, he blessed, broke, and gave it to them. Then he said, “Take and eat, for this is my body which is given for you.”
(Sing first verse of “let us break bread together” as the bread is distributed.)
Let us pray …
As we take this bread into our bodies, O God, may we take the bread of Christ’s healing and empowering presence into our own lives and extend it to those we meet each day. AMEN.
As we prepare to share in this symbol of unity, let us speak together the words printed in our bulletins - “The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.”
Fruit of the vine: a standard beverage in ancient Israel. Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at Cana, showed the abundance of God’s blessing. That last night, he once again turned something mundane into something holy as he took the cup, gave thanks, and announced to the disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Drink from it, all of you.”
(Sing second verse of “let us break bread together” as the cups are distributed.)
Let us pray …
As we remember the new covenant you established through Christ, O God, may we be renewed in mind, body, and spirit in order to live out of the promise and power you give to all your disciples. AMEN.
As we prepare to share in this symbol of unity, let us speak together the words printed in our bulletins - “The cup which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.”
Drink the cup.
Will you pray with me ….
We give thanks, O God, for gathering us together around this holy meal. May the power and presence of Christ be revealed in the community we share just as it is in our thoughts, words, and deeds as we strive to serve both you and our neighbors. In the coming days, bring the example of Christ to life within us and fill us with your Holy Spirit, now and evermore. AMEN.
As we leave this space made holy by our sharing, let praise God for the gift of community born around the table, singing together the final verse of our communion hymn.
(Sing verse three of “Let us break bread together”)
Go in peace.
Communion Service (For All Who Minister Communion Service 4, adapted)
Isaiah 55:1-5 I Corinthians 11:17-22,27-29, 33
Some years ago, a study was done that looked at what was important to several North American denominations by examining their worships over time. In each case the authors were able to pull out one or two things that were. For Roman Catholics the central feature was communion. For Lutherans it was the sermon. For Mennonites and Brethren it was singing and sharing joys and concerns for prayer. These were the rituals that were always present and without which, it seemed, a gathering of believers would not be considered worship.
I think that the study was flawed because of a narrow definition of worship.
Brethren and Mennonites love to sing … and are good at it. And, after four years of planning both “traditional” and “unusual” worships here, I can say with certainty that Carrie and I only leave sharing prayer requests out with fear and trembling. But worship is more than all those things that we associate with Sunday morning. Worship is anything that takes us into the presence of God – anything that bring us into the Realm of God more fully. And there is something else that does that – something that has been part of the Christian community since its beginnings - something that we learned from the example of Jesus and that this church does very well. We eat. We love a good pot luck or picnicking together, and for some of us (raise hand sheepishly) those times around the table may well be more important than the sermon or the prayer or even the singing we do in church.
Surprising? … maybe, … but I don’t think so. Embarrassing? … perhaps, but it shouldn’t be. Sitting at the table with the people we love and care about has been a central practice in the lives of people for thousands of years. How many of us have happy memories of Sunday dinners or birthday meals or gathering with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles around the table to celebrate Thanksgiving? For many people, that particular holiday is more significant than all the others put together and it crosses the boundaries that make Christmas, Hannukah, or Ramedan greetings so contentious.
Sitting down to eat together is a huge part of our national mythology, holding us together in the face of so many forces pulling us apart. And, it’s not just about eating. The table is a place where we feed the relationships that connect us. It’s a place where we open up to one another, tell the stories that make us who we are, and talk about what’s important in our lives.
In the last few decades we have lost some of that value. Three fourths families still report sitting down to eat together most of the time, but 70% of them have the TV on or regularly use phones to talk, text, or update Facebook pages. But that image of the family around the table is a big part of our cultural mythology. It’s in magazine and television ads. It’s in many of our books. And you’ll find peaple sitting down to dinner in many of our most popular movies (at least the ones that aren’t thrillers or adventure stories). One of my favorite examples is “Big Night” because it shows just how much power the table has for bringing people together across all sorts of boundaries.
The movie takes place in the 1950s – the same era as “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Donna Reid Show.” Two Italian brothers, Primo and Secundo, have set up a restaurant where they serve authentic and … unfortunately … unpopular Italian food. In a last bid to make the venture a success, they throw a banquet party which Jazz and Big Band star Louis Prima is invited. Their hope is that by impressing Prima they will get on the map, but it wouldn’t be very impressive to have an empty restaurant when the singer arrives.
