April 1, 2018 Easter Sunrise Service White's Memorial

Berea Ministerial Association presents

Easter Sunrise Service

Announcement of the Resurrection                   _____________________

                                                                             _____________________

                                                                             _____________________

                                                                             _____________________

A Lantern - We bring a lantern because in the darkness before dawn, we worry. We anticipate a journey of despair and death. We fear what we cannot see. The long night that brought us here hid our hope from our view. But the sun is coming up. So we lay our lantern down.  New life is revealed. Christ is risen!

A Handful of Spices & Oils - We bring spices and oils because we have a job to do. Like Mary and the other women, we still arrive at this moment grieving, losing and lost. We bring the tools of grief to lay it to rest, and hope for what we cannot imagine: healing. But the smell of death is not on the air! We sense the lively perfume of a growing garden, fresh earth, air bright with oxygen, buds about to burst into bloom! So we lay down these spices and oils. New life is on the move. Christ is alive!

A Piece of Cloth - The morning sun illuminates the dim cavern of the tomb. It warms and freshens the stale air. We lift up these fragments of cloth - empty linens and grave clothes. So we lay this cloth down. New life is clothed in glory. Christ is not here.  

A Jar of Tears - We bring a jar of saltwater, the essence of our tears. Mary stood outside the empty tomb weeping until Jesus called her name. Our tears mingle with hers, but they are no long tears of sadness but of joy.  So we lay this jar down. Jesus Christ is with us, Immanuel.  He calls us by name. We turn to face the risen Lord, who is coming towards us with the morning sun.

-"What We Bring and What We Let Go"  by Mark & Lisa Caldwell-Reiss, 2018. 

Call to Worship               _____________________

Leader: Jesus Christ, we greet you! 

Your hands still have holes in them, 

your feet are wet from the dew; and 

with the memory of our names undimmed 

by three days death you meet us, 

risen from the grave. 

We fail to understand how; 

we puzzle at the reason why.

But you have come:

not to answer our questions,

but to show us your face.

 

People:You are alive!
The world can rejoice again.

Hallelujah! Amen.

-"Jesus Christ, We Greet You" from Stages Along the Way: Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week and Easter.  Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group: 2000.

Hymn of Celebration: CH# 224   Christ Arose!     CHRIST AROSE

1. Low in the grave he lay; Jesus our Savior;

Waiting the coming day, Jesus our Lord!

CHORUS

2. Vainly they watched his bed; Jesus, our Savior;

Vainly they sealed the dead, Jesus our Lord!

CHORUS

3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus our Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus our Lord!

CHORUS

CHORUS: Up from the grave, he arose; 

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain 

And he lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah, Christ arose.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead,^[b] and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Reflection: "Litany of the Dawn"                     

  _____________________     _____________________   

 _____________________      _____________________     

  _____________________      _____________________

               _____________________     

            

When the world was young
at that first sunrise
and the new light
held a promise
of new days
and fresh mornings
The Word spoke...

...When the Word spoke
and creation sparked
and the alleluias unfolded
the dawn was set free…

...When the dawn was set free
the trees clapped hands
and mountains bowed
and the birds sang a new song
fresh every morning…

...Fresh every morning
the day holds a hope
that this day is God’s
and this day holds the promise
and this day is a new beginning…

...A new beginning
is the song of the morning
that takes the shadows of night
and paints them gold and green
for the earth rejoices...

...The earth rejoices
for stones have rolled
and tombs have been empties
and angels are whispering
and death has been conquered...

...Death has been conquered
and resurrection
has left footprints in the dew
that tell us
he has gone ahead of us
he is not among the dead
he is not here... 

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website. https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy 

Prayer  & Benediction                      ______________________

Christ, you are risen with the sun;

you are light in darkness, warmth in our cold.

You are peace and hope and joy,

for you went willingly to death.

You turned defeat and failure to victory for all.

You live eternally

and with you all the living and the dead

who trust in you.

May we who in baptism die to sin,

rise again to new life

and find our true place in your living body.

