Sacred Worship for the UPC Community
June 14, 2020
Second Sunday After Pentecost
From our various spaces, on our various devices, we enter sacred time.
God meets us here—in our living rooms and at our tables, in our beds with coffee,
Be here in this sacred moment. God is with you. God is with us.
May this homebound worship of saints be blessed, be nourishing, be comforting, be church.
Rizpah (Rizpah Mourns Her Sons) by Lauren Wright Pittman Inspired by 2 Samuel 3:7; 21:1-14
“The only clear line I draw these days is this: when my religion tries to come between me and my neighbor, I will choose my neighbor…Jesus never commanded me to love my religion.”
–Barbara Brown Taylor
Prelude | Lord, I Know I Been Changed | Traditional American spiritual | Larry Shackley | Nancy Kirkelie and Kevin DeCoster
Allow the prelude to help you pause and be still; to breathe slowly and re-center your scattered senses upon the presence of God. Light a candle to remind you of Christ’s resurrection light.
Invitation to Worship
We bring joy and hope,
dreams and prayers,
grief and doubt,
memories and heartache.
God meets us here.
God hears our prayers and sees our scars.
With open hearts and authenticity, let us worship good and gracious God.
Hymn 729 | Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
1 Lord, I want to be a Christian
in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian
in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian
in my heart.
2 Lord, I want to be more loving
in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more loving
in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving
in my heart.
3 Lord, I want to be more holy
in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more holy
in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy
in my heart.
4 Lord, I want to be like Jesus
in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be like Jesus
in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus
in my heart.
Unison Prayer
God of creation,
Humanity is capable of such evil.
Stories in scripture alongside stories on the news remind us of that truth all the time.
For the moments when we choose violence over peace, exclusion over inclusion,
and fear over hope—forgive us.
When we choose pride over what is right, and comfort over justice—show us mercy.
And when we numb our pain instead of leaning into empathy—unravel us, for we long to be
changed.
Gratefully we pray, Amen.
God, we have sinned against you and against our neighbor,
in the things we have done, and the things we have left undone.
We acknowledge our ignorance and willful neglect.
Forgive us. Cleanse us. Renew us.
Reset our moral compass.
Fill the wind of our sails with the breath of your Spirit.
Propel us to the places and people who can teach us to love in new and unexpected ways.
We plead for deeper courage and compassion.
We ask for a quiet, teachable spirit.
Give us love and humility to erase the boundary lines we drew in fear.
Expand our vision to life and flourishing for all.
We invite you, we welcome you, to plant new seeds in the garden of our minds and hearts.
God of hope, show us how to work for justice together,
standing up for what is right,
stepping in when something’s wrong,
shouldering each other’s burdens,
holding each other accountable,
righting the wrongs we’ve done,
speaking truth to power.
We live and love and pray in the Spirit of Christ, saying…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn 819 | Be Still, My Soul
1 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
to guide the future surely as the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord;
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Passing of the Peace
Blessing
Life is short and we do not have too much time
to gladden the hearts of those who walk with us.
So be ready to love and unhesitating in kindness.
And may the blessing of the deep mystery we name God –
Source of life,
love and hope,
Word of life,
and ever-present Spirit of grace
be with you this day and all your days. Amen.
Change the Light
Offering Our Gifts to God
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