Gathering Music

“Home By Another Road”      

Words: Lindy Thompson, Music: Mark Miller

You taught my heart
What love can be
So I’m headed back home
By another road

I once was bound
But now am free
So I’m headed back home
By another road
The lights are on
The welcome warm
As we’re headed back home
By another road

There’s room for
Every person born
As we’re headed back home
By another road

Join me now, the road is wide
All God’s people, side by side
Where justice will shine
And love abide
We’re headed back home
By another road
Yes, we’re headed back home
By another road.

Still worshipping
we’re on the way
As we’re headed back home
By another road

We’ll hold each other’s
Hearts this day
As we’re headed back home
By another road

Call to Worship

Samantha Nyachoto

Adapted from Irene Bom

Leader: Who has been with us from before the beginning, bringing us into existence?
People: Who has loved us and blessed us and sent us on our way?
Leader: Who has pointed us toward the path and posted the signs we need to find our way?
People: Who has been at our side when the road has been smooth and gently curving?
Leader: Who has remained with us through every hairpin bend, construction zone, pothole and detour?
People: Who will celebrate with us when we reach our journey’s end?
Leader: Only One. The One and Only.
All: Holy One, the One and Holy. Amen.

Opening Song

“Praise to the One Who Is Present in All of Creation”
Words: Laurie Zelman Music: LOBEN DEN HERREN

Praise to the One
who is present in all of creation
You are our Wisdom,
Our Healer our hope and salvation
Help us renew
Finding our courage in You
Joining in glad adoration

How our souls cry out
For justice in times of oppression
Heart sore, discouraged
We struggle to find our true mission
Raise up a song
The Champion of Love is still strong
Calling us to a new vision

Praise to the Spirit
that reconciles us to each other
God of compassion
You bid us forgive one another
God will reveal
How we can nurture and heal
Binding our futures together

Opening Prayer

Pam Faatz

Adapted from Roddy Hamilton, Mucky Paws

Inbreaking God,
Who makes spaces in our lives
Where there was no space,
Who makes a way in our world,
Were there was no way:

You break in, O God,
on the road
you break in, O God,
exactly the way we don’t believe
you break in, O God,
and change everything

You break in, O God
with a call
you break in, O God
with an invitation
you break in, O God
with the truth

You break in, O God
with a new realm
You break in, O God
with a new world
You break in, O God
with your intent for the future

Inbreaking God, break in again
and call us to be your workers
God, break in again
and use the gifts we are to build your realm
God, break in again
and change our world once more.
Amen.

Scripture Reading

Acts 9:1-20

Benedict Odhiambo Otieno

9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as Saul was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with Saul stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

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

Anthem

“Creation of Peace”

Words: Barbara Hope & Mark Miller, Music: Mark Miller

Sermon

“Really . . . ?

Dean Edwin Aponte

Musical Response

“Christ Still Rises”
Words: David Bjorlin, Music: Benjamin Broday

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Dean Edwin Aponte
Communion Stewards: Pam Faatz, Juan Martinez

Adapted by Beth Quick from The United Methodist Book of Worship,

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

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere, to give thanks to you, Seeking God, who finds us on the way.
You formed us in your image
and breathed into us the breath of life.
We turned away. We took the wrong roads. Our love failed.
But your love remained steadfast.
You found us, drew us in, restored us.
You made covenant to be our God,
and spoke to us through prophetic words, healing hands, and persistent calls.
And so,
with your people on earth, and all the company of saints
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

(Singing) Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of wisdom and grace,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

On the night Jesus was arrested, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this to remember me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you; this is my covenant cup, poured out for you.
Do this, as often as you drink it, to remember me.”

On the day of Resurrection,
Jesus was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread,
and in the power of your Holy Spirit, we have continued
in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.

And so, remembering Jesus, who meets us on the side of the road,
who sends us to seek out others along the way,
who is embodied in us in the breaking of bread,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

(Singing) Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and cup.
Make them be for us the body of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by your love.

(Singing) Amen. Amen. Amen.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Hymns During Communion
“Lord’s Prayer”
Words: Laurie Zelman & Mark Miller, Music: Mark Miller

“Holy Is the Refugee”
Words: Hannah C. Brown, Music: Mark Miller

“Child of God”
Words & Music: Mark Miller

Blessing Dean

Edwin Aponte

Sending Song

“All My Days”
Words: Laurie Zelman, Music: Mark Miller

You know my words before they’re said
You know my need and I am fed
You give me life. You know my ways,
my strength, my path, for all my days
my strength, my path, for all my days

If I should fly beyond the dawn,
the darkness will not overcome
If I lie down in deepest night,
still you are there, my Lord, my light,
still you are there, my Lord, my light

Our every thought, each word we say,
the whole of time, the present day,
are held within your mighty hand,
too wonderful to comprehend,
too wonderful to comprehend.

O mend my heart and free my voice.
From sin released, I will rejoice.
O search me, Lord, my spirit cries,
and let my song of praise arise,
and let my song of praise arise.