Saturday Closing Worship Service

Transcription

1 Eastern Synod Assembly 2012 Saturday Closing Worship Service GATHERING Opening Hymn Uyai mose "Come all you people Source: Evangelical Lutheran Worship #819 Call to Worship Come, all you people, let us worship the LORD, the creator, the covenant-maker, the framer of sky and of earth, of waters and of holy events which bring new birth. Come, all you people, let the Spirit breathe into us, and let us rise and walk again. Come, now, and let us worship in the name of the One who gave himself that we might live, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Greeting P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Canticle of Praise Praise, Praise Praise the Lord! Source: Evangelical Lutheran Worship #875 Prayer of the Day Gather us in, O God of sea and sky, of the pillar of fire and of the still, small voice. Gather us in, to the now and final Assembly of worship around your throne of grace and mercy. In both the harshness of trial and the hope of redemption, may we worship you and together with all the Psalms, sing out your praise. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Messiah, AMEN Page 1 of 9

2 WORD Spoken Word Ezekiel 37 (spoken) The reading is taken from Ezekiel, chapter 37: I was a prophet who thought I'd lost it. Cause no one was listening even though it cost me then the Spirit picked me up and set me down in a lonely valley God turned me around Set me free and said to me: Mortal what do you see? I said Glory be! 'cause there before me were bones. chorus: (Quartet) Dry bones, dry bones...now hear the word of the Lord (etc) Human one? God said. Hey you, old son? You think you've got it bad? Look at these bones! They're dead. They've failed. Dead is dead. Like nails. No happy trails. So my question to you Is what faith can do? The people don't trust me, False prophets corrupt me, So I say to you: Can these bones live again? Can they see the sun? You think these bones can dance and run? And I said: God knows! And God said right. Agreed. Faith can do whatever is needed. But I need a voice, someone to shout. I need someone to make a noise. Get it out. That's why you're here. Your job's to try. So do your job, and prophesy. Chorus Page 2 of 9

3 Preach to these bones, prophet People might think you've lost it, But preach like your life depends on what you say, or what you've said. (these folks are past Depends, they're dead!) Quit talking back! said God. Preach to the bones Speak strong Speak true, Speak candid, So I did as God commanded. Dry bones, I said: you hear me? I had my doubts. They had no ears, and frankly, Dead is dead. But God is God, the word the word, so I prophesied and preached, and the wind it stirred. (do you hear that, Lutherans?) Flesh came to flesh and bone to bone, And soon I was no more alone, A whole crowd stood in front of me, a silent, skeleton army. But the LORD wasn't done. having fun, or having me on, couldn't tell which one, Keep going, said the voice. Keep on, old son! You're the prophet, now preach this: say to the winds north and south Open that big fat prophet's mouth, let this message coalesce and shout it out unto the breath: "Breath," you shout, "come into these bones!" They're not alive. You're still alone. So prophesy and say "breath! enter in!" And so I did, and the flesh right there on my skin began to crawl. It was sickening. There was a clacking, clanking, then. Bones took on flesh, and stood like men. chorus Page 3 of 9

4 And God said: human, there's a lesson here what's the lesson? Don't have fear. If the faithless of God will only hear you called down a breeze but nothing could be easier Your hope is NOT gone Your wait is NOT too long you're broken, it's true, don't know what to do, You stand at a juncture, you try to restructure Remember that there's something to bless In a narrative of woundedness. If I, the LORD do this with bones Imagine what I'll do with you, With love and hope. I can renew Remember the bones? You're not alone. I the LORD have spoken, what I will do. Israel will be restored. Remember that the Spirit is breath, that sometimes comes through some kind of death It's this a lie we'll be restored? It's not a lie, it's the word of the Lord. Written & Proclaimed by Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson Gospel Acclamation: Aleluya Y in Oluwa Source: Agape Songs of Hope & Reconciliation Gospel John 20:19-22 Sermon Bishop Mark Mac Donald, Indigenous Bishop for the Anglican Church of Canada Hymn of the Day: As the Fire 1. As a fire is meant for burning with a bright and warming flame, so the church is meant for mission, giving glory to God's name. Not to preach our creeds or customs, but to build a bridge of care, we join hands across the nations, finding neighbours everywhere. Page 4 of 9

