September 12, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on September 12th (in the order they are needed).
All Creatures of Our God and King
all creatures of our god and king
lift up your voice and with us sing
o praise him, alleluia
thou burning sun with golden beam
thou silver moon with softer gleam
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleuia
thou rushing wind that art so strong
ye clouds that sail in heaven along
o praise him, alleluia
thou rising moon in praise, rejoice
ye lights of evening find their voice
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
let all things their creator bless
and worship him in humbleness
o praise him, alleluia
praise, praise the father, praise the sun
and praise the spirit, three in one
o praise him, o praise him
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Living God
the One who is gracious and full of compassion
who watches over the innocent
and lifts up those who are brought low
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit might transform our hearts and minds
bending our imagination
toward the Kingdom of God
and forming us more fully
in the way of Christ
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 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 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
now that hollow rage is wholly remade into a signal fire
you’re the waking life, piercing sleep
reality, reframing the dream
as I rise I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my armory
and 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
Shadow
there’s a shadow in my body
and it moves through every cell
the echo of a memory of a different kind of self
it dances in my marrow and in every fold of gray
there’s a death that we’ve been promised
and a harder death we make
o god, it’s like i’m talking in my sleep
and I can’t find the words I need
you say that I should die to me
just tell me how to keep it clean
resurrection’s rolling through me
the pow’r to live again
the echo of a promise
of a different kind of end
but I keep misdirecting
the life you give to the life I left
no, dying’s not the problem
it’s trying to stay dead
o god, it’s like i’m talking through my teeth
and I can’t find the words I mean
how’m I supposed to die to me
when its the only thing i’ve been
o god, it’s like i’m talking in my sleep
and I can’t find the words I need
how’m I supposed to die to me
when its the only thing i’ve been
there’s a fracture in my thinking
a crack I can’t close
the echo of an image
of a different kind of hope
I think i’ve been assuming
there’s a secret to be known
but knowing’s not the problem:
it’s wanting to be known
o god its like i’m talking in my sleep
with my tongue caught behind my teeth
but i’m inclined to be believe
you’ve given me the word I need
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading is Psalm 116:1-8:
I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, save my life!”
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is James 3:1-12:
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
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.
Noise
you sang the stars
out of darkness, you composed a fire
you called the world into form
out of chaos
for all of that noise, you dwell in the quiet places
you’re the purest form of which I am but a shadow
so what can I say about the things you’ve done?
when I was a broken promise, you made me another one
you crafted my frame
out of earth you formed my complexion
you called it good
but we both know that i’ve since heard different
for all of that noise, you pull me to quiet places
you’re the purest love of which I am but a taker
so what can I say about the things you’ve done?
when I was a broken promise, you made me another one
you found me in my desperate raging
you called my name like you know how it is
like every doubt that i’ve ever lain in
you’ve called your own, like you understand it
because the word became flesh
that bright light descended in darkness
the image, it spread
and colored the fear a deep shade of wonder
for all of that noise we fell into quiet places
for the only hope for the problem we cannot escape
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