God of power, as the earth reveals opening buds and ripening grain: We celebrate your purpose in creation. God of salvation, as the earth provides tranquility and timelessness: We celebrate your grace in creation. God of wholeness, as the earth sparkles with running, living water: We celebrate your healing in creation. Creator, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, help us to preserve all that gives and enhances life: In celebration of your creation.
Prayer of Adoration
Song of Praise
All People That on Earth Do Dwell Words by William Kethe Tune: OLD HUNDREDTH LM
All people that on earth do dwell, sing out your faith with cheerful voice; Delight in God whose praise you tell, whose presence calls you to rejoice.
Know that there is one God, indeed, who fashions us without our aid, Who claims us, gives us all we need, whose tender care will never fade.
Enter the sacred gates with praise, with joy approach the temple walls. Extol and bless our God always as people whom the Sprit calls.
Proclaim again that God is good, whose mercy is forever sure, Whose truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
Psalm 138 Common English Bible
I give thanks to you with all my heart, Lord. I sing your praise before all other gods. I bow toward your holy temple and thank your name for your loyal love and faithfulness because you have made your name and word greater than everything else. On the day I cried out, you answered me. You encouraged me with inner strength.
Let all the earth’s rulers give thanks to you, Lord, when they hear what you say. Let them sing about the Lord’s ways because the Lord’s glory is so great! Even though the Lord is high, he can still see the lowly, but God keeps his distance from the arrogant.
Whenever I am in deep trouble, you make me live again; you send your power against my enemies’ wrath; you save me with your strong hand. The Lord will do all this for my sake.
Your faithful love lasts forever, Lord! Don’t let go of what your hands have made.
Song of Praise
Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Words by Charles Wesley AZMON CM (Glaser)
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise The glories ever echoing the triumphs of God’s grace!
My gracious Savior and my God, assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad the honors of your name.
Jesus! The name that calms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease Is music in the sinner’s ear, is life, and health, and peace!
Glory to God, and love and praise be ever, ever given By all the saints in every age, the church in earth and heaven.
Psalm 130 Common English Bible
I cry out to you from the depths, Lord— my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! If you kept track of sins, Lord— my Lord, who would stand a chance? But forgiveness is with you— that’s why you are honored.
I hope, Lord. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise. My whole being waits for my Lord— more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!
Israel, wait for the Lord! Because faithful love is with the; because great redemption is with our God! He is the one who will redeem Israel from all its sin.
Prayer for Others
Choral Prayer
Out of the Depths Camille Saint-Saëns
Out of the depths I cry unto thee, O Lord hear my voice! Hear thou my supplications. If thou, O Lord, should mark my iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 Common English Bible
Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat.When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”
His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.” He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Reflection on the Gospel Rev. Tonya Vickery
An audio recording of the sermon from 11am service is below. Please note that it did not record in stereo, so your left speaker isn’t broken, it only plays from the right. 🙂
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Response
Who Is My Mother, Who Is My Brother? Words by Shirley Erena Murray JIATIN (Hong)
Who is my mother, who is my brother? all those who gather round Jesus Christ: Spirit-blown people born from the Gospel sit at he table, round Jesus Christ.
Chorus: Bound by one vision, met for one mission we claim each other, round Jesus Christ: here is my mother, here is my brother, kindred in Spirit, through Jesus Christ.
Differently abled, differently labeled, widen the circle round Jesus Christ, crutches and stigmas, culture’s enigmas, all come together round Jesus Christ. Chorus
Love will relate us – color or status can’t segregate us, round Jesus Christ: family failings, human derailings – all are accepted, round Jesus Christ. Chorus
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song
Blest Be the Tie Words by John Fawcett DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to print the words and include recordings of the music obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Praise the God of creation: who made us to be in relationship. Praise the Christ of love: who calls us friends Praise the Spirit of peace: who enables us to live in unity.
Opening Prayer
God, who has made our world with its beauty and wonder, full of delights for us to explore, grant us wisdom to live gently on the earth, holding sacred the air and water, soil and sun. God, who has called human beings your children, made to share in the work of creation, grant us wisdom to live in harmony with one another, holding sacred your image in everyone. God, whose Spirit dwells within us, giving us power to live in your name, grant us wisdom to discern you, holding sacred the glory of love in the everyday. Amen.
Song of Praise Creator, Companion, Comforter Tune: Morning Has Broken Words by Craig Mitchell
God of Creation, Gentle life-giver Present at birth and all through our days, Author of sunrise, song in the night sky, Here in this place, we offer our praise.
Jesus, Companion, teacher and healer friend of the grieving, suffering, the poor Stand with your people, whisper among us promise of mercy, goodness for all
Spirit of Comfort, blow through Creation stir up new life, breathe peace through our world Healer of hearts, and hope for tomorrow weave all our sorrows into new dawn
Here we give thanks for life in its fullness blessings received your gifts to us all Make us a people filled with compassion selflessly giving, serving your world
Psalm 29 Common English Bible
You, divine beings! Give to the Lord— give to the Lord glory and power! Give to the Lord the glory due his name! Bow down to the Lord in holy splendor!
The Lord’s voice is over the waters; the glorious God thunders; the Lord is over the mighty waters. The Lord’s voice is strong; the Lord’s voice is majestic. The Lord’s voice breaks cedar trees— yes, the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon jump around like a young bull, makes Sirion jump around like a young wild ox. The Lord’s voice unleashes fiery flames; the Lord’s voice shakes the wilderness— yes, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The Lord’s voice convulses the oaks, strips the forests bare, but in his temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the floodwaters; the Lord sits enthroned—king forever!
Let the Lord give strength to his people! Let the Lord bless his people with peace
Song of Praise All on Earth and All in Heaven Words: Michael Morgan Tune: EBENEZER
All on earth and all in heaven raise to God a song on high; strength unmeasured, love unbounded, God alone we glorify. At God’s voice the clouds assemble, thunder roars, and torrents fall; earth shall quake before God’s presence, mountains tremble at God’s call
Trees shall bow in awe and wonder, bend their branches to the ground; from God’s lips one word in anger wreaks destruction all around But the Word which sets in motion such travails can make them cease; that same voice which tumult beckons in a gentler breath speaks peace.
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem Prayer to the Trinity Michael Bedford
Come, come, O God of heaven, Live within our hearts today; Come, come O God of heaven, Hear, O hear us as we pray.
Come, come, O gracious Savior, Stay within out hearts today Come, come O gracious Savior, Hear, O hear us as we pray.
O, be near us, love and cheer us, With your blessings from above; Ever guide us, walk beside us As we seek to share your love.
Come, come, O Holy Spirit, shine within our hearts today; Come, come, O Holy Spirit, Hear, O hear us as we pray.
Isaiah 6:1-8 Common English Bible
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. They shouted to each other, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”
The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”
Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.” Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?” I said, “I’m here; send me.”
Reflection on the Scriptures Dr. Jeffrey Vickery
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Affirmation Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty Tune: NICAEA Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. based on Psalm 2
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee. Though the eye of sinfulness thy glory may not see, Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty. God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.
Blessing
May the eyes of the seeing Creator watch over us and keep us and ours ever in gaze. May the arms of the loving Savior hold us close and surround each moment of our lives with his care. May the wings of the living Spirit shelter each of us and enfold all our days and our nights with God’s peace. Amen.
Closing Song Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
The opening image entitled “Trinity” was taken by Martin Gommel on July 12, 2007. The photo is posted on flickr and can be found here.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Welcome, Holy Spirit, we celebrate your presence. Welcome, Comforter, touch our souls with your peace. Welcome, Awakener, touch our souls with your life. Welcome, Disturber, touch our souls with your truth. Waken us to the truth, fan the fire of holy love, teach us the best way, and comfort us in distress or failure. May our worship honor your presence among us.
Opening Prayer
Song of Praise O Breath of Life SPIRITUS VITAE (Hammond) Words by Elizabeth Ann P. Head
Breath of Life, come sweeping through us, revive your church with life and power; O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us, And fit your church to meet this hour.
O Wind of God, come bend us, break us, till humbly we confess our need; then in your tenderness remake us, revive, restore for this we plead.
O Breath of Love, come breathe within us, renewing thought and will and heart; come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us, revive your church in every part!
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Common English Bible
Lord, you have done so many things! You made them all so wisely! The earth is full of your creations! And then there’s the sea, wide and deep, with its countless creatures— living things both small and large. There go the ships on it, and Leviathan, which you made, plays in it! All your creations wait for you to give them their food on time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled completely full! But when you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to dust. When you let loose your breath, they are created, and you make the surface of the ground brand-new again.
Let the Lord’s glory last forever! Let the Lord rejoice in all he has made! He has only to look at the earth, and it shakes. God just touches the mountains, and they erupt in smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I’m still alive. Let my praise be pleasing to him; I’m rejoicing in the Lord! But let my whole being bless the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Song of Praise Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works Words: Joseph R. Renville; paraphrased by Phillip Frazier Tune: LACQUIPARLE (Native American Melody)
Many and great, O God, are your works, Maker of earth and sky; Your hands have set the heavens with stars Your fingers spread the mountains and plains. Lo, at your word the waters were formed; Deep seas obey your voice.
Grant unto us communion with you, O star abiding One; Come unto us and dwell with us: with you are found the gifts of life. Bless us with life that has no end, eternal life with you.