So, the brothers invite all sorts of people: the owner of the successful Italian restaurant down the street, the neighborhood florist, the “booze guy,” their grocer, the barber, and even a car salesman that Secundo met walking around on the big day. As the evening approaches, the brothers work feverously to get the meal ready, pulling out all the stops. And it is a meal to remember: six courses (at least), including roast fish, pasta, risotto, a roasted suckling pig, and timpano (a secret family recipe filled with “everything that is good”).
The guests gather over drinks and appetizers, greeting the others they know while the music of Louis Prima plays in the background, but the singer doesn’t arrive. Eventually, they sit down and begin the feast without him, and in the midst of the eating and drinking, they get to know each other. Stories are traded over the food. People dance between courses. And by the end of the evening, Italians, Irish, and Americans; successful and struggling, older and younger – the guest leave, obviously reluctant to say goodbye to the sense of community they have built.
If there’s anything that sounds like the banquet table of the King, that’s it – a place where strangers become friends and friends become brothers and sisters as they share in the richness and the power of the grace and the mercy … and the love of Christ.
And yet, it doesn’t always work out that way. There are times when meals become times of sorrow and brokenness. When people bring their frustrations, their anger, or their hatred to the table and use them to dig trenches between themselves and others. Worse yet, they take advantage of the openness and vulnerability that is so often shown and strike out to wound – deeply and painfully wound – those who would offer them love.
That is what Paul was warning the Corinthians about in his letter. They were ignoring the needs of their sisters and brothers in their selfish indulgence. Eating whenever they felt like it. Drinking too much. Letting others go hungry to sate their own desires for more.
That kind of perversion of the communal table makes a joke of the Lord’s banquet and turns its blessings of unity into sins of cruelty and division. Those who eat and drink in that way turn away from the grace they have been offered. They eat and drink judgment against themselves.
That’s not us. When we sit down together we use the time to reconnect with one another. For some of us, it the only time we talk to our brothers and sisters which is a little bit sad. Still, when I look around at a potluck – in those rare moments when Sebastian and Alistair are occupied – I see people talking and laughing together with a real sense of community and joy. I see a holy space where people share their lives and themselves with each other, finding food for their spirits that is just as important as the food that sustains their bodies.
That is making of the table a place where grace and healing give birth to a deep and rich community of the Spirit and that is worship. That is living into being a part of the Realm of God. It’s just a hint of the richness that is to come … and we enjoy it every time we sit down together with this community of faith that has become of family.
That is what the church is called to be and to do. That is the community of the body of Christ living as sisters and brothers.
We do that … and in those moments, we are gifted with a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.
Hallelujah … AMEN!
Communion:
We will be singing each of the three verses of “Let us break bread together” at different times during communion this morning. And so I invite you to open your hymnals to #453 as we prepare to celebrate this meal made holy by the rich blessings of God’s love.
The ordinance of communion symbolizes our unity as the body of Christ. It unites each of us in a common bond with each other and with other believers around the world. Just as many grains of wheat and many grapes come together to form one loaf and one cup, so too the people of God, coming from many places and backgrounds, are made into one community in Christ.
Bread: a common, mundane part of everyday life. Yet, it was in the breaking of bread that the risen Christ often revealed himself. On the last night he spent with his followers, Jesus gave them a powerful symbol of his presence. He made special that which was commonplace and ordinary by taking bread, and, as he had done so often before, he blessed, broke, and gave it to them. Then he said, “Take and eat, for this is my body which is given for you.”
(Sing first verse of “let us break bread together” as the bread is distributed.)
Let us pray …
As we take this bread into our bodies, O God, may we take the bread of Christ’s healing and empowering presence into our own lives and extend it to those we meet each day. AMEN.
As we prepare to share in this symbol of unity, let us speak together the words printed in our bulletins - “The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.”
Fruit of the vine: a standard beverage in ancient Israel. Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at Cana, showed the abundance of God’s blessing. That last night, he once again turned something mundane into something holy as he took the cup, gave thanks, and announced to the disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Drink from it, all of you.”
(Sing second verse of “let us break bread together” as the cups are distributed.)