May the covenant sealed in your blood

through us bring healing and reconciliation

to this wounded world.

People: Alleluia!

You are risen.

We are risen with you.

Praise and glory to the living God! 

~ from "Easter Prayer"posted on http://s3.amazonaws.com/mychurchwebsite/c3419/bulletin_04-05-2015easter.pdf

Hymn: CH#216 "Christ the Lord is Risen Today"     EASTER HYMN

Christ the Lord is risen today, A-------le-lu-ia!

All creation joins to say, A-------le-lu-ia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high,  A-------le-lu-ia!

Sing, O heavens, and earth reply, A-------le-lu-ia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, A-------le-lu-ia!

Following our exalted head, A-------le-lu-ia!

Made like him, like him we rise, A-------le-lu-ia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies! A-------le-lu-ia!    

March 29, 2018 Maundy Thursday

Theme: Places Where Grace Is...

Service Type: Tenebrae
We will have 8 lit candles at the beginning of the service and put them out, one by one throughout the service, so that we end in darkness, anticipating Good Friday. One candle, the Christ candle will remain.

Theme Source: 

"Unredeemed"
by Selah

The cruelest word, the coldest heart
The deepest wound, the endless dark
The lonely ache, the burning tears
The bitter nights, the wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed
For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that's shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed
Oh, He will wipe every tear
Will not be, be unredeemed
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see, it will not be
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed 

https://www.bing.com/search?q=you%20tube%20selah%20unredeemed&pc=cosp&ptag=C998N0757D010317A316A5D3C6E&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

Scripture: John 13:1-17

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Order of Worship:

 We Gather in Jesus' Name

Opening Scripture: John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own, who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.


Hymn: CH # 490 "Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant"               st. 1

Scripture Reading: John 13:2-6
² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”


Invocation:
Lord, Are you going to wash our feet? We do not know quite what that means. It is difficult to take it into our hearts and minds. You, our leader and our Lord, lower yourself before us, and reach out to wash our dirty feet. No, it doesn't seem right. But even as we say "no," we hear you urging, "Yes!" And we realize, this is what it means to be your disciples. Sometimes the world is turned upside down. So let it be."

 We Follow Jesus' Example

Hymn: CH # 490 "Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant"               sts. 2

Washing of Hands or Feet 

As we are able and willing, we come forward to wash each others'  hands/feet. We share these words:

"When one of us weeps, we all weep. When one of us rejoices, we all rejoice."

Musical Meditation

Scripture: John 13:10-11
¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Hymn: CH # 490 "Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant"               st. 3 

 We Acknowledge Sin and Suffering

The Tenebrae 
As we extinguish the candles, we name the moments we cannot forget, the dark times that cling to us, the betrayals and broken hearts. We lay them down before you, Oh Christ, whose friendship was betrayed and whose heart was broken, too.
We remember - The Cruelest Word, The Coldest Heart, The Deepest Wound, The Endless Dark, The Lonely Ache, The Burning Tears, The Bitter Nights, The Wasted Years.

Scripture: John 13:12-17
 ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Musical & Visual Meditation : "Unredeemed"    by Selah

 We Join Our Hearts with Jesus Christ at the Table

Call to Communion
 
Hymn:  CH # 490 "Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant"               st. 4

Prayers for Bread and Cup 

Words of Institution 

The Lord's Supper

We Follow Jesus Christ Forward

Closing Prayer: 
Loved as we are, by you, O God, and befriended by your son, Jesus Christ, how can we let our hearts be troubled? We have heard your word and seen your example. We trust in you, through this Thursday night in Gesthemane, through the truth of Friday's cross and the numbness of Saturday's waiting. And when the sun rises on that Sunday morning, we will set out to see what miracles you have done...and will do. We are your disciples, now and forever. We are your friends. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hymn:  CH # 490 "Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant"               st.5




  

 



 

May 27, 2018

THEME: "A Lost Cause Comes Back to Life"

NOTES: With Pentecost behind us and the summer before us, we reconsider the energy flow that comes from living life in the Spirit. This Sunday is also Memorial Day and we remember the people who lost their lives fighting for their country. The promise of Ezekiel is that the very bleakest of situations can be transformed by the breath of God and the miracle of new life.