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem Holy Trinity Prayer Words by David Knight Music by Paul Ayres
Holy Trinity, Holy Trinity, in whose name we worship, give us such love, that alone and together, today and every day we may reverence our Maker, radiate the presence of the Son, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Acts 2:1-21 Common English Bible
When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?”Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”
Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning!Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams. Even upon my servants, men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be changed into blood, before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Reflection on the Scriptures Rev. Tonya Vickery
We are getting ready to move both of girls next month. Ally is moving to Maine and Elizabeth is moving to Chapel Hill. If you have ever moved, whether it was across town or across the country, you know what it is like to have to box up and pack all your stuff into a moving van or trailer. Moving forces you to decide what you really want to keep and what you can live without, because you sure don’t want to waste time, energy, and money on moving things that are unimportant to you.
We need to do the same sort of thing with our faith. Our faith in God should never be static or at a standstill. Our faith in God should be active, growing, and changing each and every day. As we come to know God better and better, our faith in God grows as well. So, it is helpful to examine our beliefs and understandings of God. We need to toss out the ideas and images that keep our relationship with God small and weak, and we need to hold fast to the ideas and understandings that are helpful and essential so we can build on top of them so our faith will grow. With today being Pentecost Sunday, let’s turn our attention to the Holy Spirit. Let’s examine our thoughts and ideas about how relates to us through the Spirit. Let’s keep the ideas that promote and encourage our faith in God, and let’s toss out the beliefs that hinder and hold us back.
Most of you probably grew up with a different translation of the Bible than the Common English Bible. The CEB is what we have been using in worship since last year when the Pandemic hit. Written in “common English” it is easier to understand while still staying true to the original manuscripts of Hebrew and Greek. Growing up I read from the NIV or the NASB translations, and occasionally from the King James Version. I tell you, without any hesitation, that the story of Pentecost in any of those ~three translations can lead a child to be quite fearful of the Spirit of God. Any ideas that lead us to fear God, like shake in your boots fear, those ideas and images need to be tossed out.
The most troubling image I gleaned from the story of Pentecost was what my Bible called, “divided tongues of fire” which were “resting on each person.” You may remember that language too. I could not begin to imagine a “tongue of fire resting on me” being a positive spiritual experience. Encountering tongues of fire sent by God was an experience I did not want to have. I preferred the image of the Holy Spirit coming to me like a dove, gently flying in and landing beside me, or circling my head. I greatly appreciate the Common English Bible translation of Pentecost. The CEB describes the scene as “individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them.” Same meaning as the other translations without having to erase the image of a tongue of fire coming on you.
Moving past the flaming tongues resting on the people, the sound of the mighty wind didn’t shake me up too much. I had been through a tornado while visiting my grandma in southern Illinois. So the howling wind didn’t bring about fear in my heart. However, the sound of people “speaking in tongues” did scare me. By now you can probably see that I was not an adventurous child. I like the expected and norm, not the unexpected or spectacular. And the possibility that God’s Spirit could take hold of me and cause me to “speak in tongues” just wasn’t the religious gift I was looking for. I knew the Bible said “speaking in tongues” was a gift, but I didn’t want that gift. I didn’t want that experience. I can vividly remember a high school friend who attended church where people spoke in tongues. It was a sign that you had the Holy Spirit with you. If you didn’t speak in tongues, you didn’t have the Spirit. She told my cousin and me that she could speak in tongues for us, but Missy and I were too scared of what might happen for her to do that. Unfortunately, our idea of “speaking in tongues” was more along the lines of a séance or using a ouija board.
Once again, I greatly appreciate the CEB translation. All magic and mystery are cleared up. The strangeness conveyed by the phrase “speaking in tongues” removed by simply stating in common English what happened, “They began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” “Speaking in tongues” means speaking in another language. A gift from God so that others can hear about the mighty works of God in their own language and understand. So it’s good every once and a while to consciously toss out those old images with which we lived for years, images that brought fear and hesitation to our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.
It’s a pity that my understanding of the language created a fear of the Spirit’s outpouring on Pentecost. Instead of communicating the joy and wonder of the day, I had visions of tongues of fire and a cacophony of languages. All outpourings of God should be celebrated and never feared. All outpourings of God should be welcomed and desired, not shied away from. So let’s celebrate the Holy Spirit by recalling other stories of the Spirit’s work in the world. What other visions of the Holy Spirit do we find in the scriptures?
We are first introduced to the Spirit of God in Genesis 1:2. Say the opening words of scripture with me.
In the beginning,when God created the heavens and the earth,the earth was a formless voidand darkness covered the face of the deep,while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
The word for “wind” is ruah in Hebrew. It means, wind, spirit, or breath. It isn’t just a wind that blows over the waters of creation, it is the Holy Spirit of God who sweeps over the face of the waters. What did God do in the beginning? In the beginning, everything was shapeless, without any form, and it was dark! There was a complete emptiness. The Holy Spirit comes and fills the void. What was once empty, is now filled. The Holy Spirit brings order to the chaos. The Holy Spirit gives shape and meaning to what had no form. And the Spirit brings light into the darkness.
Perhaps I would have been a more willing recipient of the Spirit of God back in my childhood and youth age if I just could have put together the opening words of Genesis with the Pentecostal story from Acts. That little Hebrew word, ruah was covered up with words like “fire” and “tongues.” My cousin Missy (same age as me) readily remembers the word ruah from sermons when we were young, but I don’t. Maybe I was day dreaming when Dr. Batson spoke of it. Ruah is the spirit, the breath, the wind of God. Maybe if I had been able to connect the Spirit of God first introduced to us in Genesis 1:2 and the Spirit of God at Pentecost, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so afraid of the Spirit showing up on Pentecost.
The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, was present from before the beginning. There’s more to the work of the Holy Spirit than just an appearance on Pentecost.
When the Israelites were escaping Egyptian bondage, they had to cross the Red Sea to get away from Pharoah’s army. Exodus says it was the Spirit of God ruah who held back the waters so the Israelites could walk on dry land into freedom. The Spirit clears the path for us.
When the temple was being designed and built, it was the Spirit of God ruah who gifted the artisan with them ability and insight to cut stones, work with metals like gold, silver, and bronze, and carve wood in order to make the temple of God a house of beauty. (Exodus 35:31). The Spirit enables us to praise and adore God.
When the people were led by judges and kings, it was the Spirit of God who provided wisdom. The Spirit provides us knowledge and insights to help others.
When prophets were called to straighten out the people, challenge them, correct them, or encourage them, it was the Spirit who provided the words to say. The Spirit gives us the words to say to help others have a better relationship with God.
Psalm 51 and 135 tell us that the Holy Spirit is our companion. Psalm 51 prays, Do not take your holy spirit from me. Psalm 135 asks, Where can I go from your Spirit? The Spirit is with us always, at all times. The Spirit never leaves us.
The prophet Ezekiel teaches us that the Spirit gathers us and puts us back together. The Spirit gives life to dry bones. The Spirit takes us places: lifts us up, sets us on our feet, and bears us away (Ezekiel 3). The Spirit is active and unifying.
It just so happens that on Pentecost, the Spirit of God comes with a mighty presence. There is enough of God’s spirit for everyone and it is poured out upon all. The Spirit enables them that day to tell others about God’s deeds of power. That’s verse 11. Recalling the words from the prophet Joel, the Spirit of God is poured out upon us so that we can speak the truth, so we can see God’s possibilities, so we can hope and dream, so we can boldly speak of God love with words and with our lives. The Spirit of God makes room for everyone–for every and anyone “who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We are word loving people. If it is in writing, it is sure to be true. Just think how easily we humans are led astray by the internet. But if the words are bound in the pages of the Bible, then it is definitely to be believed. Well here in Acts we have this proclamation from Peter, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And surprise, surprise, Peter is quoting the Old Testament. The prophet Joel shared those words centuries before Peter was born. Yes, a message from God written down twice in God’s book but far too often overlooked. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
I feel I must highlight this again for us today because far too often people are telling others who can and cannot be saved. Far too often people are telling others upon whom the Spirit of God can alight and cannot alight. In the past we have heard others believe that the decision of salvation and calling were based on skin color. How many of you were taught that black skin was a curse? That black skinned people were more sinful because they didn’t know God as well. In the past we heard people base decisions of salvation and calling upon gender. Since I was a woman, some of my Russian born seminary collegues truly believed the only way I could be saved was to bear children. And you know people firsthand who do not believe a woman can be called by God to share the good news. Well, presently today, and unfortunately today, we hear people base salvation and calling on sexual identity. How many of you have heard others say gay people go to hell and someone who is gay cannot be called by God to share the good news of God’s love for all people through Jesus Christ.
Are you kidding me? It is Pentecost. Peter proclaims what Joel had said ages ago, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There is no exclusion clause. Joel and Peter say “everyone.” It is written right here in the book. People who follow the line of thinking that your sexual identity can damn you, they believe sexual identity to be a sin. I do not follow that path. Skin color, gender identity, sexual identity, these are not sins, but myriads of ways which God has created us humans. But even if I believed such things were sinful–being black, or being woman, or being gay–even if I believed those things were sinful, I could never believe that a sin could be greater than God.
It is God who saves us, not the color of our skin, our gender, or our sexual identity. And therefore, being born with what others may consider the wrong skin color, or the wrong gender, or the wrong sexual preference cannot keep us away from God nor can it keep us from serving God. It is God who loves us, not because we are a certain way and not another way. It is God who cares about us, not because we are normal and others are strange. Here are the words written so we can plainly read them, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Summer is almost upon us. I think you all have perhaps two more weeks of school left. Most college students have already moved back home. Most of ours have graduated. And we are starting to feel the blessing of freedom this summer! Free to be together again. Free to travel. Free to visit together. Free to worship together in one room as one body, not separated geographically. But don’t you get lazy in your faith.
