May 9, 2021
**Note: if you are attending the parking lot service,
we are wearing masks the entire time**
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on May 9nd (in the order they are needed).
Mother Hen (Are You A Shelter?) [by Boris Smile]
are you a mountain?
standing strong and standing tall
are you an ocean?
are you deeper than us all?
are you a river?
do your waters flow into me?
are you a small cloud moved by the softest breeze?
can you hold me
’cause i’m still shaking
are you a mountain?
standing strong and standing tall
are you an ocean?
are you deeper than us all?
are you a river?
do your waters flow into me?
are you a small cloud moved by the softest breeze?
can you hold me
’cause i’m still shaking
will you wait with us?
breathe in this soul of dust
the world who calls my
the world, she knows my name
can you hold me
’cause i’m still shaking
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship the Creator
the One Who gave birth
to all of creation, and has numbered
every hair on our heads
to be formed by the Wisdom of God,
the One Who gathers the vulnerable
like a hen gathers her children
under her wings
through the power of the Spirit,
the One Who greets
every newborn creature
with the kiss of life
and is raising the world
from death to glory
Amen
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
Waking Life
you’re a hammer blow 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 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 kept 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
and 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 kept my armory
like the waking life, piercing sleep
like reality, reframing the dream
I don’t understand what is happening
but something’s changed in a place I cannot reach
there’s this ache where I once kept my apathy
like there’s a depth to life and breath in everything
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading, is Psalm 98:
O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is 1 John 5:1-6:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
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.
Pulse
there’s a secret pulse hidden in
the fabric of creation
and the story of every creature is:
bone from dust//gift from Gift
reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tower that can’t be hidd’n
there’s a remedy for the ache
that plagues us all in waves
and the cure for our other-scorning rage
is break my bread, i’ll break your shame
reconnect our hearts to that pulse you hid
resurrect the peace we’ve unlearned
and in the wreckage of our selective loves
build a tower and lock us in
until we find there’s only one kind
of love that won’t break
more than blind, more than selfless in name
it’s open arms either way
’cause there’s a pulse at the heart of all things
that gives life all the same
and a design to the rhythm we breathe
Holy Name//Give and Take
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