6 February 2024 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

Excerpts from “Messe pour les Paroisses” (1690) – François Couperin

Mark A. Miller

Call to Worship

Jacqualine Chipongo

(adapted from re-worship, based on Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2)

Leader: There is no God like our God—
All: who gives strength to the weak,
but breaks the power of the mighty;

Leader: who gives food to the famished,
All: but makes those already full work for their bread;

Leader: who raises the poor from the dust,
All: but humbles the proud and arrogant.

Leader: There is no God like our God!
All: There is no God like our God!

Opening Song

“Stand In Awe” – 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.

A Prayer Reflection

Janice Marie Beauchamp

(adapted from Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside)

A prayer that reverberates throughout time
for a child
for a partner
for a friend
A prayer that is at once lost
and found
A grief exposed for the healing balm
A prayer that grows in the crevice of despair
pushing past the boundaries
bursting forth in new life
A prayer for life to fill the void

Scripture Reading – 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Jennifer Lundberg

1There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though God had closed her womb. 6Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because God had closed her womb. 7So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before God. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of God. 10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 11She made this vow: “O God of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.” 12As she continued praying before God, Eli observed her mouth. 13Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before God. 16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made.” 18And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

19They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of God.”

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