Let these new freedoms, this new breath of fresh summer air, strengthen your faith and trust in God. May these new freedoms strengthen your relationships with God, one another, and creation. You know, Christ calls us to be co-workers in this world, with one another and with Christ, and with creation. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the work of Christ in the world. As Ezekiel said, the Spirit will lift you up, set you on your feet and bear you away.
Borrowing words from of St. Basil who lived a long time ago in the 300’s,
may the Spirit enable us to foresee the future, to understand mysteries, to grasp hidden things, to receive spiritual blessings, to fix our thoughts on heavenly things, and to dance with angels.
So [our] joy [is] unending, so [our] perseverance to God unfailing, so [we may live as we have been created, in the image of God.}
Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Affirmation Oh When Shall I See Jesus Tune: THE MORNING TRUMPET (B.F. White); arr. James Dooley
O when shall I see Jesus and reign with him above, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning. And from the flowing fountain, drink everlasting love, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning.
Chorus: Shout, O glory! For I shall mount above the skies, When I hear the trumpet sound in that morning.
Through grace I feel determined to conquer, though I die, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning. And then away to Jesus, on wings of love I’ll fly, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning.
Chorus
Gird on the gospel armor of faith, and hope, and love, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning. And when the combat’s ended, He’ll carry you above, And shall hear the trumpet sound in that morning.
Chorus
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
The tune, LACQUIPARLE was written by Joseph R. Renville whose mother was Dakota and his father, French. An explorer, fur trader, and Congregational minister, Renville helped found the Lac qui Parle Mission in Minnesota in 1835. This song, which is also known as the “Dakota Hymn,” was sung by thirty-eight Dakota prisoners of war as they were led to execution at Mankato, Minnesota, on December 26, 1862.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Glory be to God in the world around us: in sun and shade, day and night, and the rhythms of the seasons. Glory be to God! Glory be to God in the community in which we live: in love and laughter, sorrow and joy, and the patterns of human living. Glory be to God! Glory be to God in the way we live our lives: in giving and sharing, thanking and knowing, and all that makes us Jesus’ disciples. Glory be to God! Glory be to God in the world: in the search for justice and peace, and all that makes us one human family. Glory be to God! Glory be to God in the smallest of things: in tiny creatures, fleeting moments, the smallest seed of faith new-growing. Glory be to God! Glory be to God in greatness and majesty: in the tallest mountains, the highest clouds, the awesome dance of the whole cosmos. Glory be to God! Glory be to you, O God, now and forever. Amen
Opening Prayer
Lord of the Sabbath, welcome us into your silence: no requirements, no expectations, only heart meeting heart. Lord of the Sabbath, we take your forgiveness and hope and lay down our burdens. We seek your silence. When we find it help us to linger there with you. As silence sinks into our souls, help us to pause in your serenity, feel the comfort of your presence, rest a while in your peace. Amen.
Song of Praise Psalm 136 Words: Mwalimu Glenn T. Boyd Tune: KIHAYA
Give thanks unto the Lord for God is ever good. Amen, Alele, Allelujah! God is the God of gods, God is the Lord of lords. Amen, Alele, Allelujah! Our God alone does wonders, God made the earth and stars. Amen, Alele, Allelujah! God made the sun for day, and moon and stars for night. Amen, Alele, Allelujah! God frees us from oppression, gives life to every creature. Amen, Alele, Allelujah! Give thanks unto the Lord, the God of earth and heaven. Amen, Alele, Allelujah!
Psalm 1 Common English Bible
The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful. Instead of doing those things, these persons love the LORD’s Instruction, and they recite God’s instruction day and night! They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.
That’s not true for the wicked! They are like dust that the wind blows away. And that’s why the wicked will have no standing in the court of justice— neither will sinners in the assembly of the righteous. The LORD is intimately acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is destroyed.
Song of Praise Like a Tree Beside the Waters Words: James F. D. Martin Tune: HYFRODEL
Like a tree beside the waters, nurtured by your loving care, We, O God, your sons and daughters, your enduring witness bear. In each passing generation may your voice of love be heard. Bless, we pray, this congregation with your holy, living Word.
Like a tree beside the river, drawing life from holy streams, Fill us with your love forever, recreate our hopes and dreams. Through the storms of life sustain us by the wisdom of your grace. May the changing of the seasons find us in your warm embrace.
We beside the living waters, drink from your eternal life. Give to all, your sons and daughter, faith that rises over strife. O Living God, most glorious, strengthen us for life today. By the hope of timeless promise guide your church upon the Way.
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem Eden’s Song by Mark Schweizer
A memory of Eden stirs and walks within the warmth of spring; it whispers ev’ry hope God has to Life Eternal, listening.
Stretch past the gloom of winter’s grey, unfurl by faith and not by sight; to touch the light of length’ning day that calls thee forth to green delight.
The work thou hast for me begun, shall by the grace be fully done; forever mercy dwells with thee; O Lord, my God, abide with me.
John 17:6-11a, 16-19 reflection by Rev. Jeffrey Vickery
Common English Bible
[Jesus said] “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you….”
“They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Response Sent by the Lord Words: Cuban oral tradition Tune: Cuban traditional
Sent by the Lord am I; my hands are ready now to make the earth the place in which the kingdom comes.
The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain into a world of love, of justice and of peace. The task is mine to do, to set it truly free. Oh, help me to obey; help me to do your will.
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to print the words and lead lines to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
As the elements give life, soil and air, sun and rain providing nurture, We wait for growth; we hope for new life. With restless impatience that counts the minutes, wanting it now, We wait for growth; we hope for new life. With steady patience, trusting roots buried deep in the ground, We wait for growth; we hope for new life. With ceaseless work, the strenuous effort of trying to make a difference, We wait for growth; we hope for new life. With unforced hope, living in anticipation of days yet to come, We wait for growth; we hope for new life. In effort and expectation, in work and rest, in doing and being, We wait for growth; we hope for new life.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, you call us together to reflect on your Word and our life in your world. Be with us now as we hum along to the music, as we pray together, as we listen to the scripture readings, that we may hear your voice and understand your way. This we pray through Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
Song of Praise Sing out Earth and Skies by Marty Haugen
Come, O God of all the earth: Come to us, O Righteous One; Come and bring our love to birth: In the glory of your Son. Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you! Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!
Come, O God of wind and flame: Fill the earth with righteousness; Teach us all to sing your name: May our lives your love confess. Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you! Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!
Come, O God of flashing light: Twinkling star and burning sun; God of day and God of night: In your light all are one. Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you! Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!
Come, O God of snow and rain: Shower down upon the earth; Come, O God of joy and pain: God of sorrow, God of mirth. Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you! Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!
Come, O Justice, Come, O Peace: Come and shape our hearts anew; Come and make oppression cease: Bring us all to life in you. Sing out, earth and skies! Sing of the God who loves you! Raise your joyful cries! Dance to the life around you!
Psalm 98 Common English Bible
Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done wonderful things! His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory! The Lord has made his salvation widely known; he has revealed his righteousness in the eyes of all the nations. God has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation. Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises! Sing your praises to the Lord with the lyre— with the lyre and the sound of music. With trumpets and a horn blast, shout triumphantly before the Lord, the king! Let the sea and everything in it roar; the world and all its inhabitants too. Let all the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether before the Lord because he is coming to establish justice on the earth! He will establish justice in the world rightly; he will establish justice among all people fairly.
Song of Praise Jesu, Jesu Fill Us with Your Love Tune: CHEREPONI, Ghanaian Folk Song
Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Knelt at the feet of his friends, silently washing their feet, Jesu, you acted as a servant to them. Refrain
Neighbors are rich and poor, varied in color and race, neighbors are near and far away. Refrain
These are the ones we should serve, these are the one we should love; all these neighbors to us and you. Refrain
Loving puts us on our knees, showing our faith by our deeds, serving the neighbors we have from you. Refrain
Kneel at the feet of our friends, Silently washing their feet, this is the way we should live with you. Refrain
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem If Ye Love Me by Carson P. Cooman
If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the father, and he shall give you, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:1-8 Common English Bible
[Jesus said,] “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.
Reflection on the Gospel Rev. Tonya Vickery
When I was a child, my Aunt Evelyn gave me a little yellow colored card which had a poem on it along with a tiny wooden cross glued to the paper. My house burned the summer before my junior year of high school, so I no longer have the card. But thanks to the internet, I a picture of one and here’s what it said.
I carry a cross in my pocket A simple reminder to me Of the fact that I am a Christian No matter where I may be.
This little cross is not magic Nor is it a good luck charm It isn’t meant to protect me From every physical harm.
It’s not for identification For all the world to see It’s simply an understanding Between my Savior and me.
When I put my hand in my pocket To bring out a coin or key The cross is there to remind me Of the price He paid for me.
It reminds me too to be thankful For my blessings day by day And to strive to serve Him better In all I do and say.
So I carry a cross in my pocket Reminding no one but me That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life If only I’ll let him be.
The card made an impression on me teaching me many things which became foundational to my faith.
First, I learned that when you see a cross, it should remind you that you are always a Christian and you should always act like one. To my child’s mind the cross meant, “You had better behave and if you don’t you will get in trouble.” I was too chicken to break the rules, so behaving wasn’t hard for me. And, there definitely were not any tempting misbehaving behaviors to do.
