Proper 9 / Ordinary Time 14 / Pentecost 4
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
A sacred teaching must be examined from at least three points of view:
the intellectual, the metaphorical and the universal (or mystical).
-- Neil Douglas-Klotz, Prayers of the Cosmos
Call To Worship
Leader: It is summer time! Week after week we come here. The space is beautiful, the seating is comfortable, and the company is good.
People: We come here to be with each other as we thank God for creation and for divine love.
Leader: Together we see the wonderful things God does and we can rejoice.
People: Together we also recognize the not-so-good things in our lives. Together we know that we are not alone on this journey through time.
Leader: We need one another.
People: We can see what God is doing but we rarely understand so we need to talk about our perceptions and our feelings. We want to hear the stories of scripture and consider how they speak to us. We want our relationships here to nurture us Monday through Saturday.
Leader: Those are high expectations!
People: We are not solitary creatures; we want to be with others who appreciate what God is doing; we want to enjoy human companionship.
Leader: Then let our music and our prayers begin!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Great God -- we honor you with songs and prayers, with deep thoughts and with honest conversations. Thank you for being among us, enthusing us with Spirit, promoting gentleness and blessing. We sing our thanks and our hopes; we lay before you and one another the concerns of our hearts. We eagerly receive your strength. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
Jesus gathered friends and taught them what a new social order could be like. He sent them to other places to give people the same dream. He valued hospitality and loyalty. He encouraged no one to hold grudges, which are like dust impeding shiny beauty. He taught that the Reign of God is near. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One.
Community Confession (Unison)
Loving God -- we long for your kingdom to be present in our time!
When we look around, we see a society that markets things to fill our homes and to decorate our bodies and to keep up with our neighbors.
But our souls are not satisfied.
We are easily seduced by lithe youthfulness and savvy technology.
We give up companionship and community for solitary tasks and before we know it we feel alone in the world.
Free us from these temptations and help us promote the community of the Holy Spirit.
Coax us from our private journeys into aspirations for the common good -- of this faith community and the global village. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The Naaman story easily develops into a dramatic reading/skit.
Isaiah 66:1-14, 22-24 -- God's home, the heavens/skies comprise the central place while earth/lands form the footstool/sturdy foundation. One challenge is to care for the planet so that prosperity is available for all peoples; another challenge is to find ways to quiet violence. Matthew Fox has spoken of the earth as God's body. Have on hand a clear plastic inflatable globe. Throw it to someone close by. It is often a jolt to realize that we have the world -- God's home -- in our hands! Consider how we promote responsibility for caring for God's home, how we promote faith groups that spend a lot of time talking about the Bible and children and cups of water while behaviors undercut the central teachings of Jesus. Consider Jesus (Matthew 10) pairing his friends to promote peace; one need not be a solitary representative of a different sort of social structure (kingdom of God).
Given this generation's technology and dependence upon multiple nations for supplies, we may want to think about non-literal meanings for "shake off the dust" of a place that is not accepting of a particular promotion style of Jesus' teachings. The scriptures hold out hope for wholeness -- spiritual, physical, governmental -- for people and the earth. The element of God's justice/judgment must be handled gently, without arrogance. Some of the ideas used for Earth Day in April might be repeated this day.
A Dramatic Rendering Of 2 Kings 5
9 Readers
Narrator, Mrs. Naaman (nonspeaking), King of Israel, Housekeeper, Elisha, Naaman, Butler, King of Syria, Companion of Naaman
Props
The Housekeeper needs a dustcloth and a broom. Mrs. Naaman needs a chair to sit in and something to keep her hands busy, like an embroidery hoop. The King of Syria needs a scroll. Naaman needs a "horse." The baptismal bowl can be filled with water to serve as a wet Jordan. Naaman needs a "bag of gold" to give to Elisha at the end of the story.
Costumes
Street dress for all characters plus crowns for the two kings (clearly distinguishing them from each other), a cloak/cape for Elisha, a breastplate armor and cloak/cape for Naaman, an apron for the Housekeeper, a black bowtie and white towel for the Butler, and a colorful scarf for Naaman's Companion.
