March 12, 2023

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                 “Fantasy on Kingsfold”                                  H. Dean Wagner

                                                                          The Sanctuary Bells, Ariel Alvarado, conductor

WELCOME                                                                                                Rev. Trip Porch 

*CalALL TO WORSHIP

 One:  We gather together—

 All:     the seekers, the dreamers, the shooting-star wishers, in hopes of seeing God.

 One:   We gather together—

 All:      the curious, the hungry, the loving, the lonely, in hopes of finding peace.

 One:  We gather together—

 All:    those who are thirsty and those with water to spare, in hopes of finding justice.

 One:  So come to the well, come to the table.   Come, let us worship God. Amen.

*GATHERING              “We Seek You With Our Questions Lord”                                               KINGSFOLD

We search for you in garden green

where once you gave us birth;

We search for you in desert parched

and all throughout the earth.

With wonder, worry, doubt, and awe

we search through night and day.

We seek you with our questions, God,

at home and far away.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                            Marie Boozer

One:  We can truly share only in a limited measure in the suffering of others.

All:    We are not Christ, but if we want to be Christians it means that we are to take part in Christ’s greatness of

heart,

One:   in the responsible action that in freedom seizes the hour and faces the danger,

All:     and in the true sympathy that springs forth not from fear but from Christ’s freeing and redeeming love for

all who suffer.

One:  Inactive waiting and dully looking on are not Christian responses.

All:    Christians are called to action and sympathy not through their own firsthand experiences but by the immediate

experience of [others] for whose sake Christ suffered.

One:  It is infinitely easier to suffer in obedience to a human command

All:     than in the freedom of one’s very own responsible action.

One:  It is infinitely easier to suffer in community with others,

All:     than in solitude.

One:   It is infinitely easier to suffer publicly and with honor,

All:     than in the shadow and in dishonor.

One:  It is infinitely easier to suffer through putting one’s bodily life at stake

All:     than to suffer through the spirit.

One:  Christ suffered:

All:     In freedom, in solitude, in the shadow and in dishonor, in body and in spirit.

One:  Since then, many Christians have suffered with him.

All:    We confess that we have chosen ease over the cost of discipleship, indolence over action, we have turned

away from injustice, all the while knowing that Christ’s hands and feet are our own. Lord, have mercy on us.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE #469        “Lord, Listen to Your Children”                CHILDREN PRAYING

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                       

         One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

All:      And also with you.

  WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD                                            

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE John 19: 16-18; 25-27

The soldiers took Jesus prisoner. Carrying his cross by himself, he went out to a place called Skull Place (in Aramaic, Golgotha). That’s where they crucified him—and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 

 Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

One:  Holy Wisdom, Holy Word                                                                                                                     All:     Thanks be to God

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE                                                                        Chris Dent  & Trip Porch

ANTHEM                                    “Stabat Mater” Op. 138                 Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901)

                                                                                                                                                       Ariel Alvarado, conductor      

HOMILY         Jesus’ “Mama” at the cross… George Floyd/Tyree Nichols Crying out “Mama”   

https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/when-george-floyd-called-for-his-mama-i-felt-pain-because-im-someones-mama       

*HYMN NO.. 161                                “Woman in the Night”                       NEW DISCIPLES (FEDAK)  

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

One: We believe that a glass of water given to us by a stranger can taste like justice.

All:    We believe that honest conversation has the power to change us.

One: We believe that all God’s children have a voice and something to say.

All:    We believe that Jesus loves the outcast, the ignored, the shamed, and the abandoned.

One: We believe in asking questions.

All:    We believe in curiosity.

One: We believe in giving people a drink.

All:    May we be brave enough to give people a drink. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  followed by Lord’s Prayer by Parker Palmer

Heavenly Father, heavenly Mother, Holy and blessed is your true name. We pray for your reign of peace to come, We pray that your good will be done, Let heaven and earth become one. Give us this day the bread we need, Give it to those who have none. Let forgiveness flow like a river between us, From each one to each one. Lead us to holy innocence Beyond the evil of our days — Come swiftly Mother, Father, come. For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy: Forever your name is All in One.

TIME OFOFFERING      “Just Let Me Say How Much I Love You, Jesus”               arranged by Sunghwan Kim 

RESPONSE #698                       “Take, O Take Me as I Am”                           TAKE ME AS I AM

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

With grateful hearts, O God, we offer these gifts as signs and symbols of our identity as your beloved children.  Please receive them, help us use them wisely, so these gifts allow us to share your love more widely within this congregation, within our community, and to the ends of the earth.  AMEN

*HYMN NO. 7                                “Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth”                                     NORWICH

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

     Moment for Mission – Mark Phlegar                  One Great Hour of Sharing - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance              

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE                    “Christ, We Do All Adore Thee”                             Theodore Dubois

POSTLUDE                      “I Know Whom I Have Believed”        arranged by Sunghwan Kim              

Special Thanks to our guest musicians: Matt Kinnear, Laura Koh, violin; Jaryn Danz, viola; Boris Chalakov, Cello;

Dallas Carpenter, bass                                

Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452

                                           Liturgy by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

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March 5, 2023