Secondly, the poem taught me that the cross is not magic. I watched cartoons as a child and a regular Saturday morning one was Scooby Doo. It was not unusual for the Scooby Doo gang to run into vampires. But no worries, Velma always had a cross at the ready to ward them off. We all knew that was just a story, it was a tall tale that vampires would run away from crosses. As I got older and watched different movies, I could readily see that a cross didn’t amount to a hill of beans when used on Friday the 13th. Anyhow, this idea that the cross is not a magical “weapon” helped me to understand early on that bad things can happen to everyone, whether you are a Christian or not.
The poem also taught me not to turn the cross into a badge of honor. I learned that we don’t “wear” a cross to brag to the world of our position or title or religion. The poem reinforced the idea that a Christian is to be humble and that being a Christian doesn’t make me better than everyone else.
Lastly, the poem taught me that on the cross Jesus paid a price for me therefore I should be grateful and work hard to serve God. As a child, I liked pleasing people, so it was easy for me to want to please God. I was at the ready to serve God however God wanted me to serve. Growing up in the USA, I also strongly believed that if you work hard, you will reap a great reward. The more you put into something, the more you get out of it. Now the idea of “Jesus paying a price for me” made sense because I saw grownups had to pay for a lot of things in life. If you wanted a new dress, or a new pair of shoes, you had to pay for them. My mama loved to shop which meant as a child I spent a lot of time in department stores and malls. I figured the phrase, “Jesus paid a price for me” meant Jesus thought I was good enough to buy. I watched mama spend a lot of time deciding which was best to buy. However, as a child I’m not sure I ever thought about or asked anyone who Jesus was paying. I heard more phrases like, “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe,” or “Jesus died so I could live,” but I never remembering thinking about who Jesus was paying. You see, I didn’t grow up in a religious culture that said God was angry and Jesus had to pay the price for all the bad things I had done. Somehow instead, I had this idea that Jesus was rescuing me, helping me not choose the bad things of life. And the rescuing cost Jesus a lot.
Over the course of 2,000 years, the cross has become for us a symbol of the Christian narrative of salvation. It is grounded in the theology that Jesus laid down his life for us, died on a cross in order to save us.
Years ago one of our local preachers at the Easter sunrise service shared with us his belief that Jesus had to die on a cross for it to matter. If Jesus had died of old age, then his death would not have mattered. If Jesus had died from an infection while travelling around Galilee, his death would not have mattered. If Jesus’ life and ministry was cut short by a stroke or heart disease, then his death would not have mattered. Any other way of dying would have been something other than a sacrificial death, any other way of dying would have been something other than Jesus willing to die, choosing to die, offering to die. Any other death would have not been laying down one’s life for one’s friends.
If you are like me, there are times when I look at the cross and I wonder about our interpretation of its meaning. Sometimes we polish the cross up. We wrap it in silver or gold or bronze. Sometimes we even wear a decorative image of it around our necks. I have lots of “cross” jewelry–a simple silver one given to me upon my ordination to the gospel ministry, a rose gold colored one my Aunt Bobby gave me at my ordination, a silver colored one with a blue stone that one of our youth years ago bought at Disney as gift for me, I used to have gold cross earrings, I also have a very, very old golden cross pendant that came from my Grandma Easterly’s family. It is interesting how some of those cross pendants are meaningful and some of them are just jewelry items. You know what I mean. For some people a cross pendant is just wardrobe accessory along the same lines as the buddha in my Aunt Almedia’s house. It was a decorative piece in the den. Think about how we print the cross on a t-shirts. We put the cross on bumper stickers. Some people turn the cross into an instrument of hate and violence. I will never understand what a few of you may have seen with your own eyes, how a group of white people who called themselves the kkk turn the cross into a message of violence and hate against black people. What message of “salvation” does oppression or personal adornment mean for the cross?
A simple wooden cross stands in our churchyard on the edge of the cemetery. It’s presence proclaims among the graves the great hope we have through Christ Jesus. Jesus suffered and died. God raised Jesus from the grave. Jesus has ascended into heaven and that is where we will join him one day.
A brass cross stands on our communion table every Sunday. During Lent we tend to exchange it for the rustic wooden one that Ron made for us. But we always have a cross on our communion table. Placed on that particular table the cross echoes the words of Jesus, “This is my body, broken for you. This is my blood, shed for you…” Like the cross on the yellow card in my pocket, the cross on the table reminds us.
How ironic it is that you and I have pledged our lives to a crucified savior. Those two words “crucified” and “savior” only work together when enacted by the Divine. Nothing or no one else could be crucified and save. Crucifixion was the Roman’s answer to how to deal with people who rebelled against Rome. Crucifixion was public, out there for everyone to see what would happen to you if you didn’t follow the rules and if you tried to overthrow those in charge. It was torture. It was shameful. It was humiliating. It was cruel. Even the words of Deuteronomy say, “Anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” (21:23)
But Jesus’ death on a cross firmly says, “Hope comes from being defeated. Suffering and death do not have the last word.” The crucifixion of Jesus was a wrongful outrageous death, but it became God’s critique over and against dark and harmful powers. You see, the worst can happen. The most honest and honorable people can be falsely accused. The right ways can be abandoned. The weak turned over to oppressors. The kind and compassionate can be hated. The gentle can be brutally murdered. But none of that is greater than the hope we have in God through Jesus Christ. Suffering and death do not have the last word. Life is meaningful even in the face of death. Hope can remain alive in the midst of defeat and powerlessness.
The words of Jesus found in John 15 come just two pages in your printed Bibles before Jesus is arrested. Jesus is about to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus is about to show us the fullness of God’s love for us. Jesus is about help us understand clearly that suffering and death do not have the last word. Jesus is getting ready to show us that hope can remain alive in the midst of defeat and complete powerlessness. As Jesus prepares us for the defeat, what does he say?
First, Jesus reminds us that he loves us. And Jesus wants us to have the same kind of joy in life that he has and he wants it to be full and complete. In fact, Jesus wants our joy to be filled to the brim! Not just a little joy. Not just enough to get you by. But Jesus wants you to have complete joy.
Second, our relationship together with Christ is on-going. This is not a one-time event, meaning when Jesus has left the scene, when Jesus is no longer apparent to our eyes, our relationship is still happening. Jesus says, “I chose you.” But it a choosing that is ongoing. It is better understood perhaps by saying Jesus chose us and keeps on choosing us. Jesus says, “I appointed you” and it is the same perpetual idea as the choosing. The appointing never stops. Jesus appointed us and keeps on appointing us. And just like the choosing and the appointing, we are to bear fruit and keep on bearing fruit. (For a better understanding about bearing fruit, go back and listen to last week’s sermon.) You see, this relationship with God through Jesus Christ is not a checklist of things to be done, it is a way to be and it is ongoing all the time.
Third, Jesus calls us friends! We are not bond servants–working to pay off a debt. We are not employees of Christ–working a job to earn the pay check called eternal life. We are not paid workers–reaping success because we are doing what Christ says. We are Christ’s friends. We are Christ’s associates. In other words, we are in this life together through the thick and thin. We are friends for life–a bond that cannot be broken even by death.
Fourth, Jesus reminds us that this is not a solo “job.” We are in this all together. And we are to love one another. If we haven’t learned anything this far in our Sundays after Easter, it is this. We are to love one another. In fact, Jesus commands us to do so. How do we maintain that love for one another? You can list all the many things that break down relationships, they are easy to spot after they have torn things apart. But what are the things that keep that relationship of love going?
We have it easier than any other group out there. For our love for God through Jesus Christ is the source of our love for one another. Our love for God through Jesus Christ is the source of our love for one another. Let me say it this way. We love one another because Christ loves us and we love Christ. The 4th chapter of 1 John shares the same idea but says it quite bluntly. You may recall these words, “Those who say, I love God,” and hate their brothers or sister cannot love God.” And earlier in the chapter we read, “If we love one another, God lives in us, and God’s love is perfected in us.” Again, “Those who love God must love their brother and sister also.”
This love for one another is woven deeply into our lives because it comes from God above. Our love for one another is a discipline, a habit that is perfected over time through our love for God and our care and concern for each other.
So you can imagine what happens to our love for one another when our love for God grows. Our love for each other grows too. Now this doesn’t mean I’m not going to drive you crazy. This doesn’t mean that we will never have a spat or never disagree. This doesn’t mean that our relationship with one another will be perfect. But it should mean that at all times, we love one another through the thick and the thin, just as Christ loves us.
I pray that our church family will continue to embody the love of God for everyone as we continue growing our love for one another!
Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Reponse Help Us Love Each Other Words: Fred Kaan Tune: AURELIA
Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
Teach us O Lord, Your lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some; to love them as we find them, or as they may be come.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved in living situations to do the truth in love, to practice your acceptance until we know by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.
Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need, who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on; renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to print the words and lead lines to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
When flowers bloom in the desert, Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! When enemies sit around tables and talk about peace, Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! When people stand up for what is right in the face of great evil, Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! When, despite hardship and struggle, people sing and dance, Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! When prison bars are shattered by the cry of “Freedom!” Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia! When in our wounded and broken world, life triumphs over death, peace over war, hope over fear, freedom over captivity, love over hate, Christ is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia!
Opening Prayer
Almighty Creator God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name this morning; through Christ our Sovereign. Amen.
Song of Praise Praise God for Easter Flowers Words: Carl Dixon Tune: DARWALL’S 148th
Praise God for Easter flow’rs that cover all the earth, their vibrant glowing colours, a promise of new birth. Praise God for all his love and care, his glory displayed everywhere.
Praise God for morning dew that sparkles all around, with myriad shimmering hues refreshing thirsty ground. Praise God for all his love and care: his glory displayed everywhere.
