Gathering
God Has Work for Us to Do
Introduction of Speaker
Dr. Catherine Keller
Song of Praise
I Choose Love
In the midst of pain, I choose love
In the midst of pain, I choose love
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain
I await the sun again, I choose love
I choose love
In the midst of war, I choose peace
In the midst of war, I choose peace
In the midst of war, hate and anger keeping score
I will seek the good once more, I choose peace
I choose peace
When my world falls down, I will rise
When my world falls down, I will rise
When my world falls down, explanations can’t be found
I will climb to holy ground, I will rise
I will rise
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 5:1-2, NRSV
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
The Word of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Thank Goodness, God is Not in Control”
Dr. Thomas J. Oord
Sung Response
I Choose Love
In the midst of pain, I choose love
In the midst of pain, I choose love
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain
I await the sun again, I choose love
I choose love
Table Liturgy
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, our Alpha and our Omega, whose strong and loving arms encompass the universe, for with your eternal Word and Holy Spirit you are forever one God. Through your Word you created all things and called them good, and in you we live and move and have our being. When we fell into sin, you did not desert us. You made covenant with your people Israel and spoke through prophets and teachers. In Jesus Christ your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is Jesus Christ, who called you Abba. As a parent tenderly gathers their children, you embraced a people as your own and filled them with a longing for a peace that would last and for a justice that would never fail. In Jesus’ suffering and death you took upon yourself our sin and death and destroyed their power for ever. You raised from the dead this same Jesus, who now reigns with you in glory, and poured upon us your Holy Spirit, making us the people of your new covenant.
On the night before meeting with death, Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to the disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over Jesus took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to the disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Hosanna in the Highest.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts, that in the breaking of this bread and the drinking of this wine we may know the presence of the living Christ and be renewed as the body of Christ for the world, redeemed by Christ’s blood.
As the grain and grapes, once dispersed in the fields, are now united on this table in bread and wine, so may we and all your people be gathered from every time and place into the unity of your eternal household and feast at your table forever. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty and loving God, now and forever.
Amen. Hosanna in the Highest
And now with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray the prayer that Christ taught us:
Our God who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Music During Communion
My Soul Says Yes
My soul says yes,
says yes, says yes.
My soul says yes,
says yes to Your will.
Blessing
Dr. Thomas J. Oord
Drew Theo Chapel 