Gathering Music

“There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place” Words & Music: Mark A. Miller

There’s a spirit of love
in this place,
there’s a spirit of love
in this place.

You can’t see it, but it’s there
just as precious as the air.
There’s a spirit of love
in this place.

There’s the presence of peace in this room,
there’s the presence of peace
in this room.

In God’s tenderness is found peace that passes human bounds.
There’s the presence of peace in this room.

O alleluia, sing alleluia!
We bless your holy name.
O alleluia, sing alleluia!
There’s a spirit of love
in this place.

“Stand in Awe” Words & Music: Bret Hesla

Stand in awe of the one
who hears the cry of the poor
Stand in awe of the one who will provide
Stand in awe of the one
who hears the cry of the poor
For they shall eat and be satisfied.

Call to Worship

Daekyung Ko

(adapted from enfleshed)

Leader: God delights in our reaching out –
All: when we need help or protection
Leader: God cares about our struggles –
All: and responds with action and compassion
Leader: God accompanies us in our advocacy –
All: for ourselves and others
Leader: May the Spirit help us to perceive these Divine truths, enfleshed all around us.
All: Amen.

Opening Song

“Just a Closer Walk with Thee” – Anonymous

1. I am weak, but thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with thee,
grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee:
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
2. Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but thee. [Refrain]
3. When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o’er
to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore. [Refrain]

Affirmation of Faith

Nyasha Jeche and Cody Beckett

(adapted from enfleshed)

Leader 1: As a gathered community of disciples,
created by the hands of the Holy,
born with Divine purpose,
and bound together by the Spirit
that breathes life into all things,

All: we affirm our commitment to the way of Jesus Christ,
who is The Liberator of the Oppressed,
The Bread of Heaven,
God enfleshed.

Leader 2: With faith, we aim to live as Christ taught us,
laboring towards liberation,
and seeking a world free of domination and control.

All: We believe in God’s promise to uplift the lowly
and bring the powerful down from their thrones.

Leader 1: We believe the resurrecting power of Christ
cannot be overcome by evil,
but persists in all collective efforts
to make life flourish in the midst of destruction,
to birth beauty in places of death,
and to tend gently to the aches of this world.

All: We profess the transforming power of love.
We profess that justice is a form of love.
We profess that we are still growing into the mystery of love.

Leader 2: In the company of the saints who go before us,
we journey together by grace,
seeking always to unlearn all that obstructs authentic relationship,
listening for the guidance of Sacred Wisdom,
And praying earnestly for the day
the Kindom of God is born anew.

All: Until it is so, we live in hope,
for God is with us.

Scripture Reading – Exodus 33:12-23

Valerie Paul-Greenaway

12Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” God said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15And Moses said to God, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” 17The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 19And God said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But,” God said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

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

Message

“Unless You Go with Us”

Dr. Alice Kim

Musical Response

“A Wilderness Wandering People” Words & Music: Jim Strathdee

1. We are a wilderness wandering people on a journey of the soul. May we find our destination in our longing to be whole. Our Holy God is calling to us. With Jesus by our side may compassion be our compass; may the Spirit be our guide.
2. May we cherish all our children, let us heal our family’s pain. Help us cure our city’s madness, let love and justice reign. Reconciled with one another in prayer and praise and song, we’re the body of Christ together and we know that we belong, we belong, we belong, we belong.

Blessing

Dr. Alice Kim

Sending Song

“May You Run and Not Be Weary” Words & Music: Handt Hanson, Paul Murakami

May you run and not be weary
May your heart be filled with song
And may the love of God
Continue to give you hope
And keep you strong
And may you run and not be weary
May your life be filled with joy
And may the road you travel
Always lead you home