Gathering Music

“Just a closer walk with thee”

1 I am weak, but thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with thee,
grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee:
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
2 Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but thee. [Refrain]
3 When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o’er
to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore. [Refrain]

Invocation

Chantel Makarawa

(adapted from Rev .Dr. Sheila Harvey Guillaume)

Leader: Cultivating God,
we come as your children to grow and learn,
because you are our divine vine grower.
God, we desire for you to abide within us,
and for your grace to be revealed anew daily.
As your branches, we ask you to nourish us
for continued growth.
May you transform our hearts and minds
as we hear your Word, sing your praises,
and engage in holy dialogue through prayer.
May you help us to bear good fruit
through the vine of Jesus Christ.
In whose name we pray,
All: Amen.

Opening Song

“The Summons” – Iona Community/John Bell

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

Opening Prayer

Rae Guthrie

(adapted from John Birch)

God of harvest,
gardener supreme,
you place us at the center,
feed us, equip us and,
having provided for us,
look to a different harvest—
a fruitfulness of lives
in service to you
and others.
God of harvest,
feed us
prune us
harvest us
that our lives
might bring glory to you.
Amen.

Scripture Reading – John 15:1-5

Crystal James

15‘I am the true vine, and God, my Parent, is the vine-grower. God removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

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

Sermon

“The Journey of Names: From 기쁨 to YoungHak to Joseph—Becoming in Christ”

YoungHak Lee

Sung Response

“Goodness of God”
Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Brian Johnson / Edward Martin Cash / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Maker
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything, oh Lord

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I surrendered now
I give You everything

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful,
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Blessing

YoungHak Lee

Sending Song

“God who began a good work in you”
Words & Music: Jon Morh

God who began a good work in you
God who began a good work in you
Will be faithful to complete it
Will be faithful to complete it
God who started the work
Will be faithful to complete it in you