(On chancel/stage, the Housekeeper is dusting and sweeping. Mrs. Naaman is embroidering something.)
Narrator: Naaman was commander of Syria's army. He had won many battles and captured many people. He took one young woman home to be his wife's housekeeper. The King of Syria valued Naaman as a brave and successful man. One day, Naaman noticed some strange spots on his arm. Then the housekeeper noticed them. Soon she spoke with Mrs. Naaman about a prophet in her home country who could heal Naaman.
Housekeeper: (to Mrs. Naaman) I wish Mr. Naaman would be in Israel! I know a man who could heal him, even of leprosy!
(housekeeper and Mrs. Naaman exit)
Narrator: Of course, Mrs. Naaman promptly told her husband. And Naaman promptly went to the king to get his permission to seek foreign medical care.
(enter Naaman and King of Syria)
Naaman: (addressing the king) Sir, a young woman from Israel says that if I am willing to go to her country, there is a prophet who can heal me.
King of Syria: (to Naaman) Well, pack your bags. What are you waiting for, Naaman? I'll send a letter to the King of Israel introducing you as an important dignitary. You can take it with you.
Naaman: (first to the king and then to the congregation) Well. Let's see. Let's see. What will I take? What does a stranger need to get into the good graces of a prophet and a king? I'll take some gold. I'll take some beautifully woven fabric. Let's see. What shall I wear? Oh. The letter of introduction.
(King of Syria hands Naaman a scroll and they exit.)
Narrator: So Naaman and a companion set off for Israel. They went directly to the King of Israel and gave him the letter of introduction from Syria's monarch. Israel's King opened the letter.
(Enter the King of Israel, clearly different from Syria's monarch. He is holding the scroll.)
King of Israel: (reads the letter) "When you have this letter in your hands, you will know that I have sent Naaman, my loyal commander to you so he will be cured of leprosy." (looks confused) I don't get it. What is going on? What does Syria really want? (re-reads the letter silently) Oh, no! He thinks I can cure leprosy! Come on! (somewhat angry) Am I God to kill and to heal? What is his real, devious motive? Is he trying to push me into quarreling with him?
(Elisha enters.)
Narrator: Fortunately, Israel's King had a prophet-friend with good ears!
Elisha: (to King of Israel) My king and friend, why do you agonize over this letter? I can handle this situation. Simply send the commander Naaman to me. He'll soon learn that there is a true prophet in this land of Israel.
(Naaman, on a "horse," and Companion enter)
Narrator: So when Naaman arrived, Israel's King sent Naaman to Elisha's home. Naaman, with his strong horses, stopped at the prophet's door. He knocked. Then his companion knocked and knocked.
Butler: (ceremoniously opening the door) You must be the famous visitor from Syria. Welcome. I already know your name and I know what you want. So, Naaman, I have a message for you from Prophet Elisha. "Go down to the Jordan River and dunk yourself seven times. Then you will be whole; your skin will be baby smooth and soft."
Naaman: (feels slighted, becomes angry) What do you mean? How dare you! Where is the prophet? I want to speak directly with him. Surely he will come to me and call God to cure me! Really! The rivers in Damascus are better than all the rivers in Israel! I could wash in one of them and be clean, couldn't I?
(Butler shakes his head "no.")
Narrator: Naaman, in a rage, turned his horse toward home! His companion spoke gently to him.
Companion: My friend, if the prophet had asked you to do some great and daring thing, you would have been proud to do it. Right? But he only asked you to go to a little, old river and get wet.
Naaman: Yeah. Some funky river, the River Jordan.
Companion: All he wants you to do is take a bath in Israel's water.
Naaman: (grumpily) Hmmm.
Companion: I bet you can do it easily in a few minutes and we can be on our way. And maybe you'll be leprosy-free.
Naaman: (grumpily) Oh, all right, I guess you have a point. All right, I will wash in the Jordan. I'll dip seven times as that butler told me to do. You count.
