Prelude - Lord, I’m Coming Home [by W.J. Kirkpatrick] - Sarah Park
Opening Scripture - Galatians 5:13-14
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
*Response - Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together, Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together, weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship - Aspen Baynes
ONE: Breath of God, Breath of Life, Breath of Deepest Yearning,
ALL: Come, Holy Spirit.
ONE: Comforter, Disturber, Interpreter, Enthuser,
ALL: Come, Holy Spirit.
ONE: Heavenly Friend, Lamplighter, Revealer of Truth, Midwife of Change
ALL: Come, Holy Spirit.
ONE: The Holy One is with us!
ALL: Pour out your Spirit upon us so we might transform!
~Written by Margaret D. McGee
*Opening Hymn - “We Gather Together” #276
We gather together to ask for God’s blessing,
To turn to a wisdom surpassing our own;
The pow’rs that oppress us now cease to distress us.
O’God, be present with us, and make your will known.
Invitation to Generosity - Aspen Baynes
Invitation
Offertory
Music: “Still” [by Reuben Morgan]
The Doxology #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Children’s Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
- What are some of the rules set up at school?
- Why do they have those?
- Help keep people safe and help build community
- Good to follow the rules, good to ask questions
Pastoral Prayer - Rev. Chad Delaney
Gracious God,
We are blessed to gather in your name this day and to live awash in your presence. We see you light and love through one another, through the creation, through all that is holy and good.
By your light and presence we are both encouraged and challenged. We are reassured to see know you walk beside us and abide with us. In that light we also recognize those times we have walked in darkness, when we have forgotten the other, when we have totally lost ourselves in our own desires and aims. When we have resisted your light in ourselves and others. We thank you, O God, for staying beside us. For spreading your light in the world even though we have not always heeded your call to become the light of the world.
Keep us ever mindful of the needs of the world into which you sent Jesus. Let us feel the pain and hurt in the world as our own, seek its good as our own, and work together for its transformation. Let your spirit quicken our hearts that we may love as Jesus loved. Let your power speed our steps that we may do as Jesus did.
We are burdened by much in our lives, our families, our world. Everyday we experience your presence and glory and are filled with gratitude. We give them both to you in silent prayer…
Communion
Meditation - MaryEllen Derthick
Communion Hymn - We Place Upon Your Table, Lord #417, v.1-2
1 We place upon your table, Lord,
the food of life, the bread and wine,
as symbols of our daily work,
according to your grand design.
2 Within these simple things there lie
the height and depth of human life:
our pain and tears, our thoughts and toils,
our hopes and fears, our joy and strife.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer - MaryEllen Derthick
Words of Institution
Music: “More Love to Thee” [by W.H. Doane]
Scripture - Exodus 19:1-13
At the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the pplp Israelites: 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’
7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’ Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.’ When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, 10the Lord said to Moses: ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, “Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. 13No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.” When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.’
Sermon - "Setting Limits, Finding Balance" - Rev. Chad Delaney
*Closing Hymn - On Eagle’s Wings #77 v. 1 & 2
1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
who abide in God’s shadow for life,
say to the Lord, "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!"
[Refrain] And I will raise you up on eagles' wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of my hand.
2 The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear:
Under God’s wings your refuge, God’s faithfulness your shield.
[Refrain]
Prayer Litany of Farewell
LEADER
Our church family is constantly changing.
People come and go.
Babies are born.
Children grow up.
People commit themselves to one another.
Loved ones and friends among us come to the end of their lives.
Individuals move into our community and church life.
Others leave us, moving away to new places, new experiences, and new opportunities.
It is important and right that we recognize these times of passage, of endings and beginnings. Today we share the time of farewell with Doug and Jessy who are leaving.
REMEMBRANCE AND RECOGNITION
Blessing of their Presence:
- For Doug’s Intellection, Sense of Humor, his Leadership of many studies and leadership of the Elders. For his extraordinary curiosity and willingness to share his questions and wisdom with us.
- For Jessy’s Questions, Honesty, and Gift of Knowledge. For the gift of her artistic expression and curious questions. For her willingness to help us build deeper awareness of one another and honoring each person’s humanity. A fierce advocate for those misconstrued and misunderstood.
- We have been SO BLESSED by them Both and we thank God for them!
PRAYER LITANY OF FAREWELL
Lord, we know you go with Doug and Jessy to another place, another community, another task.
We are sad to see them go, but we recognize that, just as they have been your gift to us, so now they go as a gift to another part of your world.
We pray for each other now as our once-parallel roads of pilgrimage diverge.
We thank you for all that we have done or learned or shared together.
We pray for the community to which they go, they they will value them, support them, learn from them, and encourage them.
We pray for ourselves as move forward without their presence, but knowing we will always be in each other’s hearts.
As we part, we reaffirm that it has been your Spirit, O God, who brought us together in the first place, your Spirit who has enlivened our fellowship;
And it is your Spirit who goes with Jessy and Doug and your Spirit who stays with us;
Your Spirit who keeps us all together in the worldwide family of your church.
Thanks be to God, Amen.
Benediction - Rev. Chad Delaney
- Join us to Greet with Doug and Jessy downstairs and see Jessy’s art
- Join us for conversation in the Campbell Room
- The Next Two Sundays, the Delaneys will be on Vacation.
May God, who began a good work in you, continue to be at work in your life, guiding, teaching and equipping you as Christ returns in and through you every day.
May you live a life balanced in the power of the Holy Spirit, a life that bears rich fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- that love and hope might reign now and always. Amen.
Postlude - “I Come to the Garden Alone” [by C.A. Miles] - Sarah Park