Gathering Music

“God You Are With Us”

Call to Prayer

I waited patiently for the Lord; God inclined to me and heard my cry.
God drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
There is a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

Opening Song

“God You Are With Us”

Scripture

Romans 8:18-25 (CEB)

18 I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s children. 20 Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. 23 And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. 24 We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? 25 But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

Time of Reflection

Sung Response

“Wait for the Lord”

Prayer of the Day

Everlasting God, we are tired – exhausted by the ongoing state of isolation, drained by grief in the wake of so much death. In this time of turmoil help us to remember to care for ourselves. When we are overwhelmed by the path ahead, remind us that we can go anywhere by taking one step at a time. When each day rushes by in a blur of video calls, remind us to unplug and find peace in the quiet of nature. When we cannot wait one more moment for justice to come, remind us that it is our responsibility to do the work — to create the conditions in which all life may thrive and to destroy death-dealing systems. Give us the strength and the courage to make it so. In the name of the sustaining one, we pray, Amen.

Blessing

Excerpt from “For Presence” by John O’Donohue

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.
May anxiety never linger about you.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

Sending

“Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer

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Worship Notes

Call to Worship: adapted from Psalm 40 (NRSV)

Prayer of the Day: written by Kelsey Wallace

Blessing: excerpt from John O’Donohue, “For Presence,” To Bless the Space Between Us (New York: Doubleday, 2008).