March 21, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on March 21st (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
like the son who though he’d gone beyond forgiveness
too ashamed to lift his head, but if he could lift his head
he would see his father running from a distance
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 draws near to the brokenhearted
and hears the cries of those who mourn
to enter the story of God,
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit might shape our hearts and minds
toward love
for God, for our neighbor, and for ourselves
that we might be formed more fully in the way of Christ
Amen
Kyrie
kyrie eleison
what, lord, what have we done?
kyrie eleison
o, lord, with mercy, come
kyrie eleison
behold what we’ve wrought
in our weeping and gnashing teeth
kyrie, be not beyond our reach
turn not your ear from our pleas
but lord, have mercy
For Those Tears I Died
locked in confusion and loosening my grip
it’s happened before, god it happened again
I thought I knew a story about some vile curse shattering
but I think it found a way to mend
you say, “come to the water and stand by my side
I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied
for I hold every tear drop that when in darkness you cried
and it was for those tears I died”
open my mouth, put a coal upon my tongue
cauterize my silence and char my teeth to dust
i’ve made an idol out of comfort, praised by keeping my mouth shut
and now it’s found a thirst for blood
you say, “come to the water and stand by my side
I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied
for I hold every teardrop when you cry out in the night
and it was for those tears I died
it was for those tears I died
but how long?
and how many tears did you have in mind?
or how many hours of the night?
my god, we’re wearing thin from holding on.
good god, how long?
Dead Horse (by Andy Squyres)
here is my harvest of heartbreak
here is my threshing of tears
i’d give you my dream but I lost it
down in the locust years
now praise is the song that i’m singing
even though sorrow’s my tune
my love is only a whisper now
but nothing is wasted with you
here is my secret miscarriage
here is my public divorce
nobody taught me to let go
so I learned how to beat a dead horse
now all of my altars are empty
except for this lone hallelu
the heat of your fire’s just a memory
but nothing is wasted with you
hungry as a mother who cannot find her child
we keep missing each other, i’m in the liquor aisle
prostrated in your glory i’m bowed low under this
either nothing is wasted or everything is
here in the holy of holies
here by the blood of the lamb
words I have said all my life and believe
but still I do not understand
but I want to live in your presence
however inopportune
the warmth of your fire’s just a memory
but nothing is wasted with you
and my love is only a whisper now
but nothing is wasted with you
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 77:
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
I think of God, and I moan;
I meditate, and my spirit faints.Selah
You keep my eyelids from closing;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I consider the days of old,
and remember the years of long ago.
I commune with my heart in the night;
I meditate and search my spirit:
“Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love ceased forever?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”Selah
And I say, “It is my grief
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
I will remember your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
you have displayed your might among the peoples.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.Selah
When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
the very deep trembled.
The clouds poured out water;
the skies thundered;
your arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was through the sea,
your path, through the mighty waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is John 12:20-33:
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
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