Welcome to Worship. Because of local and Phoenix-area COVID-19 infections, we're strongly recommending masking and a renewed emphasis on social distancing this morning. Whether you're joining us in person or online, you are welcome. Let's continue to keep each other safe.

We are the people of God; we are the people of God.

We’re accepted and beloved,

and so we must clothe ourselves…

With compassion, and kindness, humility,

gentleness, and patience.

And over all these things, over all these things,

over all these things, put on love. 

One: We recognize and give thanks that we humans are

creatures of the Earth living in the ecosystem in a particular place and at a particular time.

One: Let us acknowledge the awesome mystery embodied in

every person.

One: In the spirit of return and homecoming, we give thanks and sing.

The world is hungry for justice,

God’s word will point the way.

The One who came to speak the truth,

to challenge those who say:

that we need not care for strangers,

the sick, the lost, the poor, the voiceless ones, the outcast, the honored guests of God.

Chorus

O come, O come sweet justice, come. Repeat

When will we learn how to see them,

each one a child of God?

When will our voices raise for them,

to demand their stories heard?

Do we wait until all hope is gone, their songs to die away?

With passion we must rise up—Risk in the name of God. 

Amid all the noise in our lives,

we take this moment to sit in silence:

to give thanks for another day;

to give thanks for all those in our lives

who have brought us warmth and love;

to give thanks for the gift of life.

Celebration Song ~ "Circle of Friends," chorus only

Laugh (echo) Cry (echo) Live (echo), Die (echo)

Hello! (echo) Goodbye! (echo)

And God makes us a circle of friends.

Our tradition says we should give thanks and be generous... May all givers be blessed because we need to be generous in order to be whole.

One: May it be well with you.

One: Sacred is the cosmos, whirling, expanding, living, dying, yearning for abundance and freedom.

One: How can we not stand in wonder and awe! Those same vast processes that created galaxies and suns and stars and planets, continue to shape our existence…

One: Out of the molecules of the Earth, life. Earth was planted with the seeds of its future. 

One: Blessed be Earth.

One: And so we remember the living tradition… How, during a meal, Jesus would take Bread, give thanks, break it, and share it with both friend and stranger. In this piece of bread is the body of the whole cosmos, sky and sun, earth and water. 

(brief silence)

And after conversation he would pour a cup of wine, offer thanks for it, and share it with all those with him. Wine, fruit of the vine, gift of nature. Sharing a meal of bread and wine renders the universe both sacred and intimate.

Walls mark our bound’ries and keep us apart;

Walls keep the world from our eyes and our heart.

Tables are round, making room for one more,

Welcoming friends we had not known before.

Chorus

So build us a table and tear down the wall!

Christ is our host. There is room for us all!

Once we were strangers, divided, alone.

Hate and distrust built a wall stone by stone.

Now at a table the bread that we share.

Joins us to Christ in a circle of care.

Chorus

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Words for Mission

One: As we prepare to leave this sacred space where we have celebrated together,