Order of Worship

8-2-26

Always maintaining a proper balance between proclamation of the word about life with the deeds which make life good.

Welcome and Announcements

Carla Freeman

Opening Words

Led by Carla Freeman

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called to

create a world where every person is radically affirmed and barriers between people become bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.

Prelude

Shared by Tanner Bayles

Call to Worship

Led by Linda Pape

Please stand in mind, body, or spirit

One: We have had a break, a resting time, an interlude for

recreation and re-creation.

All: We are happy to be reunited yet a bit anxious in this in-between time.

One: God of beginnings and endings and in-betweens, your

presence in our awareness transforms our anxiety into

courage and hope.

All: Spirit of Life and Love, meet us now in ways we may not expect. Guide our words and actions and empower us with your love. Let us celebrate the unfolding future!

Singing Our Welcome Weavers

by Sharon K. Young

Chorus

We are weavers of today with a vision for tomorrow,

Hopin’ for the time when we shall overcome

Injustice and oppression, hatred and distress,

Workin’ for the day when we shall all be one.

There are many threads of us, each with a diff’rent name,

Some are strong, some are frayed, no two are the same,

Yet we each have something special

to weave in God’s tapestry,

Our backgrounds and our talents,

our cultures and our creeds.

Chorus

These gifts we bring together are pieces of the whole;

Each one is important, but none can stand alone.

We must unify our vision toward the kingdom with no end,

Become one in God’s creation, weaving all our pieces in.

Chorus

Well, the weaving’s never finished

nor the needlework complete

Until all people everywhere are cared for and are free.

Together let us be united, trusting God’s love as our loom,

Praying that God’s tapestry will be finished soon.

Chorus

Centering Prayer

Shared by Carla Freeman

We gather, grateful for the journey that life has been, for all that life is for us now, and for all that the future holds. May we be open to the Spirit of Life and Love in our lives and in the world.

All: Amen

Celebrations

Carla Freeman

This is our time to share the celebrations of our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, words of kindness and works of peace and justice.

Special Music for Thinking of You Cards

Shared by Tanner Bayles

The Future is Open

Written by Linda Pape

Dedicated to: The Shadow Rock Congregation

The Future is Open!

What will we bring to it?

How do we anticipate

The unknown?

Jesus said to Peter

“on this rock I will build my church.”

So, in the Shadow of the Rock,

It came to pass.

Shadow Rock began with

Resolve to restore

Dignity to those seeking

Justice & mercy

With a vision to move

Forward with understanding

And acceptance for all people,

Balancing words with deeds.

A Wedgeblade standing

Beside the Cross

The arrow pointing toward the unknown future

The grains of sand from the past guiding us

While being fully focused in the present.

Will we bring spiritual awareness

Will we have the courage to

Live our core values & stand for justice?

Let us lift our eyes

Unto this mountain,

Listening for our Creator’s voice

From whence comes our strength

For God is still speaking.

The Future is Open!

The pebbles of time

continuing to constantly change,

Let us embrace it & live it

With love, hope, and compassion!

Invitation to Give

Shared by Linda Pape

It’s a simple thing that we do: baskets moving from hand to hand. It doesn’t feel like a spiritual thing. And yet, we affirm that our offerings, as this poem, are prayers, moving out into the world, furthering our values of inclusion, justice and spirituality.

QR Code for Giving Page

Celebrating Our Table and Community

Dr. Rev. Patricia StandTal Clarke

We return from our Sabbath time to eat and drink together at the Table of Unity. This simple and profound act reminds us of the deeper aspects of human fellowship. We are connected to each other, to the gifts of our planet and to the Spirit of Life and Love from whom all blessings flow. The sharing of bread and wine has been a universal symbol of community. May we find strength and grace for the journeys of our lives. To the table the Spirit bids us come.

One: Spirit of Life and Love, You have set the places, You have poured the wine, and there is always room, You say, for one more.

All: And so from the streets and the alleys, we come.

One: From the deserts and from the hills, we come.

All: From the ravages of poverty and from places of

privilege, we come.

One: Running, limping, carried, we come.

All: We are bloodied with our wars, we are wearied with our wounds, we carry our dead with us, and we reckon with their ghosts.

One: We hold the seeds of healing, we dream of a new creation, we know the things that make for peace and we struggle to give them wings. And yet, to Your table,

All: We come.

One: Hungering for Your bread,

All: We come.

One: Thirsting for Your wine

All: We come.

One: Singing Your song in every language, speaking Your name in every tongue, in conflict and in communion, in discord and in desire.

All: We come, O Spirit of Life and Love, we come.

Please come forward as directed by the ushers. All are welcome. All bread is gluten-free. Our offering for the communion baskets is dedicated to the Pastor’s Charitable fund.

Communion Prayer

Led by Dr. Rev. Patricia StandTal Clarke

One: For ourselves gathered here we ask the grace to be who and what we ritualize at this Table of Unity: people committed by our “Amen” to allow the Spirit of Life and Love to move freely in our lives. And all say,

All: Amen.

The Chime Calls Us to the Word About Life

Carla Freeman

Word About Life

Shared by Greg Freeman

Words for Mission

Led by Linda Pape

Please stand in mind, body, or spirit

One: Hold in your heart the certainty that the Spirit of Life and Love is with you always.

All: We are never apart from the Spirit that resides within

us, that guides our lives, gives us courage and hope,

and cherishes us always.

One: These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed!

All: May we love all and serve all!

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.

Sending Forth Song Spirit

Shared by Tanner Bayles by Jim Manley

Spirit, spirit of gentleness,

Blow through the wilderness, calling and free,

Spirit, spirit of restlessness,

Stir me from placidness,

Wind, wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters, You called to the deep,

Then You coaxed up the mountains

From the valleys of sleep,

And over the eons, You called to each thing,

"Awake from your slumbers, and rise on your wings."

(Chorus)

2. You swept through the desert, You stung with the sand,

And You gifted your people with a law and a land,

And when they were blinded

With their idols and lies,

Then You spoke through Your prophets to open their eyes.

(Chorus)

3. You sang in a stable, You cried from a hill,

Then You whispered in silence

When the whole world was still,

And down in the city, You called once again

When You blew through Your people on the rush of the wind.

(Chorus)

Sermon Reboot is ON for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.