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 37:1-14
37:1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

37:2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.

37:3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

37:4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."

37:7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

37:8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.

37:9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

37:10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

37:11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.'

37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.

37:14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD.


8:30 AM Order of Service

The Gathering

Welcome                                                                             

Prelude

We Gather in The Light of Christ

Lighting the Christ Candles                                               

Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.

Leader:  In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!

Hymn of Praise:#720 "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies" (all verses)

Call to Worship    

Leader: The prophet asks - Can our soul-weary bones live again?

People: O God, you know!

Leader: We ask - Can we dance again after mourning, loss and grief?

People: O God, you know!

Leader: The gift is sure and unmistakable:

People: God’s breath poured out as new life for weary souls!

Leader: Let us celebrate the gift of God’s new life,

People: And come to worship God in laughter and dancing!

Invocation (UNISON)

Compassionate God,

the wind of your Spirit is the very sign of life

for all who long for you.

One breath from you and we are rescued

from the arid valley of dry bones

and filled with the holy hope you grant to all your faithful children.

Let our whole lives be filled with the life-breath of the Spirit,

that what looks to us to be death

may reveal new life. Amen.

~ from Come Out! On the Breath of God, Service Prayers for the fifth Sunday of Lent, written by the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley.  Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture                                      

Sermon                
                                       

We Pray Together

We Share Our Joys & Concern     
                                   

Prayer Hymn:#680 "O God of Every Nation" (all verses)

Praying Together   
    

Our Father, we thank you for people who refuse to take no for an answer:
    For the person who knows we are settling for less than our best
        and refuses to relent until we are persuaded
        to strive for the excellence we are capable of achieving;

    For the person who knows we have what is required
        to lead a group of people, to sort troubled emotions, to fight for what is right,
        to solve a problem, to endure a difficult challenge;

    For the person who knows how badly we have been hurt by someone we trusted,
        and who stands by us until we regain our capacity to love and trust again;

    For those who know our weaknesses,
        but will not give up until we know our strengths.

Remind us of all the times that the best gifts have come from people who irritated us by their persistence;

Our prayers go out this morning for those who feel left behind:
    Those whose grown children
        have moved away to start life on their own;
    Those who have lived longer than most of their friends;
        especially those who have lost buddies in combat
        or family who died in service to their community.
    Those whose grief for a loss or a loved one demands
        that they keep a different pace than their friends and family;
    Those who return from military service to find themselves
        marching out of step with life at home, and
        especially where trauma or injuries intensify the sense
        of being left out, left behind.

May they all find friends who will stay behind with them, who will help them gain fresh perspective, look more realistically at the present moment, and envision what they can yet accomplish with their lives.

We spend our lives walking, running, marching through daily routines, until something happens and life brings us up short.
    On this Memorial Day, help us remember
    the extraordinary sacrifices of life, liberty and peace of mind
    that have been made by soldiers, first responders,
    activists and ordinary citizens in extraordinary moments.

    Open our eyes to the precious cost of an “ordinary life.”

    Help us live lives that rise to the value that has been placed on them
        by the sacrifice of others.

    Most especially, show us the value of our lives in your eyes,
        you who did not stop at death to redeem us, but sacrificed everything to love us.

This we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

-adapted for Memorial Day from "To Strive for Excellence" by Robert Winfield Shaffer, Heartfelt Prayers for Your Everyday Life, (Berea College Printing Services: 2017)

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion  Hymn#590 "Kum Ba Yah" (verses 1, 3, & 4)

The Elder’s Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Supper

All are welcome to share at the Table.  Come forward using the center aisle.  As you partake of the bread and the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the table.  The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

The Lord’s Prayer                  

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                              

Discipleship Hymn#722 "This is My Song" (all verses)

Blessing                                                                      

Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.  

