Gathering Music

“La Lucha” by Mark Miller

Call to Prayer

One: The heavens are telling the glory of God!
Many: Day to day and night to night, unending is their silent speech of beauty and wonder.
One: How shall we join their joyful witness?
All: With words that proclaim God’s inclusive love, with works that bring forth God’s powerful justice, with worship that rejoices in God’s wondrous presence, now and always. Amen!

Sung Evening Confession

“Cool of the Day” by Jean Ritchie

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my garden so fair
You may live in this garden, if you keep the grasses green
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my garden so pure
You may live in this garden, if you keep the waters clean
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh this earth it is a garden, the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day

First Reading

Romans 8:35-39 (NRSV)

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through God who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

One: Hear what the spirit is saying
Many: We are listening

Sung Repsonse

“Cool of the Day” (reprise)

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my pastures so green
You may live in this garden if you will feed my lambs
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh, this earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my garden so free
You may live in this garden if you keep the people free
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh, this earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:18-29 (NRSV)

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Consider your own call, my siblings: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

One: Hear what the spirit is saying
Many: We are listening

Time of Reflection

“I’m Not Giving Away My Church”

Lin Manuel Miranda, adapted by Mark Miller

Prayers of the People

One: God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made.

Many: Holy One, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

One: Eternal God, break down the walls of hostility that divide us. Send peace on earth, and put down greed, pride, and anger, which turn nation against nation and neighbor against neighbor. Speed the day when wars will end and our communities will be made one in peace and justice.

Many: Mighty God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

One: God of glory, you see how all creation groans in labor as it awaits redemption. As we work for and await your new creation, we trust that you will answer our prayers with grace, and fulfill your promise that all things work together for good for those who love you.

Many: Holy One, we ask these things in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, singing …

“Lord’s Prayer”

Blessing

Sending

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Worship Notes:

Prayers of the People: adapted from the Book of Common Worship
Call to Worship: http://www.welcomingresources.org/placeingodsheart.pdf