Gathering Music

“Welcome” – Mark A. Miller & Laurie Zelman

Let’s walk together for a while
And ask where we begin
To build a world where love can grow
And hope can enter in
To be the hands of healing
And to plant the seed of peace

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 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

“Gather Us In” – Marty Haugen

Here in this place new light is streaming
Now is the darkness vanished away
See in this space our fears and our dreamings
Brought here to you in the light of this day
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken
Gather us in, the blind and the lame
Call to us now and we shall awaken
We shall arise at the sound of our name

We are the young, our lives are a mystery
We are the old who yearn for your face
We have been sung throughout all of history
Called to be light to the whole human race
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty
Gather us in, the proud and the strong
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly
Give us the courage to enter the song

Not in the dark of buildings confining
Not in some heaven light years away
But here in this place the new light is shining
Now is the kingdom, now is the day
Gather us in and hold us forever
Gather us in and make us your own
Gather us in, all peoples together
Fire of love in our flesh and our bones
Fire of love in our flesh and our bones

Call to Worship

Yajenlemla

(adapted from Catherine Rolling, UCC Worship Ways)

Leader: We may be thirsty and parched,
like an un-watered garden,
so we come into God’s presence:
All: The Divine One is a spring of water!

Leader: We may be weary from worry and work
so we come into God’s presence:
All: The Holy One offers us Sabbath rest!

Leader: We may be lost or confused
so we come into God’s presence:
All: The Wise One offers us welcome and guidance!

Leader: Come, come into God’s presence.
All: God, we are here.

Opening Song

“The Summons” – John Bell

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

Opening Prayer

Francis Osuji

(Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer)

Leader: 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our 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.
Silent prayer.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We offer these prayers through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture Reading

Carrie-Lee Farnham

Psalm 103 (NRSV, adapted)
Of David.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless God’s holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 God works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 She made known her ways to Moses,
her acts to the people of Israel.
8 God is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 They will not always accuse,
nor will they keep their anger for ever.
10 They does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is God’s steadfast love towards those who fear them;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far they remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But God’s steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear her,
and her righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep her covenant
and remember to do her commandments.

19 God has established their throne in the heavens,
and their kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you, God’s angels,
you mighty ones who do God’s bidding,
obedient to their spoken word.
21 Bless God, all you hosts,
their ministers that do God’s will.
22 Bless God, all their works,
in all places of their dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

“Why Are You Here?”

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Musical Response

“Here I Am, Lord” – Words & Music: Dan Schutte

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them,
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Blessing

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Sending Song

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” – Negro Spiritual

1. I’m gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
2. I’m gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
3. I’m gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
4. I’m gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!