Let us pray …
As we remember the new covenant you established through Christ, O God, may we be renewed in mind, body, and spirit in order to live out of the promise and power you give to all your disciples. AMEN.
As we prepare to share in this symbol of unity, let us speak together the words printed in our bulletins - “The cup which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.”
Drink the cup.
Will you pray with me ….
We give thanks, O God, for gathering us together around this holy meal. May the power and presence of Christ be revealed in the community we share just as it is in our thoughts, words, and deeds as we strive to serve both you and our neighbors. In the coming days, bring the example of Christ to life within us and fill us with your Holy Spirit, now and evermore. AMEN.
As we leave this space made holy by our sharing, let praise God for the gift of community born around the table, singing together the final verse of our communion hymn.
(Sing verse three of “Let us break bread together”)
Go in peace.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Black History Month Worship Resources
On February 13 our congregation will celebrate Black History Month. We are a predominately white congregation and the challenge for shaping worship was to blend thanksgiving with confession, hope with forgiveness, recognition both of our racial unity as well as our racial diversity.
Our continued call is to unearth the White American's complicity in maintaining systems of racism and racial predjudice that denies the full recognition of the divine in one another. We pray we will be open to humility as we call on God to be our help and our guide. And we ask God to grant us grace when we are corrected, called out, and invited into a world beyond black and white.
Litany of Thanks
In Celebration of Black History Month
by Carrie Eikler
Leader: God of all people, all races and nationalities, all able and broken bodies, all people who breathe your sweet air of life.
People: We give thanks that you have made us in your image.
L: Today we are called to give thanks for the great gifts of our Black American sisters and brothers that make our lives richer and fuller.
P: Thanks be to God!
L: For the writers: WEB DuBois, Audre Lorde, Langston Hughes
P: Thank you God for their words!
L: For the healers: Harriet Tubman, Dr. Charles Richard Drew, Dr. David J. Peck
P: Thank you Jesus for their healing!
L: For the peacemakers and justice seekers: Sojourner Truth, Fredrick Douglass, Coretta Scott King
P: Thank you Spirit for their passion!
L: For the scientists: Percy Julian, Patricia Bath, George Washington Carver
P: Thank you God for their ingenuity!
L: For the government officials: Thurgood Marshall, Barack Obama, Carol Mosely-Braun,
P: Thank you Jesus for their persistence!
L: For the professors and educators: Cornell West, Ruth Simmons, Charles L. Reason
P: Thank you Spirit for their intellect!
L: For the musicians: Marian Anderson, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday
P: Thank you God for their creativity!
L: For the athletes: Jackie Joyner Kersee, Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe
P: Thank you Jesus for their agility and strength!
L:For these and all our African American brothers and sisters who surround us this day we give thanks.
P: Amen. And Amen!
*Some of these names are likely very familiar to you. Some you may not recognize. As a response to our celebration, take time this month to learn about some about these Black Americans that you are less familiar with.
Prayers of the People
Prayer” by Maya Angelou
Father, Mother, God
Thank you for your presence
during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon.
Thank you for your presence
during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have
with those who have less.
And thank you for your presence
during the Holy Days, for then we are able
to celebrate you and our families
and our friends.
For those who have no voice,
we ask you to speak.
(silence)
For those who feel unworthy,
we ask you to pour your love out
in waterfalls of tenderness.
(silence)
For those who live in pain,
we ask you to bathe them
in the river of your healing.
(silence)
For those who are lonely, we ask
you to keep them company.
(silence)
For those who are depressed,
we ask you to shower upon them
the light of hope.
(silence)
Dear Creator, You, the borderless
sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the
world that which we need most--Peace.
[Amen.]
Prayer of Reconciliation
adapted from United Church of Canada Black History worship materials
Gracious God, we thank you for creating all of us in your image,
even though outwardly we look different.
We thank you for being faithful.
We thank you that in you there is no superior race; we are all the same in your eyes
We thank you for your justice.
Help us, O God, to look to you for guidance.
We thank you for reconciling us.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for inviting us to you, the spring that flows with living water.
We thank you for giving us water to drink.
Help us to accept one another in love,
like you did for us,
when you accepted each one of us in your love.
Thank you for your love that is from eternity to eternity.
As we come together to remember Black History Month,
We give thanks because you have made us equal in your sight.
You are calling us to rise and look forward,
and to serve you in justice and peace.
