Order of Worship

11 February 2024

Today we put our celebration of life and love in the framework of the biggest party of all; Mardi Gras! We will do our best to explain, clarify, and lead the way through our service and to the potluck afterwards. All are invited because no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

 

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WELCOME TO SHADOW ROCK UCC!


Prelude ~

Shared by Kate Vincent and The Bourbon Street Castoffs


Welcome and Announcements

Shared by Pastor Ken


Opening Words

Led by Pastor Ken


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.



Call to Worship

Led by Cindy Gattorna


One:  Purple represents justice.

All:     God is the source of justice.

One: Gold represents power.

All: God is the source of all power.

One: Green represents faith.

All: God is the source and author of our faith.

One: God is the source of all good things in life. In God justice, power, and faith are one and the same.

All: In our broken lives we too often experience justice, power, and faith as separate things. 

One: Where people are powerless there is no justice. Where people have no faith they resort to brute power. In our best days, we are only a fragmented glimpse and skewed anticipation of God’s justice, power, and faith.

All: But in those moments when justice, power, and faith are expressed in a unified way in our lives, we become God’s holy people. Praises be to God!

 

Singing Our Faith

~ When the Saints Go Marching In


Oh, when the saints go marching in

Oh, when the saints go marching in

Lord, how I want to be in that number

When the saints go marching in.

 

Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call

Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call

Lord, how I want to be in that number

When the trumpet sounds its call.

 

Oh When the new world is revealed

Oh When the new world is revealed

Lord, how I want to be in that number

When the new world is revealed.

 

Oh, when the saints go marching in

Oh, when the saints go marching in

Lord, how I want to be in that number

When the saints go marching in.

 

Centering Prayer

Shared by Pastor Ken

Celebrations and Celebration Song

Led by Pastor Ken


At this time, we share moments from our lives: birthdays,

anniversaries, and words of peace and justice. We celebrate

sorrows and grief as part of our comprehensive view of life.

Give voice to goodness!


Celebrate your heart and your spirit.

Celebrate your life while you live it.

Even when it’s hard to do, celebrate the best of you!

Celebrate your dreams and your visions.

Celebrate the love you’ve been given.

Cherish all that you’ve been through.

Celebrate the best of you!


Invitation to Give

Led by Pastor Ken


In response to our celebrations and the deep goodness of life, our offerings for the

celebration of life, in this place and beyond, shall now be

received.

 

Give Online

 

Offerings and Offertory ~

Shared by Kate Vincent and The Bourbon Street Castoffs


Dedication of Our Offerings

Led by Cindy Gattorna


We bring these gifts to God and the world as an act of our faith, as an act of our power, and as an act of justice believing that only love can heal and unite. We know God’s work is being done through us. May these gifts provide for the work that is being done and for the work that is yet to be done. Amen

 

Special Music ~ Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Shared by Kate Vincent and The Bourbon Street Castoffs


Singing Our Faith ~ Swing Low, Sweet Chariot


Swing low, sweet chariot,

Coming for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot,

Coming for to carry me home


I looked over Jordan, and I what did I see

Coming for to carry me home?

A band of angels coming after me

Coming for to carry me home

Chorus


If you get there before I do

Coming for to carry me home

Tell all my friends I coming too

Coming for to carry me home

Chorus


I'm sometimes up, I'm sometimes down

Coming for to carry me home

But still my soul feels heavenly bound

Coming for to carry me home

Chorus

 

Word About Life For Today

Shared by Pastor Ken


‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage,* he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; 4and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” 7They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” 9When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.* 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.* 11And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” 13But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?* 14Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”* 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’


Words For Mission

Led by

One: Though the night is dark, the Light of the world goes before you. God guides your steps and surrounds your life. Go in peace, ready to serve the One who has always loved you. These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed.

All: May we love all and serve all.

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.

Singing Our Faith ~ Those Who Wait On the Lord


1.     Those who wait on the Lord

    Shall renew their strength,

They shall mount up on wings as eagles.

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint,

Help us Lord, help us Lord, in thy way.

 

2. Those who love the mystery

Shall renew their strength,

They shall mount up on wings as eagles.

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint,

Help us Lord, help us Lord, in thy way.

 

3.  Those who live the risen life ….

 

4. Those who serve the suff’ring world ….

 

5. Those who die on the march ....

 

6. Those who wait on the Lord ....

 



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.