May 30, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on May 30th (in the order they are needed).
Hope
you lit a fire in the darkness
the darkness did not overcome
while we were hopeless and wandering
you were the breath in our lungs
you sang out hope into the dead of night
and it echoed off the edge of time
said, “i’ll bend lower to find you;
i’ve called you mine”
you lit a fire in the darkness
the darkness did not overcome
though we keep losing our minds here
you know the depth of our thoughts
you sang out hope into the dead of night
and it echoed off the edge of time
said, “child, I made you on purpose;
i’ve called you mine”
and now every broken piece
will find its place again
and every twisted word you heard
in the night will be silent
the fever, it will breake
the shadow, it will fade
’til all that’s left is light and love
in the dawn that never fades
on and on
you lit a fire in the darkness
the darkness did not overcome
though our walls keep on closing
you are the field where we’d run
you sang out hope into the dead of night
and it echoed off the edge of time
said, “this is not how it ends here;
i’ve called you mine”
and you can’t go back
no, you can’t go back
though everything keeps fading
this fading here will end
and the ever-brilliant word whispered
in the night will be shouted
the fever, it will break
the shadow, it will fade
’til all that’s left is light and love
in the dawn that never fades
on and on
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Creator and Sustainer of all that is
the One who sees us truly and knows us fully,
our Anchor in the ebb and flow of life
to be formed in the way of Christ
the One who is the image of the invisible God,
who entered into suffering and defeated death
and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit
the One who is among us,
working re-Creation in the world.
Amen
Holy, Holy, Holy
holy, holy, holy
lord god almighty
early in the morning
our songs shall rise to thee
there is a sign at the sight of thee
merciful and mighty
god in three persons
blessed trinity
holy, holy, holy
though the darkness hide thee
though the eye of sinful ones
thy glories may not see
only though art holy
there is none beside thee
perfect in power, love and purity
holy, holy, holy
lord god almighty
all thy works shall praise thy name
in earth, and sky, and sea
there is a sign at the sight of thee
there is none beside thee
god in three persons
blessed trinity
Mother
is there a hair on my head
you haven’t numbered yet
you haven’t numbered yet
in the night, crying in the cold
is there a pain of mine
you haven’t called your own
o mother comfort, mother known
though our minds so well ignore your grace
you bring it just the same
you bring it just the same
we reside in your self-giving love
but you’ve somehow found enough
for all the space that we take up
o mother wisdom, mother love
mother comfort, mother enough
through life and death, that cradled set
beginning and the end
Beginning and the End
you are a shield, a beacon of defense
and our weaknesses align
as you gather us in
o mother warrior
mother age-to-age
mother wisdom
mother grace
mother comfort
mother love-that-can’t-be-bought
mother faithful
mother god
Wild One
overwhelming, you cannot be contained
in leather bindings, the turn of a word or phrase
overwhelming these idols that you break
crumbling to the ground in place
you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would 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 were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
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
tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains
you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is Isaiah 6:1-8:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is John 3:1-17:
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And 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.
Giving
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There
before there were mountains to crumble
before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss and the weight
you were there
you were there
you were there
although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there
you are there
you are there
i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision, strangling my love away
after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
you’ll be there
you’ll be there
you’ll be there
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.
Benediction
As we approach this week
May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest
Amen