Worship for September 6, 2020

Welcome to September!
Opening Reflection
Interfaith scholar Mirabai Starr, on radical wonderment:

And yet this God of mine is not mere emptiness. It is imbued with the energy of love. It is an overflowing of love into the entire container of the cosmos. I call it the Sacred, and there is nowhere it is not. I am in awe of this God of Love, who breaks through ordinary moments with a dazzling radiance and melts the boundaries of my individuated consciousness and reminds me that I am not separate from the source of Love Itself.

From God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Call to Worship
Fountain of life...
Pulse of life...
Breath of life…
Earth is filled with the presentness of God.

Ours is a planet filled with the presentness of God
quivering in the forests,
vibrating in the land,
pulsating in the wilderness,
shimmering in the rivers.
Together this day, let us sense the face of God in all creation.

Gracious Spirit, today we ask: what is our place in a planet filled with your presence? What work here is ours to do? We know that you are with us as we ponder these questions. This is enough. Amen.
We Celebrate With Music and Giving
colorful-flowers.jpg
Celebrations

Our celebrations today join with the celebrations of Pat and Charlie Farmer, who are celebrating 56 years of marriage. We recognize with joy their commitment and faithfulness.

If YOU have a photo, video, or written greeting for Celebrations, please email Karen. 

Special Music
Music adds so much to our time together! Thank you, Forrest and Carol for 'Oh Spirit of God.'
Offering
A 3 breaths prayer:

Breathing in, I am aware of the feelings that are present in me.
Breathing out, I offer calm, gentle kindness to my feelings.
Aware of feelings, calming.

Breathing in, I am aware of uncertainty and any feelings
that arise with uncertainty.
Breathing out, I smile to not knowing,
Aware of uncertainty, smiling.

Breathing in, I come back to the present moment, 
Breathing out, knowing I can take good care of this moment
with my attention.
Present moment, taking care.

Prayer by peace educator Stephanie Knox Steiner,
Acknowledged with gratitude.

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
Worship Workshop: "What makes a worship service a good experience?"

In September, we’ll be 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? We'll be using hymn composer and liturgist Ruth Duck's Worship for the Whole People of God as a resource. All are welcome to discuss and ponder together.
 
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. If you have questions about what to expect or want to hear some self-care suggestions to prevent Zoom-related burnout, please use the chat box. For on-the-spot tech assistance, call or text Karen at 623-466-4472.

Communion and Discussion -
Immediately following the sermon
Right after the sermon, we'll use the Zoom feature 'Breakout Rooms' to allow for more personalized discussion. If this is your first time with Breakout Rooms, think about them being just like the tables at Coffee Chat - a chance to get to know folks 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:
Does what has been shared with you capture the discussion over the last two Sundays, or have you heard something new and different in this summary? What resonates with you? What have you heard different or for the first time? What part of this do you resist, and why?

I have made biblical references to green pastures, still clean waters, and the Golden Rule. I am using familiar and specific references to our wisdom tradition to make a point of a universal human experience of exploration. Can you make any correlations between the biblical narratives and the metaphor of “map reading?

Can you identify a time in your life when you valued the practical over the spiritual, or the spiritual over the practical? Do you remember any consequences or regrets?
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. For this week, the office is open THURSDAY ONLY. We want to keep one another safe and show our love for one another - in that loving spirit, masks are required for staff and visitors.

Shadow Rock leadership is looking at October 4, Worldwide Communion Sunday and Southwest Conference Annual Meeting, as the start date 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.