Gathering Music

“When There’s Trust in the Room” Thornburg/Miller
When there’s trust in the room
we can breathe;
when we don’t undercut or deceive;

when there’s grace in the air
and respect everywhere,
when there’s trust in the room
we can breathe.

When there’s trust in the room,
we can dream;
when our motives are just what they seem;
when our thoughts freely flow,
and we’re challenged to grow,
when there’s trust in the room,
we can dream.

Call to Worship

Salia Kamara

Adapted from Joanna Harader, Spacious Faith

Leader: In the midst of our failures,
All: We stand in God’s grace.
Leader: In the midst of our struggles,
All: We boast in our hope through Christ.
Leader: In the midst of our suffering,
All: We claim the endurance given by the Holy Spirit.
Leader: In every part of our lives,
All: The love of our Divine Creator has been poured into our hearts.
Leader: Let us open our hearts to love as we join together in worship.

Opening Song

“How Firm a Foundation” UMH 529
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent word!
What more can be said than to you God has said.
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2. “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
   for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
   I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
   upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
   the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
   for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
   and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4. “When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
   my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
   the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
   thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
5. “The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
   I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
   that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
   I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

Poem

“An Anthem” by Sonia Sanchez

Lerato Pitso

Our vision is our voice
we cut through the country
where madmen goosestep in tune to Guernica.

we are people made of fire
we walk with ceremonial breaths
we have condemned talking mouths.

we run without legs
we see without eyes
loud laughter breaks over our heads.

give me courage so I can spread
it over my face and mouth.

we are secret rivers
with shaking hips and crests
come awake in our thunder
so that our eyes can see behind trees.

for the world is split wide open
and you hide your hands behind your backs
for the world is broken into little pieces
and you beg with tin cups for life.

are we not more than hunger and music?
are we not more than harlequins and horns?
are we not more than color and drums?
are we not more than anger and dance?

give me courage so I can spread it
over my face and mouth.

we are the shakers
walking from top to bottom in a day
we are like Shango
involving ourselves in acts
that bring life to the middle
of our stomachs

we are coming towards you madmen
shredding your death talk
standing in front with mornings around our waist
we have inherited our prayers from
the rain
our eyes from the children of Soweto.

red rain pours over the land
and our fire mixes with the water.

give me courage so I can spread
it over my face and mouth.

Scripture Reading – Philippians 3:17-4:1

Dohee Woo

Siblings, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my siblings, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

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

Anthem

“Stillness” Thompson/Miller

Seminary Choir

Sermon

Press On!

Rev. Dr. Kevin Newburg

Musical Response

“Satan, We’re Gonna tear your kingdom down” – Negro Spiritual

Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down! 2x
You’ve been building
Your kingdom
All over this land
Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down!

Preachers are gonna preach
Your kingdom down! 2x
You’ve been building
Your kingdom
All in the house of God
Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down!

Mothers are gonna pray
Your kingdom down! 2x
You’ve been building
Your kingdom
All over this land
Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down!

Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down! 2x
You’ve been building
Your kingdom
All over this land
Satan, we’re gonna tear
Your kingdom down!

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Rev. Dr. Kevin Newburg
Servers: Priscille Hassa Malandji, Brigid Dwyer

Liturgy: From The United Methodist Hymnal and Beth Quick, inspired by Rev. Dr. Kevin Newburg and Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God, our Creator.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere, to give thanks to you, God, Creator of all that is. It is you, God, who began a good work in us, shaping us in your very image, inviting us into relationship with you, and calling us to live into your ways of justice and peace.

Even when we have doubted your love, even when we’ve refused your invitation, even when we have ignored your call, still, you have been faithful, ever seeking to complete with us and within us the work you began.

And so, God, with all your people on earth, and surrounded by the company of all the saints who have reached their goal:

All: We press on! Holy, holy, holy God: we press on!

Leader: Holy are you, O God, and blessed is your child Jesus Christ.
Jesus preached the good news to the poor, proclaimed release to captives, and announced freedom to the oppressed. He was chased from town.

All: But Jesus pressed on.

Leader: Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. And the religious leaders targeted him for his radical hospitality.

All: But Jesus pressed on.

Leader: On the very night in which Jesus was denied and betrayed by his friends, arrested by those who sought to stop him,

All: Jesus pressed on.

Leader: Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body, bread of life, which is given for you.
Eat, and remember me.”

When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you; this is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you in love. Drink, and remember me.”

We eat and drink together,
All: and we press on.
Leader: Pour out your Spirit on us, God, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be as Christ for us, that we might be as Christ for the world.

Though we face obstacles on every side as we travel your path, God,
All: We press on.

Leader: Though some will seek to cause harm, to act with evil intent, to turn us from the way of justice,
All: We press on.

Leader: Though our journey feels like one step forward, and ten steps back,
All: We press on.

Leader: By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes, and we obtain our goal. Until that day, filled with the Spirit, strengthened in community, and dwelling in divine love,
All: We press on! We press on! We press on! Amen.

Communion Songs

“Lord’s Prayer”
Our God, in heaven,
holy is your name,
your reign come, your will done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and help us forgive, as we have been forgiven.
In the time of trial lead us into light,
for yours is the kindom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.
Our God, in heaven,
holy is your name, holy is your name.

 “Kwake Yesu Nasimama”

Words & Music: Trad. Kenya aar.

Kwake Yesu nasimama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama

There’s no other place I can hide
’til the storm that rages subsides
My voice cries to God from the flood
and I’m saved because of his love

Kwake Yesu nasimama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama

It is not the work of my hands
that has washed away all my sins
I’m redeemed, and all of my days
Jesus Christ will be my heart’s praise

Kwake Yesu nasimama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama

When my days on this earth are done
and I stand at God’s holy throne
my heart will not have any fear
in Christ’s righteousness I am here

Kwake Yesu nasimama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama

Kwake Yesu nasimama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama
Ndiye mwamba ni salama

Blessing

Rev. Dr. Kevin Newburg

Sending Song

“This I Believe” – Adam Tice/Mark Miller

This I believe,
and so I pray:
that nothing, nothing, nothing
can take God’s love away.
No ruler’s law,
and no distress,
no, absolutely nothing
can make God love us less.

And this I know,
that come what may,
still, nothing, nothing, nothing
can take God’s love away.
No sword, no pow’r,
no rise or fall,
no, absolutely nothing
can change God’s love at all.
Wider than the sky
and deeper than the sea,
stronger than the mountains
is your love,
your love for me.

Through present pain,
or coming day,
no, nothing, nothing, nothing
can take God’s love away.
No war or plague,
no plot or fraud,
no, absolutely nothing
can stop the love of God.
Wider than the sky
and deeper than the sea,
stronger than the mountains
is your love,
your love for me.