Praise God for risen life with each and every breath; and praise the living Christ who conquers fear and death. Praise God for all his love and care: his glory displayed everywhere.
Psalm 22:25-31 Common English Bible
I offer praise in the great congregation because of you; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor God. Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek the Lord praise him! I pray your hearts live forever! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to the Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you. Because the right to rule belongs to the Lord, he rules all nations. Indeed, all the earth’s powerful will worship him; all who are descending to the dust will kneel before him; my being also lives for him. Future descendants will serve him; generations to come will be told about my Lord. They will proclaim God’s righteousness to those not yet born telling them what God has done.
Song of Praise What Wonderous Love is This Words: Cluster of Spiritual Songs, 1823 Tune: WONDROUS LOVE
What wondrous love is this, O my soul! O my soul? What wondrous love is this! O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, To God and to the Lamb I will sing, To God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am, While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, And while from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. And while from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, And through eternity I’ll sing on.
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem Christ the Vine by Robert J. Powell
Christ, the vine, and God, the gardener, we, the branches bearing fruit. We can bring forth shoots of promise when our lives in Christ take root.
Christ, the fruit from Jesse springing, you fulfilled the prophet’s trust. And you pray that we, your body, will fulfill your trust in us.
Christ, may we submit to pruning that we bear more grapes for wine. Help us, when we’re overburdened, draw new strength from you, the vine.
You invite us to be partners, growing Spirit’s fruit anew. Keep us one in love together: you in us, and we in you!
John 15:1-8 Common English Bible
[Jesus said,] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit.You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.”
Reflection on the Gospel Rev. Jeffrey Vickery
Prayer of Thanksgiving Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Reponse Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. Tune: BRIDEGROOM (Cutts)
Like the murmur of the dove’s song, like the challenge of her flight like the vigor of the wind’s rush, like the new flame’s eager might: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
To the members of Christ’s body, to the branches of the Vine, to the church in faith assemble, to our midst as gift and sign: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
With the healing of division, with the ceaseless voice of prayer, with the pow’r to love & witness, with the peace beyond compare: Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to print the words and lead lines to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
For birds making their nests, for eggs and chicks: Thank you, God, for spring. For young rabbits hopping in the fields, for tadpoles swimming in the pond: Thank you, God, for spring. For bright spring flowers in the garden, for fresh green leaves on the tree: Thank you, God, for spring. For longer days to play outside, for warm sunshine on our face: Thank you, God, for spring. For Jesus dying to show us love, coming alive again on Easter Day and bringing new life to the world: Thank you, God, for spring. Amen
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Opening Prayer
God of new life, whose buds grow in days of darkness to open into increasing light, accept our thankfulness for the beauty of springtime. Give us patience to wait for the flowering and the fruit. Give us joy in the harvest of your generosity. Teach us to respect and care for the earth and for the whole creation, that infused with hope and expectation, we may take our place in your plan to reconcile all things in heaven and on earth through the example of Christ, your Word made flesh, whose love restores and unites. Amen.
Song of Praise The Silent Witness of the Heavens Words: Janet Pybon Tune: BEGINNINGS (Young)
The silent witness of the heavens tells of the glory of the Lord. Vast galaxies of constellations declare God’s power with one accord.
The crimson hues of fiery sunsets and dawn-flushed clouds at morning’s light, the lightning flash, the clap of thunder speak of God’s majesty and might.
The tiger prowling through the jungle, the darting flash of hummingbird, the snake that slithers through the desert tell of God’s power without a word.
The giant redwoods in the forest, the grandeur of the mountain’s height, the myriad life-forms in the ocean speak of God’s mystery and might.
Creator God, whose power we worship, teach us to know our proper place, to recognize the claims and value of all, not just the human race.
Oh, help us act as proper stewards, and understand your gift’s true worth; to make the necessary changes, that will protect our precious earth.
Psalm 23 Common English Bible
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
John 1:11-18 Common English Bible
[Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away–and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Song of Preparation Come Find the Quiet Center Words: Shirley Erena Murray Music: Swee Hong Lim
Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead, Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed; Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace, God it is who speaks and names us knows our being, touches base, Marking space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun, Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit, let us travel, open to each other’s pain, Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain; There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care, In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!
Prayer for Others
Choral Anthem The Good Shepherd by Zebulon M. Highben with RESIGNATION and ST. COLUMBIA
My sheep hear my voice and they follow me; I know them; I give them eternal life. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.
I am the good shepherd of all. My Shepherd, you supply my need; Most holy is your name. In pasture green you make me feed
Beside the living stream. You bring my wand’ring spirit back when I forsake your ways, And le me, for your mercy’s sake, In paths of truth and grace.
1 John 3:16-24 Common English Bible
This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help—how can the love of God dwell in a person like that?
18Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. 19This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence. 20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. 21Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence in relationship to God. 22We receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love each other as he commanded us. 24Those who keep his commandments dwell in God and God dwells in them. This is how we know that he dwells in us, because of the Spirit he has given us.
Reflection on the Scriptures Rev. Tonya Vickery
Listen to the sermon from our 2pm service and/or read below.
Creating a World Where No One Fears Evil
Psalm 23 resonates with me in a multitude of ways. It brings to mind many, many memories. When I was a child, my Grandma Easterly prayed these words while tornadic winds roared over the house in southern Illinois. They brought us comfort. Those striking words, “Even though…I will fear no evil.” It was hard to lean into that proclamation while I sat on the couch with a pillow over my head! “Even though…I will fear no evil.” “Even though … [fill in the blank with whatever darkness threatens you, or the world right now], even though,…. I will fear no evil.”
Imagine with me, a world where no one fears evil, a world where no one is afraid. A place where there is no fear of violence, no fear of poverty, no fear of oppression. Imagine, a world where there is no fear from forced labor, slavery, human trafficking, domestic violence. Imagine a world where there is no fear from battle grounds, killing fields, hunger, thirst. Imagine a world where there is no fear of those in authority.
Even though . . . I will fear no evil.
The children of Myanmar come to mind. Try to be a child while living under a military coup and you have friends who have been shot dead by the militants. Evil. The children of Brazil who are hungry. Their leaders have shunned the virus and plowed ahead and it is the people who suffer from economic loss and death. Evil. But come closer to home. What about children and youth who live in Arkansas? State lawmakers are working hard, working hard to limit the rights of trans children and youth. They are even considering penalizing parents and doctors who might seek or provide gender-affirming medical care. Here we go again. A state in our United States entertaining the idea of legislating the right to treat another human being as something lesser and they sugar coat it in religious language. Evil. We remember that fight from 2017 in our own state when some lawmakers tried to restrict which bathrooms transgender people could use. A system meant to protect bullies and shuns and shames.
Despite the audacity of others, despite the arrogance, despite the lack of compassion, despite the powerful opposition, as Christians we are called to create a world where no one fears evil. I’m hoping the teachings from the John’s this morning can help us learn how to better create and bring about that kind of world where no one fears evil. That’s God’s kind of world, on earth as it is in heaven.
God loves us.
First, let’s talk about us. I just have to ask this morning, does God love us? Yes.
Does God love you? Oh yes!
Well, how do you know that God loves you?
We have seen how much God loves us: creating the world, the universe, creating us; giving us life and an invitation to live together with God forever, never separated. But not everyone feels or knows the love of God so easily.
A former member had the hardest time understanding and believing that God loved them. I always struggled to find a word or a phrase to help bridge the gap that they felt. And I never could come up with a good replacement or idea for the word “love.” Their story wasn’t unique. It has happened and does happen in many others as well. For what had separated them from knowing that God loved them, was the fact that they were gay.
They were older than me. They grew up in the 60’s and in the south. Even when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in the south, a love for someone of your same gender was not to be acknowledged, not to be thought about, it wasn’t natural, it wasn’t right. It was a desire and persuasion that was not to be entertained or even spoken of. To society, it was not normal. But religion took that idea further. Religion said, it wasn’t how God created things to be. So it was seen as a fault and a sin. It was seen as the person’s fault and something they could change.
I cannot imagine living for decades under the weight of such a burden, a burden put on me by other people’s opinions, a burden laid on me under the guise of it being my “fault.” I cannot imagine who I am being considered a disappointment to God. I can imagine what I do disappointing God, but who I am? And this is how our church member felt. It takes years to overcome all those years you have believed yourself to be a disappointment to God. That “God loves us” was a concept that others could celebrate and find hope in, but an idea with which our church member struggled.
But the blessing came in how you, their church family just kept on showing God’s love throughout the years over and over again. And when we slipped up and didn’t show God’s love, we owned the mistake and tried to make it right. And for years we have worked to be a blessing to others. We have worked to create a safe space within the community of Christ for any one of us to wrestle or struggle with our hardest moments without being judged or shunned or ridiculed. We have been so faithful towards this that we ended up without realizing it creating a space where our church member could “come out” while standing at church’s pulpit. It is a day I will never forget, that one would share such a personal moment. It speaks of how we have taken to heart the need we have for “sanctuary” and we have generously givine that opportunity to others. A true sanctuary for everyone in all times. And God took our feeble efforts and used them to help another of us come to know that God does love them.
So, if you are not sure if God loves you, or if God can love you, then stick around with us for a little bit at least. We are not perfect, far from it. We are not all wise and always understanding, but we hope that we are living and sharing the love of God which is for every, every one. It doesn’t have to be earned, It is not a reward for good actions either. The love of God is just there for all of us because God truly loves us.
Our greatest calling is to love one another.