(They are at the baptismal bowl. Naaman splashes himself and Companion counts.)
Companion: One, two, three, four, five, six; one more time, Naaman! Seven!
Naaman: Ugh. (dries himself with his cloak) Yuck. Ooh. Look! Wow! Look at this skin! How smooth my arm is!
(Companion oohs and ahs with Naaman.)
Naaman: Quick! Let's go back to the prophet's house. I want to give him a thank-you gift!
(They return to Elisha's house.)
Narrator: Naaman was delighted with the result of his seven dips in the Jordan River. And he hurried back to the prophet to register his awe and his gratitude.
(Naaman knocks and the door is opened this time by Elisha.)
Elisha: So ... you've come back.
(Companion gives Naaman a bag of gold that he holds out as a gift to Elisha.)
Elisha: (refuses the gift) Thanks, but no thanks.
Naaman: But look! I am healed! Surely you are a prophet of the living God.
Elisha: Yes. I am a prophet of the Holy One, God of Israel. God healed you.
Naaman: Now I know. I know who God is! I will serve and honor this healing God. Thank you.
(Naaman and Companion "ride" away, stroking the healed arm, saying, "Thank you, hallelujah, praise God." Elisha watches them a moment before he closes his door behind him and exits into the congregation.)
Narrator: Naaman, the Syrian Commander, was healed of leprosy. You can read more stories of Elisha's adventures before 722 BCE in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We gather to promote the reign of God on this earth;
We assemble to share the expenses of promoting the kingdom of heaven.
With money and talent and skills, we manifest Divine hospitality.
With a gentle manner and kind demeanor, we make Holy love conspicuous.
As the plates/baskets come to you, give what you can to expand the health of the planet.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
God of Feet and Hands -- we are grateful for the ways you bless us in so many tangible ways. Thank you for the health of this congregation, for all our resources, and for all the talents gathered here. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of Naaman and Jesus -- people around this planet seek wholeness. We are so fearful when we learn that disease has invaded our bodies! We want the best a health care system has to offer and there is a price to be paid. We pray for people who do not have access to health care, to wholesome food, and to dynamic relationships. We pray for ourselves as we hear the stories of Jesus, we know that we want to be on your side, one with you in our living and in our dying. Reach each of us and others with healing and hope. Where there is injury, let there be new skin and bone. Where there is pain and distress, let there be comfort and peace. Where there is fear, soothe the psyche. Where guns and knives and accidents have abused the body, work a miracle of love and grace. Where there are doubts about you, sustain the questions.
God of Travelers and Readers -- we go through life learning about ourselves, about the world, and about you. Meet us in information and relationships that guide us to become what you want us for us. Speak through us words that inspire and comfort. Throughout the world, we ask for peacefulness. Banish ignorance and arrogance from negotiating meetings. Replace small lord-doms with benevolent states. Put your reign in place for our times.
God of Galaxies -- we yearn to understand, to have intellectual food, which also satisfies our souls. Guide us to ideas that nurture our psyches and stretch our minds. Encourage us to let down our defenses and to be real with one another. Let us see the whole continuum of agony and ecstasy and let us experience your sustaining grace. Walk with us through evil and good; heal us as we become aware of our wounds. Give us strength for the life process that comes to us. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Life is a journey to Mystery.
Experiment with multiple names for God;
Explore different ways to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Laugh each day and unbuild the overwhelming towers of the world.
Notice possibilities around each corner;
Make dreams and cultivate a glad heart!
Holy Spirit empowers you and me to live hospitably.
Contentment be yours and deep joy. Amen.
Music
For Beauty Of Meadows
Words: Walter H. Farquharson, 1969
Music: Welsh folk melody
ST. DENIO
Lord, You Give The Great Commission
Words: Jeffery Rowthorn, 1978
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
Morning Has Broken
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1931
Music: Gaelic melody; arr. Dale Grotenhuis, 1985
BUNESSAN
She Is The Spirit
Words and Music: John Bell, 1988
THAINAKY
When, In Awe Of God's Creation
Words: Jane Parker Huber, 1991
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1844; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906
HYFRYDOL
the intellectual, the metaphorical and the universal (or mystical).
