Organ Prelude

“Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho”
Fela Sowande

Opening Prayer

Barbara

Holy One, Heart of our own heart,
Prepare us to be a sanctuary of life
where your Word takes root
and greens the earth for generations to come.
Annoint all who proclaim
the glorious liberty of the daughters and sons of God.
Bless those who teach that they may
deliver their truth with the clarity and authority of Love.
Bless those who learn to treasure wisdom
in their texts, in themselves, and in one another.
Ground our hearts in peace
through Jesus Christ, the Beloved and the Holy Spirit
in whom we live and move
and have our being, now and forever.
Amen.

Morning Hymn

Tune UMH 508

A holy house has wisdom made,
with finest food her table laid.
Here shall the hungry have their fill.
Here shall the broken heart be healed.

Nourish us now, Incarnate One,
around the table of your love,
and grow the kin+dom in our midst
where righteousness and mercy kiss.

First Reading

Oladiti

1 John 1:1-14 (NRSV)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, and seen with our eyes, and have looked at and touched with our hands: the Word, who is Life—this is the subject of our letter. That life came to be; we saw it and bear witness to it. We proclaim to you the eternal life which was with Abba God and was manifested to us. What we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you may be one with us—as we are one with Abba God and with the Only Begotten, Jesus Christ. We write this to fulfill our joy.”

“Love Divine All Loves Excelling” (vs.1)

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

Second Reading

TJ

A Catholic Spirit

Commend me to God in all thy prayers; wrestle with him in my behalf, that he would speedily correct what he sees amiss, and supply what is wanting in me. In thy nearest access to the throne of grace, beg of him who is then very present with thee, that my heart may be more as thy heart, more right both toward God and toward man…

Provoke me to love and to good works. Second thy prayer, as thou hast opportunity, by speaking to me, in love, whatsoever thou believest to be for my soul’s health. Quicken me in the work which God has given me to do, and instruct me how to do it more perfectly… O speak and spare not, whatever thou believest may conduce, either to the amending my faults, the strengthening my weakness, the building me up in love, or the making me more fit, in any kind, for the Master’s use.

Lastly, love me not in word only, but in deed and in truth. So far as in conscience thou canst (retaining still thy own opinions, and thy own manner of worshipping God), join with me in the work of God; and let us go on hand in hand. And thus far, it is certain, thou mayest go. Speak honourably wherever thou art, of the work of God, by whomsoever he works, and kindly of his messengers. And, if it be in thy power, not only sympathize with them when they are in any difficulty or distress, but give them a cheerful and effectual assistance, that they may glorify God on thy behalf.

Sermon

“A Valentine for the People Called Methodist (United)”

The Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins

Reflection on the Word

Invitation to Confession and Reconciliation

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

“Love Divine All Loves Excelling” (vs.2)

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

silent prayer

One: “Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine?”
I ask no further question.
“If it be, give me thy hand.”
For opinions or terms,
let us not “destroy the work of God.”
Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough.

One: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Many: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen.

“Love Divine All Loves Excelling” (vs.3)

Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
change from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
til we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Peace of Christ

“Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine? If it be, give me thy hand.”

Anthem

“There’s A Spirit of Love in This Place”

The Great Thanksgiving

One: The Holy One be with you;
Many: And also with you.

One: Let us pray. Dearly beloved, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, and seen with our eyes, and have looked at and touched with our hands: the Word, who is Life—invites you to this table. That life came to be; we saw it and bear witness to it. From chaos to cosmos, from the waters of Babylon to the wells of living water, from the walls of Jericho, Berlin, and Tijuana, from the land of milk and honey, the Sobaek mountains, the Canyon de Chelly and the hills of Zongo, the Word is with us, and we proclaim to all this eternal life which sets us free. What we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you may be one with us— as we are one with Abba God and with the Only Begotten, Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit. We sing this life to fulfill our joy.

“Sung Sanctus”

One: God of compassion, your holy Word, the Beloved, offers us this bread and cup that it may become the blood of Truth and bread of Mercy. May all who come, receive this medicine for life, not for censure and reproach, but for the healing of every sickness, for the strengthening of each virtue, for the perfecting of all love. May your word of piety and power, sound discipline and all holiness bless this people, and continually preserve them to perfection through your only-begotten Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, both now and to all ages of ages as we proclaim the mystery of love and faith …

“Memorial Acclamation”

Many: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until heaven and earth are one.

One: Through your Beloved, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God,
now and for ever.
Amen.

“Sung Lord’s Prayer”

Sharing the Table

Music During Communion

“Love Round”

Love, love, love, love
Christians, this is your call
Love your neighbor as yourself
For God loves us all.

“They’ll Know We Are Human of Our Love”

We are one human family and we live on one earth
we are one human family and we live on this earth
and we pray that we recognize our sacred worth
and they’ll know we are humans by our love by our love
yes they’ll know we are humans by our love

we will walk with each other we will fly crawl and creep
he will walk with each other we will fly crawl and creep
and we’ll save our earth together by the promises we keep
… and they’ll know we are humans

The Earth is a blessing we will guard with our care
Here we live with all creatures, it’s the home that we share
When we work with each other we will find that God is there
… and they’ll know we are humans

Giving Thanks

One: What do you say when God gives you such amazing grace, such wondrous love? What will you do with this holy mystery, this gift of life?
Many: We will go into the world in the strength of the Spirit, to give ourselves for others in the name of the Beloved. Amen.

Blessing

The Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins

Sending

“All You Need is Love”

All you need is love!
All you need is love!
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need!