Now, here’s a good place to talk about others. What do you do with that blessed gift of God’s love which is showered upon you at all times and in all circumstances? What do we do with the love of God? Jesus loves me this I know. Well, good for you. Now what are you going to do?
God loves you, yes. But it’s not just about you. God’s love should be moving us beyond ourselves. God’s love isn’t meant to just make you feel better about yourself. God’s love isn’t meant to just make your day brighter and more cheery. God’s love isn’t just meant to make you a better person. God’s love isn’t meant to make you. God’s loves is meant for the world. Remove the mirrors that cause you to look only at yourself. God’s love is for the world. God doesn’t love just you. God loves the world. God doesn’t love you more than God loves someone else. God loves the world.
Perhaps our greatest calling in the here and now is to love one another. I’m not referring to love that is condescending. It is not a love that comes from pity. It is not a love that comes from feeling sorry for you. It is not a love that is required because you need it. It is not a love that I give to you because I have to. It is not a love that I offer to you because you didn’t have it before. When our purpose for loving someone else is because they are lesser than we are, then we have it all wrong.
It’s like the people that live by that phrase, “love the sinner, but not the sin.” Do they really love the sinner? Calling someone a sinner seems to indicate that they have a problem which you don’t have. And you can love them despite of their fault. How many times did our church member receive this kind of love. I don’t appreciate your life style — your choice of who to love — but I will love you anyway. Yeah, right. It is that word, “but” that devalues things. If you have to make an excuse for someone so as to love them, then it probably isn’t love.
God doesn’t invite us to tolerate one another. God doesn’t ask us to deal with one another. God calls us to love one another. God’s love is the same for me as for you as for the other. God doesn’t love the Pentecostal Christian more than the Vowed Atheist. God doesn’t love George Floyd more than Derick Chauvin. God loves the world.
Now, God teaches us through the writings of 1 John that we are not to love in word and speech, but we are to love in truth and action. We just don’t talk about love. But we do love. And right off the bat, 1 John says, you don’t refuse to help. If you have resources and another person is in need, you help. We need to busy creating a world where no one fears evil.
Last time I checked, all of us are sporting the majority color of skin–white. Last time I checked, all of us were Christians. Did you know that there is not a single piece of legislation in our nation that has been passed without the support of the white Christian community? I learned this yesterday at the annual gathering of the Alliance of Baptist. That means, if white Christians don’t support something, it ain’t going to happen in our country. Now that’s a shame, a real shame. But there it is. Take note of the power that you have. See it as a responsibility.
Last time I checked, all of us were appreciated by our community. Last time I checked, none of us were being held under suspicion by the authorities. Last time I checked, we all had access to opportunities for education and for work. That means that you and I, all of us, we don’t have to be afraid to show up in the face of evil. We don’t have to be afraid of losing our lives, our social standing, our jobs, our friends, or our church family. If we are going to work about creating a world where no one fears evil, then you and I have better start showing up in the face of evil, naming it for what it is, and tearing down the foundations upon which it stands. Don’t back off. It is wearisome work, but until evil is dismantled, then the world is going to have a hard time knowing and feeling and accepting the love of God.
We tore down that evil for our church member years ago. We provided a safe space where they could come out in the presence of God and God’s people. Now, we have more work to do. We need to keep on working to create the safe places where all can come to worship, to grow, and to know the love of God. But it will take us showing up in the face of evil. And some of you are really good at showing up in people’s faces. Use that gift of boldness in the name of the one in whom you believe, in the name of Jesus, and yes be co-creators with God in bring back that world where no one has to fear any more.
To God be the glory in all that we endeavor to do! Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Response Holy Spirit, Go Before Us Words: Elizabeth Smith Tune: AUSTRIAN
Holy Spirit, go before us, every mind and heart prepare for good news of life in Jesus, for the joyful hope we share. Gently lead the lost to safety, gently teach them Wisdom’s way, till they come to seek you gladly, till we find the words to say.
Holy Spirit, come and help us, give us words to Speak of Christ. Teach us how to tell all people: deepest darkness can be light! Help us tell how faithful God is, and how Jesus sets us free; take our words and make them gospel so that many may believe.
Holy Spirit, stay to show us how to serve as Christ served us. May our words of love be grounded in love’s actions, first and last. Your good news is news of justice, and the strong befriend the weak in your service, till compassion builds the peace the nations seek.
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song
Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
We are blessed beyond measure! For God, who created this world and all that is in it, listens to us in our distress and answers us when we call. God fills our hearts with joy! So, let us put our trust in God and celebrate today the wonder of God’s glory revealed in and through the risen Christ.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Opening Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, the light of your love shines on, illuminating the places where you are present. As the bewildered disciples pondered the stories of your appearance, you penetrated the darkness of their fear and doubt with your word of peace. You showed them the appalling marks of evil pierced on your hands and feet. You opened their minds to understand why you had to die to defeat such evil and death. Increase our understanding, we pray, and open our minds and hearts to receive you, Lord. Speak your word of peace to us and let your love shine on any dark areas in our lives. May this worship which we offer in your name be a worthy response to your love and your sacrifice for us. Amen.
Song of Praise Now the Green Blade Rises Words: JMC Crum Tune: NOEL NOUVELET
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, What that in the dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been; Love is come again like wheat arising green.
In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain, thinking he would never wake and live again, Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen; Love is come again like wheat arising green.
Forth he came at Easter like the risen grain, Jesus, who for three days in the grave had lain; Raised from the dead, the living Christ is seen; Love is come again like wheat arising green.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, Jesus’ touch can call us back to life again; Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; Love is come again like wheat arising green.
Psalm 4 Common English Bible
Answer me when I cry out, my righteous God! Set me free from my troubles! Have mercy on me! Listen to my prayer! How long, you people, will my reputation be insulted? How long will you continue to love what is worthless and go after lies? Know this: the LORD takes personal care of the faithful. The LORD will hear me when I cry out to him. So be afraid, and don’t sin! Think hard about it in your bed and weep over it! Bring righteous offerings, and trust the LORD! Many people say, “We can’t find goodness anywhere. The light of your face has left us, LORD!” But you have filled my heart with more joy than when their wheat and wine are everywhere! I will lie down and fall asleep in peace because you alone, LORD, let me live in safety.
Prayer for Others
Song of Response There is a Balm in Gilead Words: African American Spiritual Tune: BALM IN GILEAD
Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my works in vain, But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
Refrain
If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all.”
Refrain
Celebration of the Ordination as Deacon
In our Baptist tradition, each one of us serves the Lord and we are equally capable of doing so. We do not practice any kind of hierarchy in the church for we are all one in Christ Jesus. As we work to better serve the Lord, we call out nine members from our church family to take up the role of intentionally caring for us, the body of Christ. We call these members “deacons,” which means “one who serves.” When a member answers this call to serve us as a deacon for the first time, we set aside time in our worship to honor their acceptance, express our gratitude, and commit to pray for them as they follow the Spirit. Pre-pandemic, we would be invited to come before the member, set our hands upon their head, and offer our prayers and blessings. This time during our service we will write those prayers and blessings on paper. (You are welcome to email your prayers and blessings to the church and they will be forwarded to the deacon.)
1 Peter 4:8-11 Common English Bible
Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins. Open your homes to each other without complaining. And serve each other according to the gift each person has received, as good managers of God’s diverse gifts. Whoever speaks should do so as those who speak God’s word. Whoever serves should do so from the strength that God furnishes. Do this so that in everything God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him be honor and power forever and always. Amen.
Reaffirming the Call to Serve One Another
In the presence of God this afternoon, will you recommit yourself to the work and responsibility of serving one another? I will.
Will you be faithful to pray, to read and study the Scriptures, to support the church spiritually and materially, to seek the will of God for the church, and to foster unity in the body of Christ? I will.
Will you do your best to live in accordance with the teachings of Christ, so that you may be a witness of God’s love for everyone? I will.
Will you seek the glory of the Lord Christ in all things? I will. May the Lord uphold us with divine grace in our service to one another. Amen.
Anthem Hear Me When I Call Composer: Richard Shephard
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble. Have mercy upon me and hearken to my prayer. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Amen.
Luke 24:36b-48 Common English Bible
While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.
He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish. Taking it, he ate it in front of them.
Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.”
Reflection on the Gospel Rev. Jeffrey Vickery
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith Christ is Our Peace Words: Shirley Erena Murray Tune: PEACE
Christ is our peace, Christ is our health, He the true Word, His the true wealth – Gifts to be shared by the simple and poor: Peace in your land, peace at your door.
Peace in your mouth, peace in the hands Open to truth, to love’s demands: Those who would go with Christ also must bleed – Bright is the flower, burst is the seed.
Who work for peace find the true wealth, Who heal the hurt find their own health – Peace will flow on through the hearts that believe: This may we know, thus may we live.
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Acknowledgements
The opening prayer was written by Moria Laidlaw. Used by permission. The hymns were sung by our Mindy accompanied by Tonya on piano. The anthem was sung by Elizabeth, Laura, Mindy, and Tonya.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
It was evening on the first day of the week. The disciples were meeting together behind locked doors because they were afraid. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. They rejoiced. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.” And said, “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Let our rejoicing be heard far and wide as we witness to our belief in the risen Lord.
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Song of Praise O Sons and Daughters Let Us Sing Words: Joean Tisserand; J.M. Neale, trans. Tune: O FILII ET FILIAE (French, 15th century)
O sons and daughters of the King, whom heavenly hosts in glory sing, today the grave has lost its sting. Alleluia!
