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Worship for September 20, 2020
Opening Reflection
In the scripture for today, Jesus asks a question. Perhaps an answer is contained in these verses from Psalm 24.

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
  the world, and those who live in it;
for God has founded it on the seas,
  and established it on the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
  And who shall stand in the holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
  who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
  and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
  and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek the Spirit,
  who seek the face of God.
Call to Worship
Shared by Patricia Standtal Clarke and Reta Rainwater

(FACE EAST)
Patricia: From the East, the direction of the rising sun, we receive peace and light and wisdom and knowledge,
Reta: We are grateful for these gifts, O God,
(FACE SOUTH)
P: From the South comes warmth, guidance, and the beginning and the end of life,
R: We are grateful for these gifts, O God,
(FACE WEST)
P: From the West comes the rain, purifying waters, to sustain all living things,
R: We are grateful for these gifts, O God,
(FACE NORTH)
P: From the North comes the cold and mighty wind, the white snows, giving us strength and endurance,
R: We are grateful for these gifts, O God,
(FACE UPWARD)
P: From the heavens we receive darkness and light, the air of Your breath, and messages from Your winged creatures,
R: We are grateful for these gifts, O God,
(FACE DOWNWARD)
P: From the earth we come, and to earth we will return,
R: We are grateful for Your creation Mother Earth, O God,
ALL: May we walk good paths, O God, living on this earth as family should, rejoicing in one another’s blessing, sympathizing in one another’s sorrows, and together with You renewing the face of the earth. Amen.
We Celebrate With Music and Giving
Celebrations
We celebrate the decision of the Southwest Conference Committee on Church and Ministry to accept the four-way covenant of Rev. Dr. Patricia Standtal Clarke! We look forward to Patrica’s Ministry of Wholeness among us.

We celebrate the work of the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ as the conference gathers for the Annual Meeting next weekend. Liz Curry, Michael Curry, Karen Richter, Joyce Schneider, and Gordon Schneider are delegates from Shadow Rock.

If YOU have a photo, video, or written greeting for Celebrations, please email Karen. It's a blessing to continue our connections as we gather separately.

Special Music
Music is good for the soul!
Thank you, Forrest and Carol for 'Hymn of Promise.'
Offering
Spirit of Abundance, call forth in us a sense of generosity. We pause to remind ourselves how good it feels to give. May the discipline and joy of giving help us to tread lightly on the planet and serve creation. Amen.

Your financial support of our community continues to be important and appreciated. The needs of our own congregation and the needs of our beloved neighbors are growing and changing. Click here for Heidi’s Corner, our weekly financial update. 
Our Online Community Via Zoom
Adult Spiritual Formation - 10:00 am
In September, we are using the 10:00 hour to reflect on our experiences of worship. What elements do we treasure? Are there ways to enhance our experiences through greater participation? What feels right to our community? Today we’re exploring words central to Shadow Rock: Experimental and Experiential!

Next week, September 27, we'll be putting all the elements together to plan some things for October worship.

Word About Life for Today - 11:00 am
by Rev. Ken Heintzelman

In this season, friends, we’re listening to the sermon live on Zoom right at 11:00 am. Please mute your microphone during the message. For on-the-spot tech assistance, call or text Karen at 623-466-4472.

Fellowship and Discussion -
Immediately following the sermon
Right after the sermon, we'll use the Zoom feature 'Breakout Rooms' to allow for more personalized discussion. Several people have noted how Breakout Rooms help us get to know new people and have a great talk. Please don't feel pressure to participate in any particular way - just listening is good too.

Here are this week's questions from Pastor Ken:
How is the sermon ‘landing’ for you? Are you hearing the words of our covenant, core values, and the narrative of our wider tradition in our time together and in the sermon?

Jesus does not give a direct yes or no answer to the question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” Is this a cop out from Jesus? Was this really the question?

The story does not tell us how to put life into God and Caesar categories. Neither does it let us off the hook to do so. When have you felt this creative spiritual tension and how did you resolve it?
Announcements and Reminders
Your church staff continues to work both remotely and at the church office. The church office is open with limited staff presence on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We want to keep one another safe and show our love for one another - in that loving spirit, masks that cover nose and mouth are required for staff and visitors.

Shadow Rock leadership continues to discuss dates and best practices for in-person experiences. We will continue to offer virtual worship throughout the fall. This is an ongoing conversation. Please contact Pastor Ken via email if you have questions.

Please check your email (Rock the Week on Wednesdays and this announcement space on Sundays) for updates and news about our community. 

Please reach out to the staff or any board member if you need help (including food, financial assistance or medication). You can always call the church office phone (602)993-0050 for instructions on how to connect with Pastor Ken, Lois, or preschool Director Liz Curry.