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!
Welcome:
Gathering Music: By My Side (Jay hamburger/Peggy Gordon)
-Michelle Currie
Welcome:
Call To Worship:
One: God meets us in the night—
All: Before the sun rises, Before the wound heals,
Before there are answers, Before there is closure.
One: God meets us in the light—
All: Where joy is effervescent, Where laughter is contagious,
Where flowers bloom from cracks in the sidewalk, And where people gather around the table.
One: God meets us at the threshold—
All: At the edge of the water, At the beginning of the wilderness, At the start of something new, On the edge of faith.
One: And if God meets us in all those places, Then surely God meets us in between—
All: Staying with us through the wilderness.
One: We are not alone. God is all around.
All: Let us worship the God of the here and now.
Opening Hymn: Amazing Grace #649 vs. 1,2, 3 & 5
call to confession
Again and again, God meets us where we are. God’s love knows no bounds, which is hard for us to understand and easy for us to forget. Therefore we remember together that we are not alone. And we ask for God’s grace in that holy reminder.
A Call to Listen…. Moment of Silence
words of forgiveness
One: Family of faith, if you hear nothing else today, hear this:God is here. God sees you. God knows you. God meets you at the edge of every new beginning, And God calls you beloved.
prayer for illumination
Holy God, If I am honest, faith often feels like water in my hands. No matter how hard I try to hold onto it, some of it always slips through— Like droplets of truth running down my wrists, back toward my heart. This human inability to hold onto you leaves me thirsty for more. So as we prepare to read scripture, I pray that once again, you would meet us here.
Meet us in our hope and our heartache.
Meet us in our fear and our joy,
Meet us in our cupped hands and clenched fists.
And even if the water keeps running, And we do not have a sky-parting moment of clarity, Or a tangible sense that you are near; Even if we do not hear the words, “This is my beloved,” ringing in our ears, We will trust that you are near, Always and forever meeting us here, Running toward our hearts.
Gratefully we pray, Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Beautiful Things (Gungor) -Michelle Currie
Readings: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, Mark 1:9-15
– Beth Baskin
Sermon: God Meets Us Rev. Paula Norbert
Music: Meditative Instrumental
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. Michelle Currie
Prayers of the People
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: We Are An Offering (Dwight Liles) -Michelle Currie
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication:
Closing Hymn: On Eagle’s Wings #43
Blessing: Go now, and live in the spirit of your baptism,
even when you are led into wild and hard places.
And may God enfold you in tender and lasting love.
May Christ be beside you in times of struggle.
And may the Spirit guide you back to the path
Of love and connection with God. Go in Peace…
Postlude: Go In Peace
With thanks to Michelle Currie, our Reader today and our Deacons.