Thank you, loving God,
for giving hope that last forever.
Thank you, for making us to be part of this journey;
We know that you will make all things new. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Benediction from 44th Inaugural Address by Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day
when black will not be asked to get back,
when brown can stick around
when yellow will be mellow
when the red man can get ahead, man
and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen
[Amen!]
Hymns:
Yonder come day
Precious Lord take my hand
In Christ there is no East or West
Lift every voice and sing
Our continued call is to unearth the White American's complicity in maintaining systems of racism and racial predjudice that denies the full recognition of the divine in one another. We pray we will be open to humility as we call on God to be our help and our guide. And we ask God to grant us grace when we are corrected, called out, and invited into a world beyond black and white.
Litany of Thanks
In Celebration of Black History Month
by Carrie Eikler
Leader: God of all people, all races and nationalities, all able and broken bodies, all people who breathe your sweet air of life.
People: We give thanks that you have made us in your image.
L: Today we are called to give thanks for the great gifts of our Black American sisters and brothers that make our lives richer and fuller.
P: Thanks be to God!
L: For the writers: WEB DuBois, Audre Lorde, Langston Hughes
P: Thank you God for their words!
L: For the healers: Harriet Tubman, Dr. Charles Richard Drew, Dr. David J. Peck
P: Thank you Jesus for their healing!
L: For the peacemakers and justice seekers: Sojourner Truth, Fredrick Douglass, Coretta Scott King
P: Thank you Spirit for their passion!
L: For the scientists: Percy Julian, Patricia Bath, George Washington Carver
P: Thank you God for their ingenuity!
L: For the government officials: Thurgood Marshall, Barack Obama, Carol Mosely-Braun,
P: Thank you Jesus for their persistence!
L: For the professors and educators: Cornell West, Ruth Simmons, Charles L. Reason
P: Thank you Spirit for their intellect!
L: For the musicians: Marian Anderson, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday
P: Thank you God for their creativity!
L: For the athletes: Jackie Joyner Kersee, Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe
P: Thank you Jesus for their agility and strength!
L:For these and all our African American brothers and sisters who surround us this day we give thanks.
P: Amen. And Amen!
*Some of these names are likely very familiar to you. Some you may not recognize. As a response to our celebration, take time this month to learn about some about these Black Americans that you are less familiar with.
Prayers of the People
Prayer” by Maya Angelou
Father, Mother, God
Thank you for your presence
during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon.
Thank you for your presence
during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have
with those who have less.
And thank you for your presence
during the Holy Days, for then we are able
to celebrate you and our families
and our friends.
For those who have no voice,
we ask you to speak.
(silence)
For those who feel unworthy,
we ask you to pour your love out
in waterfalls of tenderness.
(silence)
For those who live in pain,
we ask you to bathe them
in the river of your healing.
(silence)
For those who are lonely, we ask
you to keep them company.
(silence)
For those who are depressed,
we ask you to shower upon them
the light of hope.
(silence)
Dear Creator, You, the borderless
sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the
world that which we need most--Peace.
[Amen.]
Prayer of Reconciliation
adapted from United Church of Canada Black History worship materials
Gracious God, we thank you for creating all of us in your image,
even though outwardly we look different.
We thank you for being faithful.
We thank you that in you there is no superior race; we are all the same in your eyes
We thank you for your justice.
Help us, O God, to look to you for guidance.
We thank you for reconciling us.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for inviting us to you, the spring that flows with living water.
We thank you for giving us water to drink.
Help us to accept one another in love,
like you did for us,
when you accepted each one of us in your love.
Thank you for your love that is from eternity to eternity.
As we come together to remember Black History Month,
We give thanks because you have made us equal in your sight.
You are calling us to rise and look forward,
and to serve you in justice and peace.
Thank you, loving God,
for giving hope that last forever.
Thank you, for making us to be part of this journey;
We know that you will make all things new. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Benediction from 44th Inaugural Address by Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day
when black will not be asked to get back,
when brown can stick around
when yellow will be mellow
when the red man can get ahead, man
and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen
[Amen!]