5 2. We are learners; we are teachers; we are pilgrims on the way. We are seekers, we are givers; we are vessels made of clay. By our gentle, loving actions, we would show that Christ is light. In a humble, listening Spirit, we would live to God's delight. 3. As a green bud in the springtime is a sign of life renewed, so may we be signs of oneness 'mid earths' peoples, many hued. As a rainbow lights the heavens when a storm is past and gone, may our lives reflect the radiance of God's new and glorious dawn. Source: Common Ground: A Song Book for All the Churches Installation of Synod Council Prayers of the People Assisting Minister: Family of God, let us pray, answering the words: Covenant Keeping God, with the response: Hear our prayer. AM: You have made us, O God, if only for this time, a seventh nation on this sixnations land. We ask that you bless the work of Bishop Mark and ALL the first peoples who have welcomed us. With and through them, renew our relationship with the troubled, afflicted and polluted land, sea, and air. Help us to be part of the healing of the world, and not the problem. Covenant-Keeping God C: Hear our prayer. AM: O God, you have invited us into covenant. Help us to share and advocate for your restorative justice and your regenerating love. Be peace and justice in the cities of Syria, the villages of Sudan, the schools of Afghanistan, and the divisions of the Holy Land. Covenant-Keeping God: Hear our prayer. Page 5 of 9

6 AM: In the rocky paths that are coming to the church in the next few years, inspire our new Synod Council, our Synod leaders and staff, those responsible for our seminary, our camps, and our congregations and ministries. Strengthen our Bishops, Susan and Michael. Give them courage and inspiration for the task ahead, a healthy sense of humor, and an ability to forgive others and themselves. Covenant-Keeping God: Hear our prayer. P: O you Great Shepherd of your sheep, through the Psalms you have heard our laments and our praises over these three days of Assembly. Work in us those things that are well-pleasing in your sight, so that we will pass once more through death to life. We pray this in the name of the crucified and resurrected one, Christ Jesus, AMEN Written by: Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson Peace Gathering song after Peace: Salam aleikum Source: Two Simple Songs of Comfort; Marty Haugen Offering Offering Song Psalm 25 To you O God, I lift up my soul Source: Psalm 25C Psalms for All Seasons Offering Prayer A: Faithful God, You provide all that we need, fulfilling your covenant according to your steadfast love for us. We offer these gifts back to you as part of our covenant to bring healing and wholeness to all the world, Amen. Written by: Rev. Sara Faulhafer Page 6 of 9

7 Great Thanksgiving P: The Lord be with you C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. P: It is right to thank and praise you, God of our Mothers and Fathers, God of the far shores of the sea and of the waters most intimate, Gatherer, womb, land, spirit and heart of this Assembly. For it was your searching breath that first called us in the Gospel, and that has gathered us from the four winds. It was your Spirit that put sinews on these dry bone-dreams of budget, timing, and structure and made us alive. So now, made bold to join with rank on rank of angels, and with cherubim and seraphim, we join in their unending hymn Sanctus Source: Evangelical Lutheran Worship #762 Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy P: You are indeed holy, almighty God, And yet you are also intimate, a scalding fire and joyous companion, Journey with us as you did the pioneers of our faith: Abraham, Ruth, Mary, Priscilla, Luther, Keffer. Lead us, as you did them, through the wilderness and into your heavenly City, But most of all, accompany us as did our Lord Jesus, who, On the night in which he was betrayed, took bread and gave thanks Broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Page 7 of 9

8 Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying This cup is the new covenant in my blood, Do this for the remembrance of me. Being reminded, therefore, of the Messiah's command, we ask you now to remember us in the grave, even as we remember you in your rising. And we pray: Send down your Holy Spirit to bless these gifts of bread and wine And with them, us, your servants So that these might truly be for us the bread of breaking and the wine of reconstruction. Stir up the waters in which we were first named and called, that we might, in this end of the ages, let justice roll down, until we are one body, one people, one heart, one mind; One world, lost in wonder, love and praise, AMEN Lord, remember us in your Kingdom, and teach us to pray Eternal Spirit, earth-maker, pain-bearer, life giver, source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever, Amen Source: Translation from the New Zealand Book of Common Prayer, The Maori version Communion Hymns The Lord is My Light Psalm 27 Page 8 of 9

9 Source: Psalm 27B Psalms for All Seasons Come bring your burdens to God Source: We Walk This Way Bless the Lord Source: Common Ground Mayenziwe Tandoyako Source: Evangelical Lutheran Worship #741 Post Communion Prayer A: With the meal in our bellies and your fire in our hearts, Whisper to us, when we think we are alone. Nag us, in our close-mindedness, Rock us, in our insecurities, Shout us out of our locked doors, and drive us out into the wilderness. until by your grace, we learn to love, as you do, your world, now until the end of ages, AMEN SENDING Blessing & Closing of Assembly May the Timeless God, there for your mothers and fathers, be there for your children and great-grandchildren. May God shepherd you by paths as yet untrodden and through perils unknown. May God fill you with courage against injustice, hate and death, and always, always, always the joy of resurrection, Amen. In solidarity with him who has passed this way before us, Jesus Christ our Lord, we close this worship and our Assembly in the blessed names of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Sending song: Malembe Source: More Voices United Dismissal A: Go in peace, serve the LORD, C: Thanks be to God! Page 9 of 9