A Service of Witness to the Life of Rev. Dr. Tanya Linna Bennett

Gathering Music

“Fishing” from Roll the Rock Laurie Zelman/Mark Miller
OneLicense #A-729109

Invocation

Janice Marie Beauchamp

Adapted from Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett, from “Divine Echoes: Reconciling Prayer with the Uncontrolling Love of God,” Orange, CA: Quoir Publishers. 2018.

Leader: : Come, Great Spirit, come.
People: Keep our feet firmly on the ground as our heads touch the skies.
Leader: Keep our sight clear and our ears tuned to voices different than our own.
People: Keep our words true and our hearts and minds open.
Leader: Keep our hands empty to fill them with the needs that arise before us.
People: May our gifts be revealed to us in this time, that we might do the most excellent actions in the world;
Leader: to gladden the hearts of human beings, and protect the earth we live in;
People: to fill the hungry, lift up the afflicted, lighten the sorrowful, free the fearful, release the suffering.
Leader: Bring us to the living water, Gracious Spirit, that we may liberate that which has been given to us for the good of the whole
People: so that justice and joy might come to this great world, so that we might complete the circle that is our goodness in life.
Leader: Come, Generous Spirit, come shine on us and through us on this day and all days, pour out your water of life that we might step out in courage and in overflowing, abundant hope.
All: May it be so. Amen.

Opening Song

“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
Words: Charles Wesley, Music: Mark A. Miller
OneLicense #A-729109

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories ever echoing
the triumphs of God’s grace! the triumphs of God’s grace!

My gracious Savior and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name, the honors of thy name.

You speak, and listening to your voice,
new life the dead receive;
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe, the humble poor believe.

O for a thousand tongues to sing (echo)

Jesus! The name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
‘tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘tis life, and health, and peace, ‘tis life, and health, and peace.

Glory to God and love and praise
be ever, ever giv’n!
By all the saints in every age
The church in earth and heav’n! The church in earth and heav’n!

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories ever echoing
the triumphs of God’s grace! God’s grace!

Prayer for Illumination

Dohee Woo

Written by Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett

All: May the words we hear open our hearts and hands for the work and will of God, one in ministry with God, and one in ministry to all the world. Amen.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

Dohee Woo

1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.

3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.

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

Witnesses

Beth Quick, Dr. Jonathan Golden, Rev. Dr. J. Terry Todd

Anthem

“Roll the Rock!” from Roll the Rock, Laurie Zelman/Mark Miller

Seminary Choir

The Dean’s Witness & Sermon

“Lament & Hope”

Dean Edwin Aponte

Musical Response

“Continue”

Words: Laurie Zelman, Tanya Bennett, Music: Brian Hehn, Mark Miller

A Ritual of Remembrance

Rae Guthrie

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Dean Edwin Aponte
Liturgists/Servers: Lerato Pitso, Dr. J. Terry Todd
Additional Server: Sharon Hausman

Invitation and Confession & Pardon adapted from Rev. Dr. Tanya Linn Bennett, © 2021/2024.

Invitation to the Feast

Celebrant: Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
Who earnestly repent of their sin
And seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Confession and Pardon
Liturgist 1: God, your ways are not our ways;
Your thoughts are not our thoughts;
Liturgist 2: What to us seems like eternity is only a moment to you.
In the face of eternity, help us to be humble.
Celebrant: When we have prayed only for what was possible
And hoped only for what we could see:
Liturgist 1: When we have taken your grace for granted
And expected instant answers to immediate requests:
Liturgist 2: When we have allowed waiting on your Spirit to slip into lethargy,
and waiting on the kin-dom to be replaced by apathy:
Celebrant: When we have borne false witness against one another
And clouded it with claims of righteous indignation:
Liturgist 1: When we have thought only of ourselves waiting on you
And never pondered how you wait on us:
Liturgist 2: In these times, God,
when we fear that we are losing hope
or feel that our efforts are futile,
All: let us see in our hearts and minds
the image of your resurrection.
Let that image be the source of courage and strength.
In your company, help us to face challenges and struggles
against all that is born of injustice.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Celebrant: Listen, for this is the true Word of God:
Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
God is merciful, and God’s love is sure and strong.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
People to Celebrant: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
All: Glory to God! Amen!

The Great Thanksgiving
Celebrant: When God’s voice was ignored in the land, God brought the closing argument, maybe the last resort. God welded, molded, spun Truth into a divine human being and set Jesus on the ground. A freedom fighter. A voice to speak realness to power. A voice to speak justice to empire. A voice for the most unheard, the most abused, the most maligned. The Voice…holy and relentless and persistent and raging with compassion and peace and love.

Liturgist 1: This God, our God, offers such immense acts of generosity and goodness that we simply cannot understand. So we simply join in the angels’ song of thanksgiving.

(Sung Sanctus)

Liturgist 2: The empire arrested Jesus while the religious officials looked on in silence and then in assent. As He prepared to be taken away, Jesus gathered the faithful around a table. In priestly disobedience and liturgical disruption, he took the food that was to be the Passover meal, blessed in the name of Yahweh.

Celebrant: He broke the bread and called on God and the Spirit to enter in. He lifted the cup and called on God and the Holy Spirit to fill it up. And the meal became an act of thanksgiving for a new way, a transgression from the old into new.

Without fear or hatred, Jesus shared it with his friends, reminding them always to do this and remember…to remember that the fierce, forgiving, forever love of God will always be with us.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Pour into these simple gifts and make them mighty for our sustenance. Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Pour into us simple people and make us righteous for the journey.
All: Amen.

Let us share together in singing the Lord’s prayer.

Sung 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.

Invitation to the Table & Sharing of the Elements

Songs During Communion

“Sing Alleluia to the Lord”
“Blessed Assurance” v.1 & 3

Blessing

Dean Edwin Aponte

Sending Song

“Canticle of the Turning” – Rory Cooney, OneLicense #A-729109

My soul cries out with a joyful shout
That the God of my heart is great
And my spirit sings of the Wondrous things
That you bring to the ones who wait
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight
And my weakness you did not spurn
So from east to west shall my name be blest
Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!

Though I am small, my God, my all, you
Work great things in me
And your mercy will last from the Depths
Of the past to the end of the age to be
Your very name puts the proud to shame
And to those who would for you yearn
You will show your might
Put the strong to flight
For the world is about to turn
My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears
For the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!

From the halls of power to the fortress tower
Not a stone will be left on stone
Let the king beware for your
Justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne
The hungry poor shall weep no more
For the food they can never ears
There are tables spread, ev’ry
Mouth be fed
For the world is about to turn
My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears
For the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!

Though the nations rage from age to age
We remember
Who holds us fast
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp
This saving word that out forebears
Heard is the promise which holds us bound
‘Til the spear and rod can be
Crushed by God
Who is turning the world around
My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears
For the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!

My heart shall sing of the day you bring
Let the fires of your justice burn
Wipe away all tears
For the dawn draws near
And the world is about to turn!