A Service of Worship for
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Education
This week Bob Tucker, member of Covenant, retired Congregational/United Church of Christ minister, and former executive director of the Foundation for Contemporary Theology, has a presentation on “The invention of Christianity.” |
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Prelude
Invention No. 1 in C Major by J. S. Bach, Patrick Parker, organ. Call to Worship Opening Sentences We gather to bear witness to the sanctity, dignity, and equality of human beings and the value of all life in the universe. We gather to celebrate that we welcome people of every racial and ethnic heritage, all sexual orientations and identities, and all faith perspectives to our Christian community. We gather to create a place where every person in community can worship God and respond to the divine call in her or his own understanding of the love that encompasses us all. Scripture Lesson: Matthew 10:26-31 Time for Children Call to Confession Unison Confession
For all times when we have assumed we are self-sufficient and independent, free to be and do, not be and not do, what we wanted, when we wanted, how we wanted, forgive us. For all times when we have assumed we are inadequate and unqualified, hampered by our inability to do anything, say anything, or change anything that would make any real difference, forgive us. If ever we forget that each of us is gifted with insight and ability, or fail to remember that we are all in need, and we are all needed, forgive us and make us free. Amen Music “Besarabic” from Hassidic Suite by Joachim Stutschewsky, Susan Wegner, cello and Karen Kline, piano |
Proclamation
Today's proclaimers are: Angie and Jeff Nobles, Ann Stout, Bill Martin, Jane Ann Leeves, Bill and Karen Klein, Jim Avera, and Nita and Joe Lindley and Pam Grimes.
Prayer Spirit of life and love, come and be among us. Fill our sanctuary: our sanctuary that stretches beyond limit across our city and our country and our world. We celebrate your presence among us and in us and with us. We pray especially this day for all people of color. We pray for safety. Spirit of renewal, we pray for change. This slaughtering, oppression, and injustice must stop. Blow among us. Bring your winds of transformation. We pray for ourselves and each other as we work in new and creative ways to be anti-racist. Give us courage. Give us passion and compassion. We pray our dedication and rededication to the work of justice: racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ justice. We hold the memories of the gatherings yesterday both in person and virtually. We pray as we prayed yesterday, "Somebody’s hurting our brothers and our sisters. It’s gone on far too long, and we won’t be silent any more." There is work to be done and we must do it. Now is the time. Racism is killing our siblings and we cannot remain silent or inert. Show us the way forward: the way of listening to our siblings of color, listening, believing, and honoring; the way of confronting racism whenever and wherever we encounter it; the way of acknowledging our own racism; the way of refusing to be defensive when we are confronted with internal racism; the way of working for justice beginning with ourselves. Holy Spirit, be among us this Father's Day when some are celebrating and some are mourning and some are doing both in equal measure. We pray our celebration of the gift of those who have nurtured us, cared for us, loved us. We pray for fathers struggling to feed their children, for fathers seeking safety, for fathers grieving for their children. We pray this day our gratitude for love and fathering that extends beyond the boundaries of blood, of biology, of age, of gender. We pray for ourselves, each other, and those we do not know as we all face so much grief: personal grief and collective grief. Our collective grief mounts each day as so many continue to die of Covid-19, disproportionately people of color, and as racism, brutality, and violence continue to take the lives of people of color. Help us, Spirit of Gentleness to feel our pain. Stay with us. Abide with us and bring comfort and healing; bring hope and a purpose; bring passion for the work of justice; bring demanding love. Amen - Laura Mayo
Invitation Prayer of Dedication The central task of the religious community is to unveil the bonds that bind us to each other. There is a connectedness, a relationship discovered amid the particulars of our lives and the lives of others. Once felt, it inspires us to act for justice. It is the church that assures us that we are not struggling for justice on our own, but as members of a larger community. The religious community is essential, For alone our vision is too narrow to see all that must be seen, And our strength too limited to do all that must be done. Together, our vision widens and our strength is renewed. Affirmation of Faith These things we affirm: The spirit of God moves among us, binding us in covenant with faithful people of every time and place. The spirit moves within us, empowering us to proclaim the gospel to all people. The spirit moves through us, making us channels of God's love Benediction And so, we go together. We are united even as we are physically apart. We go together doing the work of love and justice, held tight in the Spirit’s tether. Postlude Invention No. 13 in A Minor by J. S. Bach, Patrick Parker, organ. |
Worship Notes
The worship leader is Daniel Sanborn.
The prelude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.
The Call to Worship is by Walter Royal Jones, Jr. in Singing the Living Tradition, the 1993 Unitarian Universalist Hymnal.
The Opening Sentences are adapted from and inspired by the weekly order of worship.
The Unison Confession is by Jay Leach.
“Besarabic”is played by Susan Wegner, cello, and Karen Kline, piano.
The Prayer of Dedication is a reading by Mark Morrison-Reed in Singing the Living Tradition, the 1993 Unitarian Universalist Hymnal.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Flames of the Spirit, edited by Ruth C. Duck
The postlude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.
The worship leader is Daniel Sanborn.
The prelude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.
The Call to Worship is by Walter Royal Jones, Jr. in Singing the Living Tradition, the 1993 Unitarian Universalist Hymnal.
The Opening Sentences are adapted from and inspired by the weekly order of worship.
The Unison Confession is by Jay Leach.
“Besarabic”is played by Susan Wegner, cello, and Karen Kline, piano.
The Prayer of Dedication is a reading by Mark Morrison-Reed in Singing the Living Tradition, the 1993 Unitarian Universalist Hymnal.
The Affirmation of Faith is from Flames of the Spirit, edited by Ruth C. Duck
The postlude is played by Patrick Parker, organ.
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