November 8, 2020
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on November 8th (in the order they are needed). Also you can find UbcKids Sunday School Videos here.
Come Alive
draw us in to the dance
older than time and space
that constellations, made
in the bend and the shake
cycle back from the end
full-reverse pirouette
like choreography
infinite, infinite
but if the music stops
play it again, but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts
until we come alive
oh, come alive
draw us in to the dance
’til every piece finds its fit
and every step is improvised
and carried out in perfect time
and the shape of breathing is the shape of all
spinning into one
as the empty tomb cloud
is spreading out, spreading out
but if the music stops
play it again and pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts
until we come alive
oh, come alive
we’ve not become what we will be
but the rhythm of our feet is growing
and though we’re fraying at the seams
your gravity is holding
just keep on holding
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Eternal One
the One in whom we live and move and have our being
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit of God might transform our hearts and minds
teaching us to love our neighbors
our friends, and our enemies, as God does,
that we might be caught up
in God’s work of Resurrection in the world
Amen
Where God Has Always Been
praise be the lord of all with their backs against the wall
hands above their heads and eyes lifted up to that impossible line
where the hill meets the sky, who wonder if the distance is
a trick of the earth, or a trick of the mind? and if help will arrive
before they slip away
praise be the lord of all who wrestle until dawn
who wear their scars like names, yet find heaven and earth strangely aligned
like water in the sour wine, hidden in plain sight
for God is now where God has always been
bunkered down with those in the ditch
raising fountains from the cracking dirt
and raising a feast for the hollow unheard
while the powerful who reign dissolve into the grave
the eternal one will shade the ones they cast away
until the coming of the day when all this is remade
praise be the lord of all
who’ve nowhere to belong
for the kingdom is drawing near
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25:
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many.
“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is Matthew 25:1-13:
Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Giving
UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.
Wild One
Overwhelming, you cannot be contained
in leather bindings, the turn of a word of phrase
overwhelming these idols that you break
crumbling to the ground in place
you are running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
disconcerting, these figures that we form
we want more money, we want a higher bar
disconcerting, these idols that we carve
controlling like the wind to a sail
you are running with iconoclast strides
god you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
Unbound, you’re overwhelming
we built you a house, but you keep moving
Maker, you’re not done making
we gave you seven days, but you’re still forming
so form these broken bodies into gold
a greater love, with a lighter load
and tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains
you are running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you’d be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
Benediction
As we approach this week
May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest
Amen