-- Neil Douglas-Klotz, Prayers of the Cosmos
Call To Worship
Leader: It is summer time! Week after week we come here. The space is beautiful, the seating is comfortable, and the company is good.
People: We come here to be with each other as we thank God for creation and for divine love.
Leader: Together we see the wonderful things God does and we can rejoice.
People: Together we also recognize the not-so-good things in our lives. Together we know that we are not alone on this journey through time.
Leader: We need one another.
People: We can see what God is doing but we rarely understand so we need to talk about our perceptions and our feelings. We want to hear the stories of scripture and consider how they speak to us. We want our relationships here to nurture us Monday through Saturday.
Leader: Those are high expectations!
People: We are not solitary creatures; we want to be with others who appreciate what God is doing; we want to enjoy human companionship.
Leader: Then let our music and our prayers begin!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Great God -- we honor you with songs and prayers, with deep thoughts and with honest conversations. Thank you for being among us, enthusing us with Spirit, promoting gentleness and blessing. We sing our thanks and our hopes; we lay before you and one another the concerns of our hearts. We eagerly receive your strength. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
Jesus gathered friends and taught them what a new social order could be like. He sent them to other places to give people the same dream. He valued hospitality and loyalty. He encouraged no one to hold grudges, which are like dust impeding shiny beauty. He taught that the Reign of God is near. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One.
Community Confession (Unison)
Loving God -- we long for your kingdom to be present in our time!
When we look around, we see a society that markets things to fill our homes and to decorate our bodies and to keep up with our neighbors.
But our souls are not satisfied.
We are easily seduced by lithe youthfulness and savvy technology.
We give up companionship and community for solitary tasks and before we know it we feel alone in the world.
Free us from these temptations and help us promote the community of the Holy Spirit.
Coax us from our private journeys into aspirations for the common good -- of this faith community and the global village. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The Naaman story easily develops into a dramatic reading/skit.
Isaiah 66:1-14, 22-24 -- God's home, the heavens/skies comprise the central place while earth/lands form the footstool/sturdy foundation. One challenge is to care for the planet so that prosperity is available for all peoples; another challenge is to find ways to quiet violence. Matthew Fox has spoken of the earth as God's body. Have on hand a clear plastic inflatable globe. Throw it to someone close by. It is often a jolt to realize that we have the world -- God's home -- in our hands! Consider how we promote responsibility for caring for God's home, how we promote faith groups that spend a lot of time talking about the Bible and children and cups of water while behaviors undercut the central teachings of Jesus. Consider Jesus (Matthew 10) pairing his friends to promote peace; one need not be a solitary representative of a different sort of social structure (kingdom of God).
Given this generation's technology and dependence upon multiple nations for supplies, we may want to think about non-literal meanings for "shake off the dust" of a place that is not accepting of a particular promotion style of Jesus' teachings. The scriptures hold out hope for wholeness -- spiritual, physical, governmental -- for people and the earth. The element of God's justice/judgment must be handled gently, without arrogance. Some of the ideas used for Earth Day in April might be repeated this day.
A Dramatic Rendering Of 2 Kings 5
9 Readers
Narrator, Mrs. Naaman (nonspeaking), King of Israel, Housekeeper, Elisha, Naaman, Butler, King of Syria, Companion of Naaman
Props
The Housekeeper needs a dustcloth and a broom. Mrs. Naaman needs a chair to sit in and something to keep her hands busy, like an embroidery hoop. The King of Syria needs a scroll. Naaman needs a "horse." The baptismal bowl can be filled with water to serve as a wet Jordan. Naaman needs a "bag of gold" to give to Elisha at the end of the story.
Costumes
Street dress for all characters plus crowns for the two kings (clearly distinguishing them from each other), a cloak/cape for Elisha, a breastplate armor and cloak/cape for Naaman, an apron for the Housekeeper, a black bowtie and white towel for the Butler, and a colorful scarf for Naaman's Companion.
