 The Sixth Sunday Of Easter |
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CENTERING IN PREPARATION Breathe . . . Breathe in God's Spirit Breathe out all tension Breathe in God's calming presence Breathe out all anxiety Breathe in God's healing balm Breathe out all pain and discomfort Breathe in God's loving embrace Breathe out all worry Breathe in God's enduring blessing Breathe out all distractions Breathe . . . in . . . out . . . in . . . out . . . . . . (silence) . . MUSIC FOR LISTENING (Click Here For Music and Video) —Marie Barnett, Lyrics and Music, Copyright © 1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP) —this arrangement and production: Michael W. Smith If you wish to sing along, the words are provided on the website noted above. GATHERING WORDS We have had a disturbing time. The noise of politics and culture have drummed in our ears. God of good news, bring your realm where grace is gently whispered. We have had a disheartening time. Gun violence and mass shootings continue to grow in number. God of diversity, bring your realm where all are equal and pursuing the common good, We have had a trying time. The world is in conflict and suffering. God of peace, bring your realm of concord and harmony. We have had a troublesome time. The pandemic continues and mutates anew. God of wellness, bring your realm of healing wholeness. We have had a tumultuous time. Conspiracy theories have emboldened white nationalism. Lies and half-truths have sparked distrust and division. Intentional misleading for the sake of popularity and profit have led so many astray. The untrruth that might is right, rather than right is might, prevails among our leaders and their followers. Power wrought in greed not only steals the soul of the wealthy, but causes the suffering of the poor. God of righteousness, brings your realm where the truth shall set us free. We have had an anxious time. Elections in our nation and throughout the world have caused us to continue in our confusion and perplexity. God of order, bring your realm of justice. We have had a grieving time. So many loses to violence, disease, starvation, homelessness, hatred, racism, and all the ways we pit one against another. God of resurrection, bring your realm of recreation and make all things new. SONG (Click Here For Music) —Fred Kaan (1965) —Words © 1968 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188 Lord, we pray with one accord; for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords. To a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word. Lead your people into freedom, from despair your world release, that, redeemed from war and hatred, all may come and go in peace. Show us how, through care and goodness, fear will die and hope increase. All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned: pride of status, race or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan. In our common quest for justice may we hallow life's brief span. You, Creator-God, have written your great name on humankind; for our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind; that by our response and service earth its destiny may find. SCRIPTURE READING—Revelation 21.10, 22-22.5 10 The angel then carried me away in the Spirit to the top of a very high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 22 I saw no Temple in the city, for God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the Temple. 23 There was no sun or moon: God’s glory was its light, and the Lamb was its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by the city’s light, and the rulers of the earth will bring their treasures. 25 The city’s gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does loathsome things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb will enter. 22.1 The angel then showed me the river of life-giving water, clear as crystal, which issued from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 and flowed down the middle of the streets. On either side of the river grew the trees of life which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month; their leaves serve as medicine to heal the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse. The throne of the Almighty and of the Lamb will be there, and God’s subjects will serve faithfully. 4 They will see the Most High face to face, and bear God’s name on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for our God will give them light, and they will reign forever. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALMODY—Psalm 67 1 O God, show us kindness and bless us, and make your face smile on us! 2 For then the earth will acknowledge your ways, and all the nations will know of your power to save. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations shout and sing for joy, for you dispense true justice to the world— you guide the nations of the earth! 5 Let the peoples shout and sing for joy; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The land has given its harvest: God, our God, has blessed us. 7 May God bless us, and may God be revered even to the ends of the earth! —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SCRIPTURE READING—John 14:23-29 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and God will love them; and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the God who sent me. 25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom God will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to God, because the God is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. THE PEACE Translation: Grant Us Peace (Click Here For Music and Video) —Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austria (1756-1791) —International Voices Houston —Mark Vogel, Artistic Director PRAYER OF INTERCESSION In this season of Easter rejoicing, let us offer our prayers and thanksgivings for the church and the world saying, O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For the well-being of your creation, that we may promote its ability that we may promote its ability to offer praise to you through spacious skies, bountiful seas, verdant lands, and precious creatures great and small. