June 21, 2020 / 10:35 – Worship Guide Co-Pastors: Rev. Ron Harris and Rev. Karla Sheffy Worship Musicians: Sue Woods, Cheryl Doty, Abby & Joe Worley Ministry of Music: Carlyn Hartsock Guest Worship Leader/Preacher: Kurt Cooper Gathering Music (10:30) Welcoming - Welcome to worship this morning. Welcome to Worship Video Prelude Sue Woods Threshold Moment We try to satisfy our thirst for meaningful life with so many distractions and addictions. Awakening to beauty is to find the well that never runs dry. As we begin to truly see the world with our spirits our soul’s thirst is quenched. “The resilience and beauty of the natural world is a sign of hope, even when things are difficult.” A tree is scorched by fire and yet new sprouts shoot up, defiant and optimistically reaching toward the sun. A crack in a sidewalk reveals the seeds just beneath the surface just waiting for a chance to breakthrough. Contemplating this resilient beauty draws us back to our own vitality and the promise that we, too, are capable of new life. Opening Hymn “Hymn of Promise” UMH 707 Centering for the Day: “ Divine beauty shimmers and shimmies through the universe and in every barrio where someone is singing or weeping. Because of beauty, our spirits are enlivened.” Are you ready... for new life? Divine Goodness, prepare my spirit to see and be beguiled by the beauty of life. Amen. Silent Centering You are invited to a moment of quiet rest, a time of slowing the pace of your body and mind so that the spirit can settle. Divine Goodness, Holy One, Pause us for this moment, bear us up in this time, hold us for eternity. We offer ourselves in connection with you. We allow ourselves this love from you.
Transcript
June 21, 2020 / 10:35 – Worship Guide
Co-Pastors: Rev. Ron Harris and Rev. Karla Sheffy Worship Musicians: Sue Woods, Cheryl Doty, Abby & Joe Worley
Ministry of Music: Carlyn Hartsock Guest Worship Leader/Preacher: Kurt Cooper
Gathering Music (10:30)
Welcoming - Welcome to worship this morning.
Welcome to Worship Video
Prelude Sue Woods
Threshold Moment We try to satisfy our thirst for meaningful life with so many distractions and addictions. Awakening to beauty is to find the well that never runs dry. As we begin to truly see the world with our spirits our soul’s thirst is quenched. “The resilience and beauty of the natural world is a sign of hope, even when things are difficult.” A tree is scorched by fire and yet new sprouts shoot up, defiant and optimistically reaching toward the sun. A crack in a sidewalk reveals the seeds just beneath the surface just waiting for a chance to breakthrough. Contemplating this resilient beauty draws us back to our own vitality and the promise that we, too, are capable of new life.
Opening Hymn “Hymn of Promise” UMH 707
Centering for the Day: “Divine beauty shimmers and shimmies through the universe and in every barrio where someone is singing or weeping. Because of beauty, our spirits are enlivened.”
Are you ready... for new life? Divine Goodness, prepare my spirit to see and be beguiled by the beauty of life. Amen. Silent Centering You are invited to a moment of quiet rest, a time of slowing the pace of your body and mind so that the spirit can settle.
Divine Goodness, Holy One, Pause us for this moment,
bear us up in this time, hold us for eternity.
We offer ourselves in connection with you. We allow ourselves this love from you.
We release ourselves into your presence. And all the people say, “Amen.”
Centering HYMN “For the Beauty of the Earth” UMH #92 v.1 For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. God of all to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise! Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer:
Special Music - “Forever Reign” by Reuben Morgan & Jason Ingram - Carlyn Hartsock
Children’s Moment: Cindy Kienholz/Barb Muench
Hymn “God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale” UMH 122
Scripture Reading: Intro: Leader: Our “lectio divina”–the ancient practice of contemplating sacred text–is from Psalm 147 today. Imagine that these words are directed at the exiles who find themselves in need of an encouraging word. In this Psalm, the Divine One, Yahweh, is the source of restoration, of binding wounds, of bringing sustenance and life to all living things, especially those who are suffering. There are many ways to feel “exiled” from familiar and beloved places and people. May you drink in these hopeful words, knowing that, like the stars, Divine Goodness knows each of our names.
Psalm 147: 1-11 (Inclusive Bible) How good it is to praise our God! [It is a pleasure to make beautiful praise!] (a) YHWH rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers Israel’s exiles. God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. God knows the number of the stars and calls each one by name. Great is YHWH, and mighty in power; there is no limit to God’s wisdom. YHWH lifts up the oppressed, and casts the corrupt to the ground. Sing to our God with thanksgiving; sing praise with the harp to our God— who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass sprout on the mountains and herbs for the service of the people, who gives food to the cattle, and to the young ravens when they cry. God does not thrill to the strength of the horse, or revel in the fleetness of humans.
YHWH delights in those who worship with reverence and put their hope in divine love. Sermon “Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World” Rev. Kurt Cooper
Responding in Gratitude for God’s Gifts with our Offerings – * The Doxology - “Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow” #94 UMH Prayer of Thanksgiving
HYMN “How Great Thou Art” UMH 77 (recorded by Abby & Joe Worley)
Sharing Opportunities for Ministry - Announcements *Benediction
