Gathering Music
“This Is a Day of New Beginnings” – Words: Brian Wren, Music: Mark. A Miller
1. This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
2. For by the life and death of Jesus,
God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.
3. Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.
4. Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new.
Call to Worship
Maeve Perrin
(adapted from Richard Bott)
Leader: What do we do, when God calls?
All: Wake up. Listen. Act.
Leader: What do we do when God asks us to do what is difficult, what is challenging?
All: Wake up. Listen. Act.
Leader: Because, with God,
All: nothing is impossible.
Leader: Even changing ourselves?
All: Even changing the world. Wake up. Listen. Act.
Opening Song
“Open My Eyes, That I May See” – Clara H. Scott
- Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! - Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine! - Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Opening Prayer
Seonwoo Lee
(adapted from Rev. Elsa A. Peters, UCC Worship Ways)
Leader: Something made the hairs stand up on our necks. Was it you, O God?
Was it you that we saw blowing over the water?
Was it you whose feet we heard, stepping softly?
Was it you that we felt in the beating of our own hearts?
Was it you that called our names?
Come, O God. Come to search us. Come to know us again.
Come, O God, so that we can hear you calling our names.
Here and now.
All: Amen.
Scripture Reading – 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Esther Somp
3Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of God was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4Then God called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6God called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know God, and the word of God had not yet been revealed to him. 8God called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that God was calling the boy. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if God calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, God, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10Now God came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Listen Up!”
Crystal James
Musical Response
“Stillness” – Words: Lindy Thompson, Music: Mark A. Miller
YeongRok Choi, soloist
Refrain: Meet me in
the stillness, Lord
Be the air I breathe
Meet me in the stillness, Lord
Free me to receive
Blessing
Crystal James
Sending Song
“Here I Am, Lord” – Dan Schutte
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and 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 words 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
‘Til 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
Drew Theo Chapel 