Order of Worship

3 March 2024

Today is a communion Sunday. Grab a cracker or a piece of bread. Get some juice or wine. Join us because we are one body united by the Spirit of Life and Love.


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 Travis Meyers

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 Susan Wadell


One: “Even now, the Spirit of Life and Love,

calls us to return to her with all your

heart.” (Joel 2:12)

All: Roll up your sleeves.

One: Let down your guard.

All: Come in from the storm.

One: Make yourself at home.

All: Pull up to the table.

One: Release the tension in your jaw.

All: We take a deep breath. We return to

God with all our heart. May it be so.


 

Singing Our Faith

~ Circle of Friends


1. Come and sit together in a circle of friends

Be at home, be at peace, be at rest.

Come and sit together in a circle of friends,

Sitting in a circle is best.

Laugh (echo), cry (echo), live (echo), die

(echo),

Hello (echo), goodbye (echo),

And God makes us a circle of friends.


2. Somewhere it is evening and the woods fill up

with moonlight.

The creatures make their music and the word is

on the wind.

There’s a fire in the clearing and the voices you

are hearing

Are the singing of a circle of friends.

Chorus


3. Once when it was night and he sat with them at

supper

He told them that this feast was the beginning

and the end.

And he made the bread his body and he made

the wine his blood

And he gave them

to his circle of

friends.

Chorus


4. Somewhere it is morning and the church fills up

with sunlight.

The Spirit’s in the music and the word is on the

wind.

There is fire on the table and the bread and

wine are speaking

And God makes us a circle of friends.

Chorus

The picture above was a "circle of friends" showing up at immigration court for Miseal Perez. Thank you, friends!

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 the Table

Led by Susan Wadell


One: Jesus has always been one to invite.

All: He said, “Drop your nets and follow me.”

One: He said, “Let the little children come.”

All: He said, “Stand up from your mat, you

are healed.”

One: Jesus has always been one to invite, and that

has not changed. So friends, you are invited

to this Table. Each and every one of us—with

our doubts, our fears, our scars, our joy, our

dreams, our hopes, our questions—we are

invited to God’s table.

All: And here we will be met. Here we will be

fed. Here we are given a taste of an

expansive life that is full to the brim with

love, inclusion, justice and intimacy with

Spirit. So come.

One: Come. All are invited. This Table is for you.

Communion Song Walls Mark Our Boundaries


1. 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.

So build us a table and tear down the wall!

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


2. Walls make us sure who is in and who’s out

Walls keep us safe from all question and doubt,

But at a table in open exchange

New ties are formed as our lives rearrange.

Chorus


3. 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


Invitation to Give

Shared by Susan Wadell


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 Travis Meyers


Dedication of Our Offerings

Led by Susan Wadell


We bring these gifts to God and the world as

an act of our faith, as an act of our power, and

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



Word About Life For Today

Shared by Pastor Ken


Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you

say that the place where people must worship is in

Jerusalem. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me,

the hour is coming when you will worship God

neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You

worship what you do not know; we worship what we

know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is

coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers

will worship the Spirit of Life and Love in spirit and

truth, for God seeks such as these to worship God.

God is spirit, and those who worship God must

worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him,

‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called

Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things

to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is

speaking to you.’

wedgeblade graphic

The Shadow Rock Covenant

Led by Susan Wadell


We covenant one with another to be that sensitive and responsive part of human society which perceives and responds to God’s newest thrust in the midst of history. The uniqueness and greatness of every life is radically affirmed. Our task together demands a comprehensive view of life, always pointed intentionally to the future. Our life together

involves us individually and corporately in study and worship, always maintaining a proper balance between proclamation of the Word about life with the deeds which make life good. Those activities which eliminate age barriers, cut across religious dogma, reduce cultural parochialisms, and engage secular people with life’s ultimate possibilities will be worthy of our best efforts.

Words For Mission

Led by Susan Wadell



One: As you leave this place, may you be

awestruck by the beauty of this world.

May you laugh, and may it be contagious.

May you overflow with love for those around

you.

May you be effusive with hope and quick to

point out joy.

All: And in all of our living, and breathing,

and being, may we find ourselves full to

the brim with God’s Spirit of Life and

Love, and may it change our lives.

One: In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and

Love itself— go in peace, full to the brim.

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 ~ God Is Still Speaking


God is still speaking, blessed invitation,

God is still speaking listen and draw near,

God is still speaking, see a new creation,

God is still speaking, stand and do not fear.


All creation groans and yearns.

God is still speaking

Seek the way that life returns,

listen and draw near

Through our broken, wounded earth,

God is still speaking

God can bring new seeds to birth.

Stand, and do not fear. (Refrain)


In the bleak and hopeless hour,

God is still speaking

Love is telling truth to pow’r,

Listen and draw near,

Though the nations rage and fight:

God is still speaking,

Hear the Word of breaking light;

Stand, and do not fear. (Refrain)

Sermon Reboot is OFF 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.