23 September 2025 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

Come with me into the Journey
Words: Chris Shelton, Music: Mark A. Miller

Centering Words

Rin McLaughlin

Adapted from Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside

Leader: The vine emerges from the earth,
nourished
and nourishing.
Rises without visible connection;
roots hidden,
promise unknown.
Strong to withstand storms,
fragile when plucked too soon.
So it is that we grow…
nourished by invisible connections to the living God,
called to nourish that which is seen and that which is yet buried within.

Opening Song

When We Are Living (v.1-4, English)
Words: Anonymous, vs. 1, Roberto Escamilla, vs. 2-4

When we are living it is in Christ Jesus,
And when we’re dying it is in the Lord.
Both in our living and in our dying,
We belong to God, we belong to God.

Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God, we belong to God.

‘Mid times of sorrow and in times of pain,
When sensing beauty or in love’s embrace,
Whether we suffer or sing rejoicing,
We belong to God, we belong to God.

Across this wide world, we shall always find
Those who are crying with no peace of mind,
But when we help them, or when we feed them,
We belong to God, we belong to God.

Opening Prayer

Esther Somp

Adapted from enfleshed

Leader: As the sellers of propaganda invest in our separation and our resignation, Holy Spirit, we long to remain steadfast in our connection to one another. May compassion be the soil from which we grow, our care for each other as tender seedlings. As the soul-lost treat life as expendable, cultivate in us the fruits of the spirit – grow in us love, joy, peace, and patience. Even as we grieve the destabilizing of the seasons, may we be as faithful in our solidarity – trees intertwining our roots underground.
All: Amen.

Scripture Reading

Denis Ipimilo

John 15:1–11 (NRSVue)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide 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. I 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

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

Sermon

“Questions & Questlines”

Tyler Heston Wolf

Musical Response

Draw the Circle
Words: Gordon Light, Music: Mark Miller

Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.
No one stands alone,
we’ll stand side by side.
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.
Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side,
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide

In your sadness and in your grief
From all the pain
It seems there’s no relief
We will hold you
Until the storm subsides
We’ll draw the circle,
draw the circle wide!

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.
Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side,
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.
Draw the circle, draw the circle wide.