We held virtual worship on Sunday, August 2, 2020 at 10am. You can watch a recording below, or on our facebook page.
WELCOME
Gather us in,
God of freedom and peace.
Gather us in,
You who see your children through all circumstances.
Gather us in,
and help us walk hand in hand with one another,
that together we may overcome all evil forces
which attempt to divide us from each other.
Gather us in,
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
in the name of the One whose Body is made of many members, Jesus Christ.
Gather us in.
OPENING TO GOD Daniel Benedict, mod.
last line by T.S. Eliot
When the door feels like it is shut in our face,
Lord, encircle us.
When cruelty abounds,
Lord, encircle us.
Till the struggle with racism is finished,
Lord, encircle us.
Till the wrestling against division is over
Lord, encircle us.
Till the pillaging of our earth is quieted
Lord, encircle us.
When we feel alone,
Lord, encircle us.
When we are tired,
Lord, encircle us.
When we act collectively,
Lord, encircle us.
When others scorn our cause,
Lord, encircle us.
So that we dare risk doing justice and mercy
Lord, encircle us.
So that we encircle you,
the still point of the turning world,
Lord, encircle us.
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE Danielle Sturgeon
HEBREW SCRIPTURE Genesis 32:22-30
The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.
Jacob was left alone; and a being wrestled with him until daybreak. When the being saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
Then the being said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.”
REFLECTION Tired of Wrestling
MUSIC God’s Eye Is On the Sparrow music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Derek C. Weber
Well mother don’t you stop prayin’
Father keep right on prayin’
Don’t you stop prayin’ for this old world is almost done
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning
For this old world is almost done
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Spiritual
For this world is almost done.
God of mercy, we seem so far from done. We seem so far from the kin-dom promised, when all will be brothers and sisters in love. And every day, that vision and that hope seems to recede farther and farther away. With every angry shout, with every sword rattled and gun toted, with every post and tweet and slogan, we are snuffing out the lamp that burns for peace.
For this world is almost done.
Who’s done, O God of presence and power? Are you done with us? Done with our empty words and half-hearted repentance and lack of reconciliation? Done with our self-righteousness and finger pointing, with our ability to blame everyone else instead of looking within for what is broken in our world? Are you done with us, done with the promise of a better world, a better way, the Eden we ran from because paradise was just too hard for us? Who’s done?
For this world is almost done.
Or are we done, finally done, with our “that’s just the way it is” acceptance of hatred and division? Are we done, finally done, with our easy capitulation to a system that lifts up by pressing down, that honors by rejecting? Are we done with the chains of fear and the lash of words and ready to keep praying for that better world?
Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, for this old world is almost done.
May we keep praying. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
SHARING PRAYERS
LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Rondeau Postlude music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
