September 5, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 5th (in the order they are needed).
Heart Won’t Stop
there is not a man nor a beast
nothing on the land or underneath
nothing that could ever come between
the love you have for me
I could lay my head in Sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place I could escape you
your heart won’t stop coming after me
there is not an angel of the stars
there is not a devil in the dark
nothing that could change the way you are
the love you have for me
I could lay my head in Sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
there is not a place I could escape you
your heart won’t stop coming after me
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Creator and Sustainer of all things
the Eternal One who gives justice to the oppressed,
who lifts up those who are bowed down,
and frustrates the ways of the wicked
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit might form us in the way of Christ
writing hope on our hearts
and love on our minds
that we might be caught up
in the work of god in the world
in our ordinary lives
Amen
Wayward Ones
we are the wayward ones
liars and beggars, those who betray
we hand you over, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love
we are the broken ones
cowards and fools, all filled with disbelief
we forsake you, deny your name
cast you aside, yet still you say
this is my body, this is my blood
broken and shed to show my love
remember me, remember me
come to the table, take and eat
remember me
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
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
unheard, 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
Heart With No Companion
now i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it’ll reach you everywhere
and i sing this for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradle still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything
through the days of shame that are coming
through the nights of wild distress
though your promise counts for nothing
you must keep it nonetheless
you must keep it for the captain
whose ship has not been built
for the mother in confusion
her cradled still unfilled
for the heart with no companion
for the soul without a king
for the prima ballerina
who cannot dance to anything
now i greet you from the other side
of sorrow and despair
with a love so vast and shattered
it'll reach you everywhere
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading, and Taylor’s sermon text, is Isaiah 35:4-7a:
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is Mark 7:24-37:
Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
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 tow’r 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 tow’r 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