(On chancel/stage, the Housekeeper is dusting and sweeping. Mrs. Naaman is embroidering something.)
Narrator: Naaman was commander of Syria's army. He had won many battles and captured many people. He took one young woman home to be his wife's housekeeper. The King of Syria valued Naaman as a brave and successful man. One day, Naaman noticed some strange spots on his arm. Then the housekeeper noticed them. Soon she spoke with Mrs. Naaman about a prophet in her home country who could heal Naaman.
Housekeeper: (to Mrs. Naaman) I wish Mr. Naaman would be in Israel! I know a man who could heal him, even of leprosy!
(housekeeper and Mrs. Naaman exit)
Narrator: Of course, Mrs. Naaman promptly told her husband. And Naaman promptly went to the king to get his permission to seek foreign medical care.
(enter Naaman and King of Syria)
Naaman: (addressing the king) Sir, a young woman from Israel says that if I am willing to go to her country, there is a prophet who can heal me.
King of Syria: (to Naaman) Well, pack your bags. What are you waiting for, Naaman? I'll send a letter to the King of Israel introducing you as an important dignitary. You can take it with you.
Naaman: (first to the king and then to the congregation) Well. Let's see. Let's see. What will I take? What does a stranger need to get into the good graces of a prophet and a king? I'll take some gold. I'll take some beautifully woven fabric. Let's see. What shall I wear? Oh. The letter of introduction.
(King of Syria hands Naaman a scroll and they exit.)
Narrator: So Naaman and a companion set off for Israel. They went directly to the King of Israel and gave him the letter of introduction from Syria's monarch. Israel's King opened the letter.
(Enter the King of Israel, clearly different from Syria's monarch. He is holding the scroll.)
King of Israel: (reads the letter) "When you have this letter in your hands, you will know that I have sent Naaman, my loyal commander to you so he will be cured of leprosy." (looks confused) I don't get it. What is going on? What does Syria really want? (re-reads the letter silently) Oh, no! He thinks I can cure leprosy! Come on! (somewhat angry) Am I God to kill and to heal? What is his real, devious motive? Is he trying to push me into quarreling with him?
(Elisha enters.)
Narrator: Fortunately, Israel's King had a prophet-friend with good ears!
Elisha: (to King of Israel) My king and friend, why do you agonize over this letter? I can handle this situation. Simply send the commander Naaman to me. He'll soon learn that there is a true prophet in this land of Israel.
(Naaman, on a "horse," and Companion enter)
Narrator: So when Naaman arrived, Israel's King sent Naaman to Elisha's home. Naaman, with his strong horses, stopped at the prophet's door. He knocked. Then his companion knocked and knocked.
Butler: (ceremoniously opening the door) You must be the famous visitor from Syria. Welcome. I already know your name and I know what you want. So, Naaman, I have a message for you from Prophet Elisha. "Go down to the Jordan River and dunk yourself seven times. Then you will be whole; your skin will be baby smooth and soft."
Naaman: (feels slighted, becomes angry) What do you mean? How dare you! Where is the prophet? I want to speak directly with him. Surely he will come to me and call God to cure me! Really! The rivers in Damascus are better than all the rivers in Israel! I could wash in one of them and be clean, couldn't I?
(Butler shakes his head "no.")
Narrator: Naaman, in a rage, turned his horse toward home! His companion spoke gently to him.
Companion: My friend, if the prophet had asked you to do some great and daring thing, you would have been proud to do it. Right? But he only asked you to go to a little, old river and get wet.
Naaman: Yeah. Some funky river, the River Jordan.
Companion: All he wants you to do is take a bath in Israel's water.
Naaman: (grumpily) Hmmm.
Companion: I bet you can do it easily in a few minutes and we can be on our way. And maybe you'll be leprosy-free.
Naaman: (grumpily) Oh, all right, I guess you have a point. All right, I will wash in the Jordan. I'll dip seven times as that butler told me to do. You count.
(They are at the baptismal bowl. Naaman splashes himself and Companion counts.)
