Worship for March 21, 2021
We’re worshipping safely on Zoom this week and all through March. 

Easter and hybrid worship opportunities are around the corner!
Reflection
When we approach things with reverence, great things decide to approach us.
~John O’Donohue

  • What or who will you approach with reverence this week?
  • How do you prepare yourself for an experience of reverence?
We Covenant One With Another
Adult Spiritual Formation - 10:00 am
In this Lenten season, we are talking about creativity and joy as part of a social justice journey. This week, we're looking at the big picture: the taxonomy of movements. On Palm Sunday, we'll wrap up by looking at some nonviolent "greatest hits," a few of creative and unusual actions and tactics from the past.

Transition Music - Welcome Spring

Worship Begins - 11:00 am

Welcome and Announcements ~ Pastor Ken
As worship begins, we pause to welcome and extend greetings to anyone visiting us this week! No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Call to Worship
One: Let us gather to worship.
All:   O God, we wish to see Jesus!
We come to worship, to pray, and learn.
We come looking for Jesus in the scriptures, in our own life experiences, in helping our world, in prayers for each other. We seek to follow in the way of Jesus.
We lay bare before God and one another our own wilderness journey filled with some gladness and hope, but also with fear and confusion.
One: O God, speak to us, show us, gift us with the awareness of your presence! Let our Lenten journey lead us to Jesus, so that we may show faithfulness, service and compassion in the world.     
All: Amen.

Opening Prayer ~ Karen Richter
Perceiving and Responding
Giving and Stewardship
Giving adds to the beauty of the world and strengthens us for the journey. Good things continue to pour into the world, even some good things starting right here at Shadow Rock. You can find our weekly financial update, Heidi's Corner, at this link.

Our 2021 Lenten offering continues this week. We're excited to be supporting RIP Medical Debt, a campaign to free people from the burdens of a flawed system. The blue button above takes you to the Shadow Rock giving page, where you can participate in this and other giving opportunities. Thanks Southwest Conference friends, for this opportunity to give locally (Arizona, New Mexico, El Paso, and the Navajo Nation).

Celebrations and Prayer Requests
The impulse to celebrate together runs deep in the culture of our community. We find ways to call our attention to the deep goodness of life, in the midst of ups and downs, beauty and grief. Unmute to share your birthday, anniversary, moments of grace, or other celebrations or celebrate using the Zoom chat box.

Pastoral Prayer ~ Pastor Ken

Special Music ~ “Circle of Friends,” shared by Forrest and Carol Bachtel
Balancing Word and Deed
Word About Life for Today ~ Rev. Ken Heintzelman
"We Want to See Jesus"

John 2: 20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
 
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Introduction to Breakout Rooms and Discussion
  • What do you want written on your tombstone?

Words for Mission
One: We do want to see your Spirit at work in the world! May others who are similarly disheartened and weary be able to see the possibilities of hope and peace when they encounter us. 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.