Gathering Music

“Spirit of Gentleness” FWS #2120

Call to Worship

Christiane Depestre

One: Let us praise the God who formed the mountains and created the wind.
Many: Let us sing to the One who made the stars, who turns deep darkness into
morning and day into night.
One: Let us turn to God, hating what is evil and loving what is just.
Many: So may justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream.

Hymn of Welcome

“O For a Thousand Tongues”

Scripture

Christiane Depestre

Isaiah 50:4-9a

4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning God wakens—
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
6 I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.

7 The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
8 the one who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
9 It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?

Mark 8:27-38 NRSV

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Homily

Dean Melanie Johnson DeBaufre

Sung Response

Seminary Choir 

Table Liturgy

Dean Melanie Johnson DeBaufre

One: We praise you, O God.
Many: All the earth worships you. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory.
One: Day by day we glorify you
Many: We worship your name forever without end.

One:
We give you thanks, O God, for the mighty sweep of your love, embracing all people and all nations. We thank you that you have sent Jesus Christ to us to break down the walls of hostility which divide the earth’s people, and to reveal your all-encompassing love, connecting us all. Through the power of your Spirit, may this solidarity become reality.

“Sanctus”

One:
Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me.” As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

“Memorial Acclamation”

One:
Now, by your presence, make sacred this feast in memory of Jesus Christ. As this broken bread was scattered like grain on the hillsides, and then, when gathered together, became one loaf, so may we be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your eternal love. Like Christ, who went from death to life, and like this wine, poured out as a sign of new life, so may the lives of your people be poured out in compassion, and in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, and the hungry of this world. For it is in the name of Jesus, we pray the prayer you taught us, singing …

“Lord’s Prayer”

Ceramic cups contain juice. Glass cups contain wine. A gluten free option is available.

All:
God of new life, with joy we have received this sacrament of bread and wine, giving you thanks for Jesus the Christ, our peace and our hope. Unite all throughout the world in living out Christ’s ministry of love and servanthood. Amen.

Music During Communion

“Pues Si Vivimos” UMH 356

“It is Well With My Soul” UMH 377

Blessing

Dean Melanie Johnson DeBaufre

Sending Forth

“All My Days”

 

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Worship Notes:

Call to worship and table liturgy adapted by Kelsey Wallace from:
Ruth Duck. Bread for the Journey: Resources for Worship. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1981. 13, 52.