April 17, 2022
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on April 17th (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 her foe is weilding
but still 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 enemies 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 thought he’d gone beyond forgiveness
to 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
and I can see the crowd of men retreating
as he stands between the woman and their stones
so if mercy in his holy heart is beating
then in the night my hope lives on
o in the night
o in the night
o in the night
my hope lives on
I remember how they scorned the son of Mary
he was gentle as a lamb, gentle as a lamb
but he was beaten, crucified, and buried
and in the night, my hope was gone
-
but the rulers of this earth could not control him
no, they did not take his life—he laid it down
and the gates of hell could never hope to hold him
yeah, 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 is making all things new
by whom death is an event and not the end
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit of God might form us in the way of Christ
that we might carry the hope of Resurrection
in our ordinary lives
amen
Mystery
sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
word eternal brought low with me
cup of salvation poured out to drink
Jesus, mystery
christ has died
and christ is risen
christ will come again
sweet Jesus Christ my evergreen
sweet Jesus Christ my living peace
love embodied, broken for me
trampled redeemer, raised up and free
Jesus, mystery
christ has died
and christ is risen
christ will come again
celebrate his death and rising
lift your eyes proclaim his coming
and all who walk in dreadful darkness
lift your head, you’re not forgotten
celebrate his death-subversion
recalibrate fear to purpose
and in the face of oppressive power
don’t calm down, sing it louder
christ has died
and christ is risen
christ will come again
Death In His Grave
although the earth cried out for blood
satisfied her hunger was
her billows called on raging seas
for the souls of men, she craved
while sun and moon from balcony
turned their head in disbelief
that precious love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained
on Friday a thief, on Sunday a king
who laid down in grief, but woke with the keys
to hell on that day, the firstborn of the slain
the man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave
so three days in darkness slept
the morning sun of righteousness
and rose to shame the throes of death
and overturned its rule
now daughters and the sons of men
will pay not their dues again
the debt of blood they owed was rent
as the day rolled anew
on Friday a thief, on Sunday a king
who lay down in grief, but woke with the keys
to hell on that day, the firstborn of the slain
the man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave
he has cheated hell and seated us above the fall
in desperate places he paid our wages
one time, once and for all
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
and that which I have reduced to an empty phrase
you’re a falling blade to the knot i’ve 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 apathy
you’re an ember thrown from a funeral pyre
that infiltrates the cavalcade of an outrage choir
in 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
as I rise, I don’t recognize my speech
find a garden shed where I once kept my apathy
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 live and breath in everything
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading is Isaiah 65:17-25:
I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord--
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent-- its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading, and Jason’s sermon text, is from Luke 24:
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” . . . Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. . . . When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Giving
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Twice Begun
Jesus Christ did not cling tight to height, nor form divine
but instead emptied himself into the hands of time
the wind drew cracks in the lips of Love, the sun beat down the Light
now Life itself has torn the veil of death that all the rest may rise
now life and death and resurrection are painted over all creation
the colors swirling into one as if every moment is now twice begun
and doesn’t stop: the path, the pulse, the clock
Jesus Christ did not cling tight to height nor power divine
but instead emptied himself into breath and blood and spine
as the feeble crowds began to mount the powers of state and faith aligned
to crush that which might tear their mountains down
but he turned not his mind, that all the rest may rise
now life and death and resurrection are painted over all creation
the colors swirling into one as if every moment is now twice begun
so mourn your losses, sing your songs, but build your houses with fingers crossed
there is a hope now graven in the dawn and every ending to that burning edge belongs
Doxology
praise god from whom all blessings flow
praise god all creatures here below
praise god above ye heavenly host
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