We held virtual worship on Sunday, May 17, 2020! You may watch a recording below or on Facebook by clicking here.
CALL TO WORSHIP Thom Shuman, modified
OPENING TO GOD Johny Baker
GODISNOWHERE
The women arrive at the empty tomb
God is nowhere
Suddenly Jesus meets them
God is now here
Mary weeping with loss in the garden
God is nowhere
The gardener speaks her name
God is now here
The disciples afraid in a locked room
God is nowhere
Then Jesus appears
God is now here
Thomas refusing to believe
God is nowhere
He touches Jesus wounds
God is now here
The disciples fish all night without a catch
God is nowhere
“Throw your net over the right side”
God is now here
Peter shattered when the cock crows
God is nowhere
A healing conversation on the beach
God is now here
Two disciples downcast on the Emmaus Road
God is nowhere
They recognized him in the breaking of bread
God is now here
GODISNOWHERE
GOSPEL John 14:15-20, 25-27
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate
[allos parakletos, Comforter, Friend, One who Walks with You]
to be with you forever.
This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees nor knows it.
You know the Spirit, because it abides with you, and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.
On that day you will know that I am in Abba,
and you in me, and I in you. . . .
I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom Abba will send in my name,
will teach you everything, and remind you
of all that I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.I
do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
EPISTLE LESSON Romans 8:26-27 (TMSG)
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting,
God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along.
If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter.
The Spirit does our praying in and for us,
making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
God’s Spirit knows us far better than we know ourselves,
knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.
REFLECTION The Inner Compass
MUSIC I’ll Fly Away Jenna Olsen. ukelele
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Thom Shuman, modified
When it does not seem
to matter to many, Creator God,
we will dare to be your people,
to love those the world
would have us reject,
to be just in the face
of every reason to be cruel,
to be unafraid
of whatever awaits us.
When all the odds seem
stacked against us, Jesus our Savior,
we still dare to live as
your sisters and brothers,
serving others
even from the safety of our homes,
sharing in the burdens
of our neighbors,
refusing to leave the lonely
orphaned with no hope.
When the wind is knocked out of us
by fears and worries, Faithful Spirit,
we dare to breathe
joy upon those
caught in the net of hopeless,
peace into all
the quavering hearts around us,
wonder for all those
who look for you but do not see.
SHARING PRAYERS
In you, we dare to live and breathe and be,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as we are taught,
LORD’S PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE Spirit of the Living God Shaun Booher
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mon, 25 May: Netflix Watch Party – a Coen Bros film for Monday Companions
Tues, 26 May: Zoom Coffee Hour, 7 pm
