Gathering Music

La Lucha
Words & Music: Mark Miller, OneLicense #A-729109

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

Call to Worship

Dorothy Jayne Smith

(adapted from Hold Fast to What Is Good)

Leader: There is silence,
All: And there is light.
Leader: There is music,
All: And there is grace.
Leader: There are people,
All: And there is life.
Leader: There is hope,
All: And there is God.
Leader: Come, let us worship.

Opening Song

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Words: Thomas L. Chisholm, Music: William M. Runyon

1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God, Creator;
   there is no shadow of turning with thee;
   thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
   as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
   sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
   join with all nature in manifold witness
   to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
   thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
   strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
   blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

Prayers of the People

Rev. Dr. Beth Quick

(adapted from the UM BOW)

Let us pray for the Church, for our community, and for the world.

Grant, God of love, that all may be united in your truth,
live together in your love,
and reflect your glory in the world.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations,
in the ways of justice and peace;
that we may honor one another
and serve the common good.
(specific petitions related to global justice/peace concerns)
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly
in the service of others
and to your honor and glory.
(specific petitions related to caring for creation)
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours,
and grant that we may serve Christ in them,
and love one another as Christ loves us.
(specific petitions related to our communities/networks)
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit;
give them courage and hope in their troubles,
and bring them the joy of your salvation.
(specific petitions related to those in need of healing)
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We commend to your mercy all who have died,
that your will for them may be fulfilled;
and we pray that we may share with all your saints
in your eternal kin-dom.
(specific petitions for those who have died and those who are grieving)
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear these, our prayers, O God. In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.

Scripture Reading

Hebrews 13:7-9

Mercedes Hesselroth

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.

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

Sermon

“The Same God”

Rev. Dr. Kevin D. Miller

Musical Response

The Goodness of God
Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Brian Johnson / Edward Martin Cash / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson – OnceLicense #A-729109

I love You, Lord, for Your mercy never fails me.
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands.
From the moment that I wake up,
Until I lay my head,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

Refrain: ‘Cause all my life You have been faithful,
And all my life You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire.
In darkest night, You are close like no other.
I’ve known You as a Maker. I’ve known You as a Friend.
And I have lived in the goodness of God.

Refrain

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
With my life laid down, I surrendered now.
I give You everything.

Refrain

Blessing

Rev. Dr. Kevin D. Miller

Sending Song

Holy is the Refugee
Words: Hannah C. Brown, Music: Mark A. Miller – OnceLicense #A-729109

Holy is the refugee, holy is the guest,
Holy those who wander far from home.
Holy is the body seeking safety, warmth, and rest;
Beloved, find a welcome as your roam.

Holy are the questioning, holy are the queer,
Holy those who challenge, dance, and dear.
Holy are the bodies choosing joy instead of fear;
Beloved, claim a freedom all can share.

Singing holy, holy, holy! God who made us in their likeness,
Holy everybody, breath and soul.
Singing holy, holy, holy! God who made us in their likeness,
Holy everybody, breath and soul.

Holy are the dispossessed, holy are the spurned,
Holy are the profiled and patrolled.
Holy are the bodies harmed by hatred taught and learned,
Beloved now be shielded and consoled.

Holy is the enemy, holy is the friend.
Holy every spirit as it flames.
Holy is each body, held by love until the end,
Beloved may we know what God proclaims:

Singing holy, holy, holy! God who made us in their likeness,
Holy everybody, breath and soul.
Singing holy, holy, holy! God who made us in their likeness,
Holy everybody, breath and soul.

Breath and soul, every body, breath and soul.
Breath and soul, every body, breath and soul.