Gathering Music

La Lucha
Words/Music: Mark Miller

En la lucha hay vida
En la lucha esperanza
En la lucha hay vida
Siempre hay siempre hay esperanza

Cantamos en la lucha
Cantamos por la justicia

Cantamos por nuestras vidas
Siempre hay siempre hay esperanza

Centering Words

Daeun Hong

Adapted from Rev. M Barclay, enfleshed

Leader: Though systems that use and abuse, seduce and exploit, make promises of profit and prosperity, they only leave the world wanting and wounded. Calling us to live otherwise, to lay down our loyalties to what deadens and destroys, God invites us into a life of true abundance. Where all have what they need, no excess is hoarded and there is plenty of rest. This is deliverance. This is salvation. The Spirit invites us to seek and to build until it is so.

Opening Song

Precious Lord, Take My Hand (UMH 474)
Words & Music: Thomas A. Dorsey

Precious Lord, take my hand,
lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night,
lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

When my way grows drear,
precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone,
hear my cry, hear my call,
hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

When the darkness appears
and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone,
at the river I stand,
guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me on.

Poem

“The Fountain” by Denises Levertov

Jess Barrett

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water
to solace the dryness at our hearts.
I have seen

the fountain springing out of the rock wall
and you drinking there. And I too
before your eyes

found footholds and climbed
to drink the cool water.

The woman of that place, shading her eyes,
frowned as she watched—but not because
she grudged the water,

only because she was waiting
to see we drank our fill and were
refreshed.

Don’t say, don’t say there is no water.
That fountain is there among its scalloped
green and gray stones,

it is still there and always there
with its quiet song and strange power
to spring in us,
up and out through the rock.

Scripture Reading – John 12:21-26

Denis Ipimilo

21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

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

Sermon

“A Queer, Divine Dissatisfaction”

Rev. Dr. Jess Winderweedle

Musical Response

In Our Sorrows (Harvest of Love)
Words: Laurie Zelman, Music: Mark Miller

In our sorrow, we journey head down.
In our sorrow, we journey head down.
In the dust of defeat, with our hearts at our feet,
We are planting our seeds in the ground.
We are planting our seeds in the ground.

May we offer our lives as the ground.
May we offer our lives as the ground.
Now our fears we forsake,
Let the seeds stir and wake.
May they grow in the peace
that we’ve found.
May they grow in the peace
that we’ve found.

It’s a mystery – who knows
How the harvest grows?
With our hands and our tears in the soil,
From the ground feel it rise,
Filled with joy and surprise.
‘Til the laughter like water flows!
‘Til the laughter like water flows!

So give thanks and rejoice at the sound!
So give thanks and rejoice at the sound!
For the song rises still,
And our arms God will fill.
Oh the harvest of love will astound
Yes the harvest of love will astound!

It’s a mystery – who knows
How the harvest grows?
With our hands and our tears in the soil,
From the ground feel it rise,
Filled with joy and surprise.
‘Til the laughter like water flows!
‘Til the laughter like water flows!

Blessing

Rev. Dr. Jess Winderweedle

Sending Song

Hope Will Not Fail
Words: David Bjorlin, Music: Mark Miller

Hope will not fail, no, hope will not fail.
Though anguish and apathy seem to prevail,
No, hope will not fail; hope, hope will prevail.

Peace will not fail, no, peace will not fail.
Though vengeance and violence seem to prevail,
no, peace will not fail; peace, peace will prevail.

Believe in the coming, the coming of peace!
Though vengeance and violence seem to prevail,
No, peace will not fail; peace, peace will prevail.

Joy will not fail, no, joy will not fail.
Though mourning and misery seem to prevail,
No, joy will not fail; joy, joy will prevail.

Believe in the blessing, the blessing of joy!
Though mourning and misery seem to prevail,
No, joy will not fail; joy, joy will prevail.

Love will not fail, no, love will not fail.
Though hatred and hopelessness seem to prevail,
No, love will not fail; love, love will prevail.

Believe in the power, the power of love!
Though hatred and hopelessness seem to prevail,
No, love will not fail; love, love will prevail.