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!

10:40AM Service

Welcome    

Prelude                                                                     

We Gather in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship   

Leader: The prophet asks - Can our soul-weary bones live again?

People: O God, you know!

Leader: We ask - Can we dance again after mourning, loss and grief?

People: O God, you know!

Leader: The gift is sure and unmistakable:

People: God’s breath poured out as new life for weary souls!

Leader: Let us celebrate the gift of God’s new life,

People: And come to worship God in laughter and dancing!
        

Hymn of Praise:#720 "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies" (all stanzas)

Invocation (UNISON)

Compassionate God,

the wind of your Spirit is the very sign of life

for all who long for you.

One breath from you and we are rescued

from the arid valley of dry bones

and filled with the holy hope you grant to all your faithful children.

Let our whole lives be filled with the life-breath of the Spirit,

that what looks to us to be death

may reveal new life. Amen.

~ from Come Out! On the Breath of God, Service Prayers for the fifth Sunday of Lent, written by the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley.  Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

                                     
Passing of the Peace

We return to our seats as the piano music begins.   
   

Hymn of Faith:#85"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (stanzas 1, 3, & 4)

We Offer Our Hearts to God

Call to Offering

The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

Offertory

Doxology CH #46

Prayer of Dedication

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture
                                                                     

Anthem

Children’s Sermon                                                       

Sermon                                                        

We Prayer Together

We Share Our Joys & Concerns                                        

Prayer Hymn:#680 "O God of Every Nation" (all stanzas)     

Praying Together       

Our Father, we thank you for people who refuse to take no for an answer:
    For the person who knows we are settling for less than our best
        and refuses to relent until we are persuaded
        to strive for the excellence we are capable of achieving;

    For the person who knows we have what is required
        to lead a group of people, to sort troubled emotions, to fight for what is right,
        to solve a problem, to endure a difficult challenge;

    For the person who knows how badly we have been hurt by someone we trusted,
        and who stands by us until we regain our capacity to love and trust again;

    For those who know our weaknesses,
        but will not give up until we know our strengths.

Remind us of all the times that the best gifts have come from people who irritated us by their persistence;

Our prayers go out this morning for those who feel left behind:
    Those whose grown children
        have moved away to start life on their own;
    Those who have lived longer than most of their friends;
        especially those who have lost buddies in combat
        or family who died in service to their community.
    Those whose grief for a loss or a loved one demands
        that they keep a different pace than their friends and family;
    Those who return from military service to find themselves
        marching out of step with life at home, and
        especially where trauma or injuries intensify the sense
        of being left out, left behind.

May they all find friends who will stay behind with them, who will help them gain fresh perspective, look more realistically at the present moment, and envision what they can yet accomplish with their lives.

We spend our lives walking, running, marching through daily routines, until something happens and life brings us up short.
    On this Memorial Day, help us remember
    the extraordinary sacrifices of life, liberty and peace of mind
    that have been made by soldiers, first responders,
    activists and ordinary citizens in extraordinary moments.

    Open our eyes to the precious cost of an “ordinary life.”

    Help us live lives that rise to the value that has been placed on them
        by the sacrifice of others.

    Most especially, show us the value of our lives in your eyes,
        you who did not stop at death to redeem us, but sacrificed everything to love us.

This we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

-adapted for Memorial Day from "To Strive for Excellence" by Robert Winfield Shaffer, Heartfelt Prayers for Your Everyday Life, (Berea College Printing Services: 2017)     

   

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion  Hymn#590 "Kum Ba Yah" (verses 1, 3, & 4)

The Elder’s Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Supper

All are welcome to share at the Table.  Come forward using the center aisle.  As you partake of the bread and the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the table.  The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

The Lord’s Prayer                  

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                                    

Discipleship Hymn:#722 "This is My Song" (all stanzas)

Acolytes come forward.

Blessing                                                                          

Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading. 
 

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,

People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
 

Parting Song:#433 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (stanza 1)