When Thomas first the tidings heard that some had seen the risen Lord, he doubted the disciples’ word. Lord, have mercy!
At night the apostles met in fear; among them came their Master dear and said, “My peace be with you here.” Alleluia!
“My pierced side, O Thomas, see, and look upon my hands, my feet; not faithless but believing be.” Alleluia!
No longer Thomas then denied; he saw the feet, the hands, the side. “You are my Lord and God!” he cried. Alleluia!
How blest are they who have not seen and yet whose faith has constant been, for they eternal life shall win. Alleluia!
Opening Prayer
We worship you today, O God. We rejoice in the word of the gospel where John declares that he has written his gospel to confirm and strengthen our belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing, we might have life in his name. We worship you, O God, with praise and thanksgiving for that gift of life made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Strengthen and confirm our belief in Jesus in this time of worship here today. May we know the blessings of your peace within us and the breath of your Spirit upon us. We offer this prayer and our worship in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen
Psalm 133 Common English Bible
Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one! It is like expensive oil poured over the head, running down onto the beard— Aaron’s beard!— which extended over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew on Mount Hermon streaming down onto the mountains of Zion, because it is there that the Lord has commanded the blessing: everlasting life.
Song of Praise How Good It Is Words: Ruth Duck Tune: DOVE OF PEACE (Southern Harmony, 1854)
How good it is, what pleasure comes, When people live as one. When peace and justice light the way The will of God is done. The will of God is done.
True friendship then like fragrant oil Surrounds us with delight; And blessings shine like morning dew Upon the mountain height, upon the mountain height.
How good it is when walls of fear Come tumbling to the ground. When arms are changed to farming tools, The fruits of life abound, the fruits of life abound.
What quiet joy can bloom and grow When people work for peace. When hands and voices join as one That hate and war may cease, that hate and war may cease.
Prayer
We gather here as a fellowship of people who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. One of the major marks of our fellowship is the sense of joy we experience as we gather to worship God, to give thanks for Jesus Christ, and to witness to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Yet, we admit that there are times when we feel afraid, abandoned, and lonely; when faith leads to doubt and questions rather than a sense of joy or peace of mind. Lord Jesus Christ, unlike those first disciples, we cannot touch you or see you, and so it is all too easy to become downcast and given to despair.
Forgive us when, like the disciples, we find the truth of Easter hard to believe. Come to us, risen Christ, come through the closed doors of our hearts and minds and take away our fears and doubts; Come to us, risen Christ, breathe on us and fill us with the joy and peace of your presence. Bless us all as people who have not seen you, but who believe that you are truly the risen Christ, Son of God. Amen
Anthem A Gaelic Blessing Composer: Roland E. Martin
Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you.
John 20:19-31 Common English Bible
Listen to the gospel being read and/or read below
It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”
Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”
After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”
Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”
Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.
Reflection on the Scriptures Rev. Tonya Vickery
Listen to the sermon and/or read below. The sermon was recorded live from our 2pm outdoor service, so there is definitely wind noise. 🙂
Jesus’ death was traumatic. It was real. It was on display for everyone. Lifted up on a cross, high above, everyone could see his suffering and his death. As news of his crucifixion and inevitable death was shared throughout Jerusalem, no one would have doubted it for they saw it with their own eyes. It was believable because countless others had suffered death by crucifixion from the government.
But when Mary Magdalene shares the good news that she has seen the risen Lord, people have a hard time believing it. Even though a couple of disciples run out to the tomb, look in, and find it empty, they still doubt Mary’s word that Jesus has risen from the dead. For them, the empty tomb is a source of disappointment instead of affirmation, and a seed for growing fear instead of great rejoicing. The trauma from the reality of Jesus’ death only allowed them to deduce that his body has been stolen. Fear saturated their opinions, ideas, and choices. Fear of what the authorities and bandits had done to Jesus, led them to lock themselves away apart from whatever might be out there to harm them.
It was a different kind of lockdown than what we have been experiencing over the past year. But in many ways we can identify with the fear of the disciples. We too feared the unknown. We have had to stay at home to stay alive. We have been separated from one another and still are–six feet apart. The unpredictable, invisible to the eye, wafting through the air, living on surfaces? Virus, we were able to shut out of our lives until we knew more about it. But don’t forget that fear we had 12 months ago. Fear of what might happen. Fear of the unknown, the unpredictable, and the uncontrollable.
Our sister church in Brazil, Igreja Batista da Algeria, they don’t have the protection of vaccination which has been afforded to us. On Tuesday night Pastor Vando sent me a message via WhatsApp. He asks us to pray for the church and for their country. You may have seen it on the news, but on Tuesday alone, Pastor Vando said 4200 Brasilians died from COVID. In one day, 4,200 people died. Their president is very much in control, but does not care about the people. The government has not worked to make their country a safe place to live in the midst of a deadly viral pandemic. Our sisters and brothers of Igreja Batista da Algeria, I imagine they still live in that fear that we lived in just a short time ago. They are suffering. Do you remember the fear you had of going out? Of what you might bring back to your home, to your family, to your friends? Our sister church in Brazil, they are still living through many things which have been alleviated for us. We are slowly rising above our fears as we learn more and more and especially as the vaccine becomes available to everyone. But do remember our sister church in Brazil and how they continue to grow their faith separate from each other. The fear brought by this pandemic shares similarities to the fear the disciples felt after Jesus died. We know very well that faithful living during times of great fear is difficult. But we claim the promise that nothing separates us from the love of God in Christ Jesus–not even our fears.
Even as our fear lessens, we are starkly reminded during recent days of what trauma looks like. We know what death looks like. We know what a traumatic death looks like. We now know what it is like to see someone die under the hands of the authorities. If you have watched any of the trial of the death of George Floyd or seen any of the newsclips, you have seen the effect a needless death has on bystanders. The women at the foot of the cross, the disciples at a distance, the Roman soldier, they were all bystanders to the traumatic death of Jesus. How wrenching it was during Holy Week to hear the testimonies of bystanders who felt helpless, angry, and afraid as Mr. Floyd suffered and died. We have also seen the grief of parents in Myanmar. Their children killed by soldiers who needlessly and for no reason at all have shot them to death. We have seen what we only thought we would see in movies, Americans chanting to hang an elected official, Mike Pence. When I saw those images, I couldn’t help but think of the crowd that was stirred up against Jesus chanting, “Crucify him.”
The gospel story this morning show us how Jesus responded in the midst of fear, trauma, and doubt. God responds to such threats with peace and forgiveness.
On the evening of what we now call Easter, Jesus appeared before the disciples even though they were behind locked doors. What did he say to them? Look at verse 19. Look in the last phrase of the verse. Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” Now look down at verse 21. Jesus again says, “Peace be with you.” Eight days later, Jesus’ followers are still afraid. Imagine I would be too. Jesus comes and goes. So they still lock themselves in the room together. And again Jesus comes. What does Jesus say to them this time? Look with me at verse 26. Jesus says again, “Peace be with you.”
Before Jesus died and was resurrected, Jesus talked with his disciples about peace. It is recorded in John 14. If you have your Bibles, turn back there with me. Look at verse 27. Jesus says these words to his followers, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t troubled or afraid.” Turn a few pages and look at chapter 16. Here Jesus highlights the contrast between the peace he offers and the peace the world offers. Beginning in verse 31 Jesus says, “Now you believe? Look! A time is coming—and here it is—when each of you will be scattered to your own homes and you will leave me alone. I’m not really alone, for the Father is with me. I’ve said these to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.”
The betrayal and death of Jesus must have made the disciples feel just like the writer of Lamentations. In 3:17-18 the lamenter shares, “My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is. My future is gone, as well as my hope from the LORD. My suffering and homelessness are bitterness and poison. I can’t help but be depressed. And all I can do is wait, for surely the faithful love of the LORD has not ended. Surely, God’s compassion isn’t through.”
Oh how that empty tomb, Jesus’ numerous appearances before he ascends into heaven, his words to the disciples and to the world, “Peace be with you. My peace be with you,” these things tells us loud and clear that God’s compassion is not through. The faithful love the LORD has not ended. In the word, we have distress, but in Christ, we have peace. The peace we share does not come from the world. It is not created by human plans or designs. Any type of peace the world affords us is just temporary and can change abruptly. The peace that sustains, that grounds, that makes a difference, is the peace which comes from God through Jesus Christ. “Have peace in me,” Jesus says to us. Jesus invites us to share in God’s peace. You see, just as the lamenter writes, the LORD is our portion. We have a hope that does not disappoint.
The second posture the gospel story encourages in us when we face fears, disappointments, and betrayals, is that of forgiveness. We clearly read that Jesus did not hold it against Thomas that he was having a hard time believing that Jesus was truly alive, risen from the dead. Jesus didn’t come back to scold Thomas. Think back to what Jesus called Peter when Peter tried to convince Jesus that he need not go to Jerusalem and die. Jesus called him Satan. “Get behind me Satan.” But there is no language like that here. When Jesus appears to Thomas, he says to him, “No more disbelief. Believe!” However, this is not the setting within the passage where we read about forgiveness. Jesus doesn’t say here, “I forgive you for having a hard time believing.” No, Jesus speaks of forgiveness in regards to the relationships we have with one another and with God well before Thomas is in the room.
Think back to when Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John says of him, “Look! The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” In the New Testament letter 1 John, it is written, “Everyone who practices sin commits an act of rebellion, and sin is rebellion. You know that Jesus appeared to take away sins….” Now here at the end of John’s gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection and breathes the Spirit of God into us and upon us. Why? so that we might forgive anyone’s sin. That’s a tall order. That’s a lot to expect from us. But there it is. We are called to forgive. We are empowered by the Spirit of the Holy One to have the courage, the compassion, and the care to forgive. Jesus came to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins. Now we step into those shoes and share those possibilities with the world.
