Gathering Music

“When There’s Trust in the Room”

Call to Worship

Cassie Montelongo

Adapted from Christian Aid

Leader: O God,
you are the gathering one
All: who calls us into community
with each other
to love and work,
to support and heal.

Leader: You are the gathering one
All: who calls us into community
with all people;
to bring justice and hope,
freedom and truth.

Leader: You are the gathering one
All: who calls us into community
with the whole creation;
to live in harmony,
to cherish and renew.

Leader: Let us worship the God
who makes us one.

Opening Song

“Let there be peace on Earth” -Sy Miller & Jill Jackson

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God our creator,
children all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With ev’ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

Opening Prayer

Daekyung Ko

From Jan L. Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook

God of the generations,
when we set our hands to labor,
thinking we work alone,
remind us that we carry
on our lips
the words of prophets,
in our veins
the blood of martyrs,
in our eyes
the mystics’ visions,
in our hands
the strength of thousands.
All: Amen.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 12:3-13

Kenesha Blake-Newell

3Consider Christ, who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children— “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by God; 6for God disciplines those whom God loves, and chastises every child whom God accepts.” 7Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? 8If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not God’s children. 9Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Parent of spirits and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. 11Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

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

Sermon

“Do Something, Ujima!”

Lerato Pitso

Musical Response

“We Resist” – Words/Music: Mark Miller

We Resist, we refuse to let hatred in!
We rise up, we won’t back down!
We’re in this ‘til the end.

Pray for your enemies!
Welcome the stranger!
Show love to your neighbor!
We’re in this ‘til the end.

Blessing

Lerato Pitso

Sending Song

“May you run and not be weary”
Words & Music: Handt Hanson and Paul Murakiami

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.