Prayer for Autumn Days (Sr. Joyce Rupp, OSM)
God of the seasons, there is a time for everything;
there is a time for dying and a time for rising.
We need courage to enter into the transformation process.
God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye
to their green, letting go of what has been.
We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.
God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on
the ground, our lives have their own patterns.
As we see the patterns of our own growth,
may we learn from them.
God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always
the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives.
We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.
May we gain strength from this.
God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain, many gifts
of growth lie within the season of our surrender.
We must wait for harvest in faith and hope.
Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.
God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision.
God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.
God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us,
you entrust us with the freedom to choose life.
For all this, we are grateful. Amen
Announcements: Weekly Prayer Retreat, hosted by Nancy Bancroft will meet again Wednesday morning, November 3rd. You are welcome to join at any time. Please email her for the link at tnbancroft@maine.rr.com. This is primarily a private retreat with a short weekly check-in. If you can’t make the group, you can still retreat using these materials.
From Week One:
Joyce Rupps’ prayer/poem Restoring Awareness.
Come, show us how you are dwelling in those places of our lives where we have forgotten to welcome you…
Come, take us to the place where you are moving us toward change and deeper relationship with you…
Come, help us believe in the possibility of resurrecting what has hidden itself from our path of growth…
Come, shake free whatever keeps us from accepting your invitation to be transformed…
Come, strengthen our faith, cultivate our hope, and widen our love…
Come, draw us into the stillness essential for an alive and open awareness of your presence…
Come, keep us mindful of the larger world, one in urgent need of our compassion and dedicated care…
Come, be a healing presence for those who suffer and those for whom we promised to pray…
Come, our minds and hearts are alert, ready to welcome you home…
Week 3:
In the preface to her book, The Cup of Our Life, Rupp says, “Symbols invite us to go beyond our obscured and tired views, to enter the hidden dimensions inherent in our lives and to refresh our awareness of the sacred.” She then uses the symbol of a cup throughout the book. In A Perfect Cup, we are the cup.
It is time for me
To see the flaws
Of myself
And stop being alarmed
It is time for me
To halt my drive
For perfection
And to accept
My blemishes
It is time for me
To receive
Slowly evolving growth
The kind that comes
In God’s own good time
And pays no heed
To my panicky pushing
It is time for me
To embrace
My humanness
The Glory Is Fallen Out Of by e.e. cummings
the glory is fallen out of
the sky the last immortal
leaf is
dead and the gold year
a formal spasm
in the dust
this is the passing of all shining things
therefore we also blandly
into receptive
earth, O let
us descend
take shimmering wind
these fragile splendors from
us crumple them hide
them in thy breath drive
them in nothingness
for we would sleep
this is the passing of all shining things
no lingering no backward-
wondering be unto us O
soul, but straight
glad feet fear ruining
and glory girded faces
lead us
into the
serious steep darkness
Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: “What makes night within us may leave stars.”
– Victor Hugo
Gathering Music: Turn, Turn, Turn (by Pete Seeger)
-Michelle Currie
Welcome:
Call To Worship:
One: In all times and all places, your name, O God, is echoed far.
All: Holy is your name.
One: In many sounds and in many languages, your name, O God, is echoed far.
All: Holy is your name.
One: In sorrow and in delight, in despair and in hope, your name, O God, is echoed far.
All: Holy is your name.
One: In darkness and in light, your name, O God, is echoed far.
All: Holy is your name.
One: As the night draws near, and we prepare for rest, your name, O God, is echoed far.
All: Holy is your name.
One: In silence, and in stillness, we bring ourselves into the presence of the Holy One.
Opening Hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness #39
Opening Prayer:
O God of all living things, and of all seasons, we call upon you this day to open our hearts to your love, our ears to your words, our eyes to see the needs of those both near and far, and our spirits to do what is good. Be with us and help us to embrace the beauty of darkness, to turn inward and listen to your voice deep within our spirits, and to feel your presence now and always. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: A Safe Place To Land (by Sara Bareilles/Lori McKenna) -Michelle Currie
Scripture: Prayer for Autumn Days, Psalm 139: 1-3, 9-14, 23-24, Luke 1:67-69,76-79 -Rev. Lamar Robinson
Sermon: Embracing the Darkness Within Rev. Paula Norbert
Meditative Instrumental: Meditation #2 (by Michelle Currie)
-Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (two times)
Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease.
The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People:
Closing Music: Here I am Lord #69
Benediction: You have received blessing upon blessing from the Holy One. Now go into the world offering hope and peace to all people you meet.
Postlude: Go In Peace
Recessional: Go in Peace
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you this day.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
celebrate and share the joy. Celebrate new life.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
With great thanks always to Michelle Currie, our Music Director and to our Zoom Host and Reader this week.
(Gathering Words from Lynne Frith, Aotearoa/New Zealand)
Pastor’s Contact Info: pnorbert1217@gmail.com, 207-205-4951
Church Leadership:
Moderator: Paul Schlaver
Clerk: Anita Coupe
Treasurer: Debbie Lamb
Mission Chair: Ken Murray
Deacons: Sharon Gaudin, Chair, Eve McPheeters, Nancy Batchelor, Ardis Chretien and Heather Davis, Associate Deacon
Trustees: John Comeau, Chair; Don Chretien, and Rob Harriman
Finance: Peter McPheeters, Chair, Debbie Lamb, Doug Firebaugh, Brad Coupe, and Bob Sherman
Program: Ken Murray, Chair
Music Director: Michelle Currie
Choir Director: Patricia Mulholland
Promotions Person: Anita Coupe
Webmaster: Wonderful Websites
Pastor’s Contact Info: Rev. Paula Norbert: 207-205-4951; pnorbert1217@gmail.com.