Welcome to Open Doors & Gathering Music

“When There’s Trust in the Room” – Words: John Thornburg Music: Mark Miller

When there’s trust in the room
we can breathe;
when we don’t undercut or deceive;

when there’s grace in the air
and respect everywhere,
when there’s trust in the room
we can breathe.

When there’s trust in the room,
we can dream;
when our motives are just what they seem; when our thoughts freely flow,
and we’re challenged to grow,
when there’s trust in the room,
we can dream.

“Welcome” – Words: Mark Miller and Laurie Zelman Music: Mark Miller

Let’s talk together of a time
when we will share a feast,

Where pride and power kneel to serve
the lonely and the least,
And joy will set the table
as we join our hands to pray,

Singing welcome, welcome to this place
You’re invited
to come and know God’s grace
All are welcome, the love of God to share
‘cause all of us are welcome here
All are welcome in this place

Let’s dream together of the day
When earth and heaven are one
A city built of love and light
The new Jerusalem
Where our mourning turns to dancing
Every creature lifts its voice

Crying welcome, welcome to this place
You’re invited
to come and know God’s grace
All are welcome, the love of God to share
‘cause all of us are welcome here
All are welcome in this place

Call to Worship

Written by Kirsten Trambley

Henry Anyomi

One: Sustainer God, we gather today to discuss the topic of money which can be uncomfortable from greed, instability, jealousy, and need. We have more questions than answers, more puzzling than solutions. We may hear the phrase “you can’t take it with you when you die” or the song lyric that says “it’s not about the money,” but what does that mean for our lives on earth?
Many: What am I doing in my relationship with money? Am I disgusted by the monetary decisions of others?
One: How do we claim the ideals and virtues of humility while caring for the needs of the world, the needs of our siblings, and the needs of ourselves? Is it worthwhile to be faithful when we can’t pay our bills or when we worry about where our next meal is coming from?
Many: What are you doing in your relationship with money? Are you making righteous choices with your funds?
One: When we participate in a university system that intends to sell stolen and exploited lands in exchange for a buck, what does that say about our morals of money and our ethics of budgets?
Many: What are we doing in our relationship with money? What are we lifting or lowering with our monetary systems?
One: May we hear the parable taught by Jesus alongside our modern contexts, and may the Spirit move us to be socially aware and mindfully considerate of the systems surrounding us gathered today in this room, in the livestream and the recording playback, and beyond.

Song

“What Does the Lord Require of You?” – Mark A. Miller

What does the Lord require of you?
What does the Lord require of you?
What does the Lord require of you?
I want to know! I want to know!

Justice! Kindness!
Walk Humbly with your God!
Justice! Kindness!
Walk Humbly with your God!

Opening Prayer

Kirsten Trambley

One: Make my life a libation
poured out like oil,
diffused through air
like perfume
blessing multitudes.

Make me a libation
poured out to God,
not Mother Church,
or someone else’s agendas;
an emissary of Christ,
lighthouse and cattle-prod,
good news and conscience-goad,
bringing tidings of peace
and warnings of the wrath to come.

Let me not be sacrificed
on the altar of the church’s indifference,
nor let me confuse sacrifice with suffering for selfish gain.

All: Make my life a libation
poured out like oil,
diffused through air
like perfume
blessing multitudes. Amen.

Scripture Reading – Luke 18:9-14

PK Kim

18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Music

“More Love” – Mark A. Miller

Seminary Choir

Sermon

Gladson Jathanna

Musical Response

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Beth Quick

A Sung Communion Liturgy for the Season after Pentecost
God of Grace and God of Glory
(Tune: CWM RHONDDA, 87.87.87,, UMH #577)
Text: Beth Quick, 2019, 2022.
Incorporating phrases from “God of Grace, and God of Glory” by Harry Emerson Fosdick (1930) and “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” by William Williams (1745)

Lift your hearts to God your Maker. Lift your hearts to sing and praise.
God of grace, and God of glory, unto you we offer thanks!
God you shaped us in your image, made to follow in your ways,
Made to follow in your ways.

God, you called us into being, gave us breath and called us good.
Steadfast love you ever give us. We, your people – you, our God.
Songs of praises, songs of praises, we will ever give to you,
we will ever give to you!

God, too often, we have wandered, turned our backs, turned from your ways
Fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise!
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days, for the living of these days.

Jesus and disciples gathered, dining in the upper room.
Taking bread, he raised it up to heaven, gave God thanks and shared the food.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Eating, we remember you! Eating, we remember you!

Jesus shared the wine after supper, pouring out the loving cup
Giving thanks, he shared it freely. His own life he offered up.
Covenant of holy blessing:
Grace abundant in this cup, Grace abundant in this cup.

God, send us your Holy Spirit, pour on us who gather here.
Make these gifts into Christ’s body, make us be Christ everywhere.
Send us to a world that’s waiting.
Make us Christ for the whole world! Make us Christ for the whole world!

Prayer after Communion:
God we thank you for the myst’ry: how you give yourself for us
Send us forth now in your spirit. Let us show the world your love.
Send us forth now from the table,
Serving you, whom we adore, serving you whom we adore.

Blessing

Gladson Jathanna

Sending Song

“God Has Work For Us to Do” – Words: Carl Daw, Jr., Music: Mark Miller

Till all the jails are empty
And all the bellies filled,
Till no one hurts of steals or lies
And no more blood is spilled!

Chorus: God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done, and all things are made new,
God has work for us, work for us to do!

‘Til age and race and gender
no longer separate;
’til pulpit, press, and politice
are free of greed and hate: Chorus

By praying through our doing,
and singing though we fear,
by trusting that the seed we sow
will bring God’s harvest near: Chorus