Hymns:
Yonder come day
Precious Lord take my hand
In Christ there is no East or West
Lift every voice and sing
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Children's Sunday
6th Sunday in Passionate Spirituality Series
This Sunday we "for-went" much of our normal routine in celebration of children. Children were a large part of the service through singing, acting, reading, dancing, and leading. Below are some of the materials involved* (*much was used from Children's Sunday resources provided by UCC)
Call to Worship (Nick holding Shailoh, Carrie holding Alistair, and Kim holding Beatrix)–
Nick: Climbing High, reaching for the sky
Carrie: Jumping in puddles, laughing so merrily
Kim: Rolling in tickling green grass, dizzy with joy
All: The exuberance of children: God’s pure delight
Kim: Singing out loud and dancing wildly
Carrie: Running or toddling, legs all a blur
Nick: Hugging and sharing, faces aglow
All: The joy of children: a blessing from God and a reason to sing.
*Hymn Lord we bring to you our children SJ #90
(children walk in, waving ribbons: up the center aisle, around pews, back up the center aisle, placing sticks on vase on worship center, children return to steps)
*Opening Prayer (Katie reads, Nick leads congregation in repeating, Carrie leads children in motion as Katie reads)
For our opening prayer, Katie is going to read a line while the children do some movement. You then are invited to repeat the words and the movement that the children do. May our hearts and bodies join together in prayer!
Holy God,
you were with us when we were born,
you are with us as we grow,
you are with us when we hurt
you are with us when we are whole.
Thank you.
Thank you!
THANK YOU!
Would you help us to see?
Would you help us to hear?
Would you help us to love?
So we might change ourselves.
So we might change the world!
WELCOMING
Peace Lamp - American journalist Dorothy Thompson wrote, “If we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children.” May our congregation be a place of molding and making, shaping and supporting young peacemakers. May we be a place of peace for all God’s children.
Dedication of Alistair Phillip Eikler
Hymn I was there to hear your borning cry SJ #89
PRAYING AND GIVING
Prayer saying “Thank you” and “I’m sorry” and “Please help” (Scotty, Nick, Carrie)
(everyone focuses on the picture they brought of a child they know)
As I look at this picture, I say, “Thank you, God!”
For the gift of this person in my life.
Thank you for who they are.
Thank you for how they change who I am.
Thank you for all that is good in them,
and for all that is good in the world.
Thank you for making them my teacher,
and thank you for helping them learn from me.
Hold this child in your love!
All: Hold all children in your love!
(Ask everyone to focus on the silhouette given to them when they came in.)
As I look at this picture, I realize I can’t really see the face.
So, today, God, this picture represents someone I’ve hurt—
maybe because of something I did,
maybe because of something I didn’t do.
God, could you help me to realize what I’ve done?
Would you forgive me for what I’ve done?
Could you help me, tomorrow and every day afterward,
to make wiser choices—
ones that bring healing, rather than hurting,
to your world?
Hold these children in your love.
All: Hold all children in your love.
(all focus on picture of child they don't know)
God, this child is your child.
I’m not sure where they come from.
I don’t know what is happening in their life.
But I do know that, just like me, they need your love.
If there is some way that I can make a difference in their life,
guide me to that action—
so I can help to be your hands, your heart, and your love in the world.
Hold these children in your love.
All: Hold all children in your love. AMEN
Offering
In celebration and in hope, let us continue our prayer. Let’s each of us bring forward an offering today—an offering of the faces in our prayer. We’re going to place the photos on the communion table so we might see the faces of God’s children. As we do so, let’s bring our financial gifts in the offering plates as well.
EXPLORING
Children’s Choir - - Jesus loves the little children
Children’s Story - The Colors of Us
Sharing Scripture (Cockroft Family)–
As we engage the words of scripture today, we are going to do something a bit different. Nick will be reading the scriptures and we have some interpretive drama to go along with the words. Following each scripture, as we have been doing throughout this entire series, you are invited to gather with one or two other people and discuss one of the questions printed in the bulletin.
Exodus 2:1-10
· What aspects of childhood have you lost (pushed away)?
· What aspects of childhood would you like to receive again? How might you encourage child-likeness in your life?
Luke 2:41-52
When you think about all the things you’ve learned from the stories of Jesus’ life, which teachings are most important to you?
· What does that teaching (or those teachings) mean for how you relate to other children in the world?