The good news of Jesus firsts highlights some bad news. There is something wrong with each and every one of us. The world is a broken place. It is not the way God intended it to be nor created it to be. Our lives are broken too. We do not live the way God intends us to live, nor do we embody what God created us to be. We are falling short of what we could be in Christ Jesus. Every day we do things, say things, think things, that separate us from God and hurt our neighbors and harm the world. Some of those things are big and easy to spot, and some of them are little and hidden from others and even easy for us to turn a blind eye to. But as we have been reminded through the scripture passages of the Lenten season, God will not respond to a broken world again by destroying it and starting over. Just as we celebrate on Easter that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead, defeating death not only for himself but for all of us, we also celebrate that in Christ Jesus our sins are forgiven. Those things that separate us from God, they are forgiven. The forgiveness God showers upon us brings us back to life, raises us up again, never giving up on us. It is a forgiveness Christ calls us to share with others.
We have life in Jesus’ name, a life that has the blessing of peace upon it. A life that is brought about and sustained by a forgiveness that is to be shared. May we live the life we have been given to the fullness of the glory of God. Thank you, thank you for caring about God today to come and worship whether at home or in person this afternoon, and thank you for hearing the word of God and how we are to live our lives in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith Faith Will Not Grow On Words Alone Words: Vernon Griffiths Tune: DUNEDIN
Faith will not grow from words alone, from proofs provided, scripture known; our faith must feel its way about, and live with question-marks and doubt.
The pattern Jesus showed, we share: life comes through death, hope through despair. God is made known in brokenness, and faith feeds on God’s emptiness.
The church still tells how Jesus came through death to glorious life again – the strangest story! Yet, may be, our faith will thrive on mystery.
Faith takes the little that we know, and calls for hope, and tells us: Go! Love and take courage, come what may; Christ will be with us on the way.
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Acknowledgements
The prayers were written by Moria Laidlaw. Used by permission. The hymns were sung by our Mindy accompanied by Tonya on piano. The anthem was sung by Ally, Elizabeth, Laura, Mindy, and Tonya.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
We come to prepare for the holiest of weeks. We will journey through praise, with joy on our lips; we will travel through betrayal and death, cradling hope deep in our hearts. Jesus leads us through this week, and we will follow, for he is the life we long for, he is the Word who sustains us. We wave palm branches in anticipation, we lay our love before him, to cushion his walk. Setting aside all power, glory, and might, he comes: modeling humility and obedience for all of us. Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who brings us the reign of God.
Song of Praise
We Will Walk With God Words: Eswatini Traditional (trans. J.L. Bell) Tune: SIZOHAMBA (Eswatini Traditional)
Come and walk with me, my brothers. We will walk with God. Come and walk with me, my sisters. We will walk with God.
We will go rejoicing, ‘til the kingdom has come. (Repeat)
Holy God, you have fed us all out of your own generous and gracious hands. From them, we have received welcome, nourishment, hope, and consolation. May these things grow in us, alongside the gift of faith, so that we may plant their seeds in the world around us. Through the Holy Spirit, guide us in the week ahead to re-member our place in your great and on-going story of resurrection, redemption, and restoration through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song of Praise
Wave Your Branches Words: Gwendolyn Emery-Owings Composer: Thomas Pavlechko
Wave your branches, wave them high, Jesus now is riding by. Wave your branches, shout and sing Loud hosannas to your King.
Wave your branches, wave them now, With Jerusalem’s cheering crowd. Wave your branches, shout and sing Loud hosannas to your King.
Litany
Pastor: Who comes this way? People: I wonder who is he? Pastor: They say he is the Christ. Pastor: That means Messiah, People: That means the Anointed One, the Savior, the King Pastor: Who comes this way? People: Is it really him? I want him to beat the Romans and save us from poverty and hunger. Pastor: Is he victorious? Is he powerful? Is he scary? Pastor: Where is he from? Greece? Rome? Jerusalem? Cullowhee? People: They say he comes from Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth and Galilee. Pastor:“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” People: Who comes this way? Pastor: Who is he? Why are we cheering him on? Is he good or bad? He must be rich to get such praise. Pastor: Stop waving that branch in my face! Move away! Let me see around this parade. Put me on your shoulders. I need a higher glimpse of him. I just want to see his face and then I will know who he is, let me see. People: Wait! Pastor: Wait! People: It is only a man. Pastor: And he is just on a donkey, no conquering steed. Pastor: It is only a man, what is so great about him? People: Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest! Pastor: Hosanna means “save us” and “we pray” Pastor: But who is this man that will save us? All: Who comes this way?
Song of Adoration
Come Into the Streets with Me Words: Shirley Erena Murray Music: Traditional English Melody; arr. Charles Strange
Come into the streets with me! Come to where the crowds will be, See a strange and gentle king On a donkey travelling –
Refrain: Come and follow my leader, Come and follow my leader, Jesus Christ is riding by, Come and follow my leader!
All the people shout his name, Waving branches, sing his fame, Throw their coats upon his road, Glad to praise the Son of God –
Refrain
If the soldiers draw their swords, Will we dare to sing these words, Be his friends for just a day, Cheer him on, then run away?
Refrain
Jesus goes where things are rough, Jesus knows when life is tough, Always comes to us, his friends, So his story never ends.
Refrain
Mark 11:1-11 Common English Bible
When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, saying to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.’”
They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
Call for Reconciliation
After a year of struggling to follow Jesus faithfully, we know how we have worn down others by our angry words, how we have wearied loved ones with poor choices. Yet, we also recognize, that in every moment of every day, God has been with us with that love which never gives up, that grace which is always offered freely to us. So, let us come with our prayers, to God’s heart, so we may enter forgiveness and life anew. Let us pray together, saying,
Prayer for Forgiveness (in unison)
We have been so busy this last year, focused on ourselves, Enduring Love, that we have forgotten to imagine what was on Jesus’ mind in those days. We long to shout for joy on a day like this, smiling as we remember waving our palms, even as we look at our empty hands. We harden our faces, not in discipleship, but to turn away those who are still struggling in these days. Yet, because he was fully human like us, God whose compassion never fades, we can be more like Jesus, if we dare. So, as we begin our journey through another Holy Week of worshiping apart, yet strangely more together than we imagine, help us to always choose humility over hubris, weakness over strength, tenderness over bullying, and to seek to stay faithful as we can in these days. We pray this in the name of our Teacher, Jesus. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Assurance of Pardon
God dares us to think like Jesus, because God knows that if we do, we will find the strength to live through these days, to walk with others, to offer our lives in love and service to all. God hears our prayers, listens to our hearts, fills us with forgiveness, and walks with us in these moments and in all the ones to come. Thanks be to God for such incredible mercy! Amen.
Anthem This is the Day Composer: Leon C. Roberts
This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it! This is the day the Lord has made; Let us be glad, be glad, be glad, be glad and rejoice in it! Let us be glad, be glad, be glad, be glad Alleluia! Glory, glory! Alleluia, let us be glad!
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Common English Bible
Open the gates of righteousness for me so I can come in and give thanks to the LORD! This is the LORD’s gate; those who are righteous enter through it. I thank you because you answered me, because you were my saving help. The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone! This has happened because of the LORD; it is astounding in our sight! This is the day the LORD acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! LORD, please save us! LORD, please let us succeed! The one who enters in the LORD’s name is blessed; we bless all of you from the LORD’s house. The LORD is God! He has shined a light on us! So lead the festival offering with ropes all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.
Reflection on the Scriptures Rev. Tonya Vickery
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you, God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith
Not on a War Horse, But a Humble Donkey Words: David M. Miller Tune: FINLANDIA
Not on a war horse, but a humble donkey, the Son of Man came to Jerusalem; great city full of faithful Hebrew pilgrims received one more as she had often done. And yet this time, Christ journeyed into danger; to be betrayed, to suffer and to die. They paved his way with scattered cloaks and branches a prelude to the coming victory.
Crowds of disciples shouting out their praises; “Glory to God! Hosanna to the King! Bless’d is the one, Jesus has come to save us.” The very stones would cry out if they could. His friends knew not the horrors that awaited, imagining an end to Roman rule.
Instead God’s plan was moving to fruition; his Son would gain a greater vict’ry still. Not by the might of gathered rebel armies, but strength of purpose and submissive will. So let us pause, as we this day remember our humble King who gathers up the lost; how great his trial, how strong the love he shows us; how weak a faith that does not count the cost.
We walk with him, come through into the city; one final meal, a symbol for God’s grace. Out into darkness, Jesus’ time is coming; a kiss to greet, a sign – “this is the one” The soldiers mock, yet still our Lord is silent; the sentence passed and all our crimes his own. Christ hoisted high, humanity is ransomed; through Jesus’ death, we all are given life!
Sending Out
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.
Blest Be the Tie Words: John Fawcett Tune: DENNIS (Nägeli)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way; while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Acknowledgements
The invitation to worship, call for reconciliation, prayer for forgiveness, and words of assurance were written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his excellent Lectionary Liturgies blog. http://www.lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/
The litany was written by Shannon Keeney at First UMC, Littleton, NH.
The hymns were sung by Mindy. The anthem was sung by Mindy, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Tonya. Michelle played the guitar. Tonya played the piano. Tessa played the flute.
Permission to print the words to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Cullowhee Baptist Church 