Companion: One, two, three, four, five, six; one more time, Naaman! Seven!
Naaman: Ugh. (dries himself with his cloak) Yuck. Ooh. Look! Wow! Look at this skin! How smooth my arm is!
(Companion oohs and ahs with Naaman.)
Naaman: Quick! Let's go back to the prophet's house. I want to give him a thank-you gift!
(They return to Elisha's house.)
Narrator: Naaman was delighted with the result of his seven dips in the Jordan River. And he hurried back to the prophet to register his awe and his gratitude.
(Naaman knocks and the door is opened this time by Elisha.)
Elisha: So ... you've come back.
(Companion gives Naaman a bag of gold that he holds out as a gift to Elisha.)
Elisha: (refuses the gift) Thanks, but no thanks.
Naaman: But look! I am healed! Surely you are a prophet of the living God.
Elisha: Yes. I am a prophet of the Holy One, God of Israel. God healed you.
Naaman: Now I know. I know who God is! I will serve and honor this healing God. Thank you.
(Naaman and Companion "ride" away, stroking the healed arm, saying, "Thank you, hallelujah, praise God." Elisha watches them a moment before he closes his door behind him and exits into the congregation.)
Narrator: Naaman, the Syrian Commander, was healed of leprosy. You can read more stories of Elisha's adventures before 722 BCE in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
We gather to promote the reign of God on this earth;
We assemble to share the expenses of promoting the kingdom of heaven.
With money and talent and skills, we manifest Divine hospitality.
With a gentle manner and kind demeanor, we make Holy love conspicuous.
As the plates/baskets come to you, give what you can to expand the health of the planet.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
God of Feet and Hands -- we are grateful for the ways you bless us in so many tangible ways. Thank you for the health of this congregation, for all our resources, and for all the talents gathered here. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of Naaman and Jesus -- people around this planet seek wholeness. We are so fearful when we learn that disease has invaded our bodies! We want the best a health care system has to offer and there is a price to be paid. We pray for people who do not have access to health care, to wholesome food, and to dynamic relationships. We pray for ourselves as we hear the stories of Jesus, we know that we want to be on your side, one with you in our living and in our dying. Reach each of us and others with healing and hope. Where there is injury, let there be new skin and bone. Where there is pain and distress, let there be comfort and peace. Where there is fear, soothe the psyche. Where guns and knives and accidents have abused the body, work a miracle of love and grace. Where there are doubts about you, sustain the questions.
God of Travelers and Readers -- we go through life learning about ourselves, about the world, and about you. Meet us in information and relationships that guide us to become what you want us for us. Speak through us words that inspire and comfort. Throughout the world, we ask for peacefulness. Banish ignorance and arrogance from negotiating meetings. Replace small lord-doms with benevolent states. Put your reign in place for our times.
God of Galaxies -- we yearn to understand, to have intellectual food, which also satisfies our souls. Guide us to ideas that nurture our psyches and stretch our minds. Encourage us to let down our defenses and to be real with one another. Let us see the whole continuum of agony and ecstasy and let us experience your sustaining grace. Walk with us through evil and good; heal us as we become aware of our wounds. Give us strength for the life process that comes to us. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Life is a journey to Mystery.
Experiment with multiple names for God;
Explore different ways to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Laugh each day and unbuild the overwhelming towers of the world.
Notice possibilities around each corner;
Make dreams and cultivate a glad heart!
Holy Spirit empowers you and me to live hospitably.
Contentment be yours and deep joy. Amen.
Music
For Beauty Of Meadows
Words: Walter H. Farquharson, 1969
Music: Welsh folk melody
ST. DENIO
Lord, You Give The Great Commission
Words: Jeffery Rowthorn, 1978
Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1941
ABBOT'S LEIGH
Morning Has Broken
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1931
Music: Gaelic melody; arr. Dale Grotenhuis, 1985
BUNESSAN
She Is The Spirit
Words and Music: John Bell, 1988
THAINAKY
When, In Awe Of God's Creation
Words: Jane Parker Huber, 1991
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1844; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906
HYFRYDOL