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For the life of the church, that our generous witness may broaden your table as all find a place to live and grow in love. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For the welfare of your world, that all leaders and people young and old will strive to live together in harmony while serving the common good. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For all who suffer any violence, pain, or grief, that they will know the comfort of your presence as you wipe every tear from their eyes. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For the love made known to us in Jesus Christ through this community, for this and all other blessings we give you thanks and praise. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For all who have died, that you will bring them to the fullness of your joy, where mourning and pain will be no more. O God of love, Raise us to new life in your Kin-Dom. For so many blessings, and for answered prayers, we give you thanks, O God, our Redeemer. Amen. —Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 1. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. SONG (Click Here For Music) —John Newton [altered] (1725-1807) —Public Domain Thy presence now display As thou hast given a place for prayer So give us hearts to pray So give us hearts to pray Within these walls let holy peace And love and concord dwell Here give the troubled conscience ease The wounded spirit heal The wounded spirit heal May we in faith receive Thy word In faith present our prayers And in the presence of our Lord Unbosom all our cares Unbosom all our cares The hearing ear, the seeing eye The humbled heart, bestow And shine upon us from on high To make our graces grow To make our graces grow PRAYER FOR HEALING AND RECONCILIATION Whenever our own needs obscures the needs of others, forgive us. Whenever our sense of individualism forgets our neighbor, forgive us. Whenever our attemots to avoid for our own comfort, forgive us. Whenever our own accomplisments forget to affirm others, forgive us. Whenever our way differs from the way of Jesus, forgive us. Whenever our words and actionw bring sorrow or pain to another's heart, forgive us. Whenever our haste causes us to miss the opportunity to care for another, forgive us. Whenever our bias and prejudice discriminates and excludes, forgive us. Whenever our own sense of right and wrong brings us to judge others, forgive us. Whenever our desire for calm accepts cheap peace and ongoing injustice, forgive us. Whenever our turning of a situation into "me and them" or "we and they", forgive us. Whenever our brokenness is reason for another to stumble or fall, forgive us. Forgive us, O God, who compassion and mercy is always with us. Help us to be the new people that are destined to always live in you. Amen. THE PRAYER OF JESUS Heavenly Father, heavenly Mother, Holy and blessed is your true name. We pray for your reign of peace to come, We pray that your good will be done, Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need, Give it to those who have none. Let forgiveness flow like a river between us, From each one to each one. Lead us to holy innocence Beyond the evil of our days. Come swiftly Mother, Father, come. For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy: Forever your name is All in One. —By Parker Palmer SONG O God of Every Nation (Click Here For Music) —William Watkins Reid (1958) —LLANGLOFFAN, Welsh Hymn Melody O God of every nation, of every race and land, redeem the whole creation with your almighty hand. Where hate and fear divide us and bitter threats are hurled, in love and mercy guide us, and heal our strife torn world. From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right, from trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night, from pride of race and nation and blindness to your way, deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray! Lord, strengthen those who labor that all may find release from fear of rattling saber, from dread of war's increase. When hope and courage falter, Lord, let your voice be heard; with faith that none can alter, your servants undergird. Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease, when hatred and division give way to love and peace, till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign, and Christ shall rule victorious o'er all the world's domain. GOING FORTH "The Lord Bless You And Keep You" (Click Here For Music Video) There is silence at the beginning with words showing in video. —Numbers 6:24-26 —More than 500 voices, all affiliated with Abilene Christian, came together virtually to sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” during the global pandemic. SENDING FORTH Go in peace. |
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WORSHIP IN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER—May 22, 2022
WHY A BLOG?
As a clergyperson with a disability now retired, this is my humble attempt to provide a ministry that some will find helpful. I have always focused on be inclusive and have struggled with the church's tradition of referring to God and humankind with masculine names and pronouns. Since the 1970's, thanks to my dear sister-in-law, I have been aware of the discrimination of women and have worked in the parish and community for equal rights with an equity of access to the resources that add blessing to life. I hope this site is of meaning to those who read it and worship with me and others within it. Peace.