GATHERING MUSIC

“There’s a Spirit of Love In This Place”

Words/Music: Mark A. Miller

CALL TO WORSHIP

Ren Aguila

Leader: Create no images of God.
Accept the images
that God has provided.
All: They are everywhere,
in everything.
God is Change—
Leader: Seed to tree,
All: tree to forest;
Leader: Rain to river,
All: river to sea;
Leader: Grubs to bees,
All: bees to swarm.
Leader: From one, many;
All: from many, one;
Leader: Forever uniting, growing, dissolving—
All: forever Changing.
The universe
is God’s self-portrait.

OPENING SONG

“Many Gifts, One Spirit,” vs. 1&2

Words: Al Carmines/Music: Mark A. Miller

Verse 1

Verse 2

SCRIPTURE READING – Exodus 32:7-14

Christy Miller

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’

But Moses implored the Lord God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that God brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.” ’ And God changed God’s mind about the disaster God planned to bring on the people.

The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE

“God is Change”

Beth Quick

MUSICAL RESPONSE

“Many Gifts, One Spirit,” vs. 3

Words: Al Carmines, Music: Mark A. Miller

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Dee Jackson

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Grant, almighty God,
that all who confess your name may be united in your truth,
live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations,
in the ways of justice and peace;
that we may honor and serve one another.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly
in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours,
and grant that we may serve Christ in them,
and love one another as Christ loves us.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit;
give them courage and hope in their troubles,
and bring them the joy of your salvation.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

We commend to your mercy all who have died,
that your hope for them may be fulfilled;
and we pray that we may share with all your saints
in your eternal kin-dom.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Silent prayer.

We offer these prayers through Jesus Christ. Amen.

BLESSING

Beth Quick

“God is Change, and in the end, God does prevail. But we have something to say about the whens and the whys of that end.” “All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God is Change.”

SENDING SONG

“Ready for a Change”

Words: Jeni Lee Boyden & Rusty Edwards, Music: Mark A. Miller

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Worship Notes:
Call to Worship and Blessing adapted from Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower.
Prayer of the Day adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.