Gathering Music

“Fugue in C# Major” J.S. Bach

Call to Worship

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of God’s might and the wonders that God has done.

Hymn of Welcome

“O For a Thousand Tongues”

Sung by Beth Quick, Hayoung Kang, Stephanose Melaku, Brendan Fox, Gwiseok Lee

Reading

“Story Water” by Rumi

A story is like water
that you heat for your bath.

It takes messages between the fire
and your skin. It lets them meet,
and it cleans you!

Very few can sit down
in the middle of the fire itself
like a salamander of Abraham.
We need intermediaries.

A feeling of fullness comes,
but usually it takes some bread
to bring it.

Beauty surrounds us,
but usually we need to be walking
in a garden to know it.

The body itself is a screen
to shield and partially reveal
the light that’s blazing
inside your presence.

Water, stories, the body,
all the things we do, are mediums
that hide and show what’s hidden.

Study them,
and enjoy this being washed
with a secret we sometimes know,
and then not.

Musical Response

“Ayudanos O Dios” words & music by Mark Miller

Sung by David Gaitán

Scripture

Matthew 21:23-32

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two children. He went to the first and said, ‘Daughter, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ she answered, but later she changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other child and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what their father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Homily

“Ask Your Questions”

Dr. Traci West

Musical Response

“God Has Work for Us to Do”

Pastoral Prayer

Led by Rachael Phelps T’18

Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Sending

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”

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Worship Notes:

Call to Worship: adapted from Psalm 78

Poem: Rumi, “Story Water,” The Essential Rumi, trans. Coleman Barks (New York: Harper One, 2004), 121-122.