19 March 2024 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

James Rufflin

“I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me”
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me 3x
Singing glory hallelujah, Jesus lifted me!

“Victory in Jesus”
Victory in Jesus, victory in Jesus
We have the victory
Victory in Jesus, victory in Jesus
Satan will have to flee!

Tell me, who can stand before us
When we call on that great name?
Jesus, Jesus, blessed Jesus
We have the victory!

“Jesus I’ll Never Forget”

Call to Worship

Jacqualine Chipongo

Leader: Whenever we feel disrespected, overlooked, belittled, and let down by others;
All: Breathe in, breathe out, rest and pray, we affirm that God sees us.
Leader: In times when we are lost or unsure or can’t feel God’s presence in our lives;
All: Be still, listen, sing, and whisper. We remember that God never leaves us and God leads us .
Leader: As we worship, we share our worries and concerns; we let everyone know that we desire God’s Divine Spirit to be felt in our midst.
All: Praise God! Shout Hallelujah! Cry for help! For we recognize God with us is in us.
Leader: Together we remember that our God is an amazing God. God works in ways we cannot imagine and through people that surprises us.
All: God works in surprising places through surprising people, loving us in surprising ways. In Thy hands we are at peace and full of joy.

Opening Prayer

Janice Marie Beauchamp

Unexpected God, God of all people and all creations, forgive us everytime we close our eyes to the people we can’t help and the strangers we don’t understand. Forgive us for closing our minds to grasp your leading through the voice of your people. Forgive us for closing our hearts to the everyday miracles of creation, to the joy of each new day, to the gifts placed deep within us. Oh God, open our hearts to receive the wonder of your surprising love. To see the world as you do — with mercy, hope and love. Empower us to serve the world as you know we can — with courage, faith, and compassion. Strengthen us to become witnesses to you in the world, sharing your peace, hope and love that leads them in desiring to know you. In the name of our Lord, Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Opening Song

Poetry Reading

Terri Leone

BLESSING from Jan Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women

May you speak
where the Spirit calls you to speak;
may you create
with courage and grace.
Amid the threat of destruction
and in the presence of desolation,
may you bear witness to the God
who knows how to create anew
from fire,
from flood,
from all that lays waste in this world.

Words of Encouragement

Dean Tanya Linn Bennett
Dean Robert Paul Seesengood
Dr. Kenneth Ngwa

Scripture Reading – Judges 4:4-10 (NRSVUE)

Rutendo Trish Makarau

4 At that time Deborah, a prophet, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Position yourself at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. 7 I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand.’ ” 8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand warriors went up behind him, and Deborah went up with him.
Reader: This is the Word of God for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God