GATHERING MUSIC

Jin Kim

CALL TO WORSHIP

Stephanie Cramer

In a world ravaged by war;
In a city undermined by racism;
In homes tormented with apathy, anger, and frenetic pace;
We cry:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning?

Our schedules offer testimony
To our frantic search for meaning;
Getting ahead, getting healthy, getting religion.

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
And by night, but you do not answer.

Slow us down, loving God.
Let us be still in your presence.

Yet you are holy.
In you our ancestors trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved.
In you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

SONG – “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”

Words: Charles Wesley

Sung by Isaac, Hyerim, Beth, Mark, & Hayoung

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

SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 22:1-15

Jin Kim

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 ‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’

9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10 On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.

REFLECTION – “Pain & Trust”

Esther Inuwa

PRAYER

Dorathea Jackson

MUSICAL RESPONSE – “Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying”

Words/Music: Ken Medema

Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power,
send us grace.

BLESSING

Esther Inuwa