16 April 2024 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

“Stand In Awe” – Words: Brett Hesla

Call to Worship

Esther Somp

Adapted from enfleshed

Leader: When we are afraid of the wilderness,
All: God’s love is courageous.
Leader: When systems of exploitation ask us to join in the ways of power-over,
All: God’s resistance is sturdy and steadfast.
Leader: When we feel destructive ways banging on the door of our hearts,
All: God protects us, shouting “Away!”
Leader: When sorrow threatens to pull us under,
All: God encircles us with Holy Presence.
Leader: Let us worship God who does not leave us stranded,
All: but joins us as Protector, Companion, Compass, and Hope.

Opening Song

“Come Out” – Words: Mark A.Miller & Tanya Linn Bennett

Opening Prayer

Maeve Perrin

Adapted from Refugee and Migrant Service, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Leader:
Today, Gracious God,
we worship you who are the one born among us:
born, like many refugees, in makeshift conditions,
surviving amidst bloodshed and terror,
forced to leave your place of birth and go to a foreign land.
All: Born as one of us, we worship you, Refugee God.

Leader: Today, Gracious God,
we worship you as one forced to flee from danger,
avoiding those with murderous intent,
finding a place far away from the center of your cultural home.
All: Born as one of us, we worship you, Immigrant God.

Leader: Today, Gracious God,
we worship you as one who lived with those forced to the edges,
as one who taught and demonstrated the great depth of love
you have for each person, whether homeless or stateless.
All: Born as one of us, we worship you, loving God.

Leader: We thank you for the wisdom of strangers from the east
who found and worshiped you in a stable,
and we thank you for the faith of the Canaanite woman
who extended your mission.
We confess we are not always open to the wisdom strangers bring.
We do not always seek to live amongst those whose lives are disrupted.
Forgive us.
We thank you for your graciousness.
You continually come to us speaking words of love and forgiveness.
Thanks be to God.
All: Amen.

Scripture Reading

Mark 1:9-15

Peasipa Namoa

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Child, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

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