SAYING GOODBYE
*Hymn and Dance - You shall go out with joy 427
*Sending Prayer
This Sunday we "for-went" much of our normal routine in celebration of children. Children were a large part of the service through singing, acting, reading, dancing, and leading. Below are some of the materials involved* (*much was used from Children's Sunday resources provided by UCC)
Call to Worship (Nick holding Shailoh, Carrie holding Alistair, and Kim holding Beatrix)–
Nick: Climbing High, reaching for the sky
Carrie: Jumping in puddles, laughing so merrily
Kim: Rolling in tickling green grass, dizzy with joy
All: The exuberance of children: God’s pure delight
Kim: Singing out loud and dancing wildly
Carrie: Running or toddling, legs all a blur
Nick: Hugging and sharing, faces aglow
All: The joy of children: a blessing from God and a reason to sing.
*Hymn Lord we bring to you our children SJ #90
(children walk in, waving ribbons: up the center aisle, around pews, back up the center aisle, placing sticks on vase on worship center, children return to steps)
*Opening Prayer (Katie reads, Nick leads congregation in repeating, Carrie leads children in motion as Katie reads)
For our opening prayer, Katie is going to read a line while the children do some movement. You then are invited to repeat the words and the movement that the children do. May our hearts and bodies join together in prayer!
Holy God,
you were with us when we were born,
you are with us as we grow,
you are with us when we hurt
you are with us when we are whole.
Thank you.
Thank you!
THANK YOU!
Would you help us to see?
Would you help us to hear?
Would you help us to love?
So we might change ourselves.
So we might change the world!
WELCOMING
Peace Lamp - American journalist Dorothy Thompson wrote, “If we wish to create a lasting peace, we must begin with the children.” May our congregation be a place of molding and making, shaping and supporting young peacemakers. May we be a place of peace for all God’s children.
Dedication of Alistair Phillip Eikler
Hymn I was there to hear your borning cry SJ #89
PRAYING AND GIVING
Prayer saying “Thank you” and “I’m sorry” and “Please help” (Scotty, Nick, Carrie)
(everyone focuses on the picture they brought of a child they know)
As I look at this picture, I say, “Thank you, God!”
For the gift of this person in my life.
Thank you for who they are.
Thank you for how they change who I am.
Thank you for all that is good in them,
and for all that is good in the world.
Thank you for making them my teacher,
and thank you for helping them learn from me.
Hold this child in your love!
All: Hold all children in your love!
(Ask everyone to focus on the silhouette given to them when they came in.)
As I look at this picture, I realize I can’t really see the face.
So, today, God, this picture represents someone I’ve hurt—
maybe because of something I did,
maybe because of something I didn’t do.
God, could you help me to realize what I’ve done?
Would you forgive me for what I’ve done?
Could you help me, tomorrow and every day afterward,
to make wiser choices—
ones that bring healing, rather than hurting,
to your world?
Hold these children in your love.
All: Hold all children in your love.
(all focus on picture of child they don't know)
God, this child is your child.
I’m not sure where they come from.
I don’t know what is happening in their life.
But I do know that, just like me, they need your love.
If there is some way that I can make a difference in their life,
guide me to that action—
so I can help to be your hands, your heart, and your love in the world.
Hold these children in your love.
All: Hold all children in your love. AMEN
Offering
In celebration and in hope, let us continue our prayer. Let’s each of us bring forward an offering today—an offering of the faces in our prayer. We’re going to place the photos on the communion table so we might see the faces of God’s children. As we do so, let’s bring our financial gifts in the offering plates as well.
EXPLORING
Children’s Choir - - Jesus loves the little children
Children’s Story - The Colors of Us
Sharing Scripture (Cockroft Family)–
As we engage the words of scripture today, we are going to do something a bit different. Nick will be reading the scriptures and we have some interpretive drama to go along with the words. Following each scripture, as we have been doing throughout this entire series, you are invited to gather with one or two other people and discuss one of the questions printed in the bulletin.
Exodus 2:1-10
· What aspects of childhood have you lost (pushed away)?
· What aspects of childhood would you like to receive again? How might you encourage child-likeness in your life?
Luke 2:41-52
When you think about all the things you’ve learned from the stories of Jesus’ life, which teachings are most important to you?
· What does that teaching (or those teachings) mean for how you relate to other children in the world?
SAYING GOODBYE
*Hymn and Dance - You shall go out with joy 427
*Sending Prayer
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