March 14, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on March 14th (in the order they are needed).
In the Night
I am weary with the pain of Jacob’s wrestling
in the darkness with the fear, in the darkness with the fear
but he met the morning wounded with a blessing
so in the night, my hope lives on
o in the night, o in the night
o in the night, my hope lives on
when Elisha woke surrounded by the forces
of the enemies of God, of the enemies of God
he saw the hills aflame with angels on their horses
so in the night, my hope lives on
o in the night, o in the night
o in the night, my hope lives on
I see the slave who toils beneath the yoke unyielding
and I can hear the captive groan, hear the captive groan
for some hand to stay the whip their foe is weilding
so in the night, my hope lives on
o in the night, o in the night
o in the night, my hope lives on
I see the armies of the enemy approaching
and the people driven trembling for the shore
but a doorway through the water now is opening
so in the night, my hope lives on
o in the night, o in the night
o in the night, my hope lives on
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Living God
the One who is with us,
before us,
and behind us
to enter the story of God,
who is in us, beneath us, and above us,
on our right, and our left
to find our stories formed in the way of Christ,
in our lying down and in our getting up
that the Spirit might shape our hearts and minds
to find Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of us,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of us,
Christ in every eye that sees us
and Christ in every ear that hears us
Amen
Waking Life
you’re a hammer blow
to the barricade
that i’ve built up in my mind
to separate
that which I hold with warm embrace
from that which I have reduced
to an empty phrase
you’re a falling blade
to the knot I’ve tied
to secure a heavy shade
over my eyes
and as if I
had never tasted light
a stabbing pain slowly gives way
to a truer sight
you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
Reality, reframing the dream
and as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once keep my armory
you’re an ember thrown
from a funeral pyre
that infiltrates
the cavalcade of an outrage choir
through the withered aisles
of my fevered mind
now that hollow rage
is wholly remade
into a signal fire
you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
Reality, reframing the dream
and as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once keep my armory
and like the waking life pierces sleep
like reality reframing the dream
I don’t understand what is happening
but something’s changed in a place I cannot reach
and there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything
Look to the Hills
I lift my eyes
to the hills
to remind myself
this isn’t all there is
I lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear
my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls
and fortress doors
my shade in sun
and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord
so I look to the hills
and I know the score
the mountains fall
the shadows, they soar
and every rough line
is impeccably placed
as valleys rise
forgetting their place
I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help
is going before
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is John 3:14-21:
Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
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.
Be Thou My Vision
be thou my vision, o lord of my heart
naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought, by day or by night
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light
be thou my wisdom and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me lord
thou my great father, spirit, and son
thou in me dwelling and I with the one
riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
thou mine inheritance now and always
thou and thou only, first in my heart
high king of heaven, my treasure thou art
Benediction
As we approach this week
May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest
Amen