Festival of Homiletics San Antonio 2017 Thompson Worship Service Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 11:00 am Scottish Rite Theatre.

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1 Festival of Homiletics San Antonio 2017 Thompson Worship Service Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 11:00 am Scottish Rite Theatre Prelude Opening Sentences William McConnell David Gambrell Psalm 23:4, 6 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me, O Lord, your rod and your staff they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Here in This Place (1) Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name. (2) We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song. (3) Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth. Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth. Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion 1

2 lives that are holy and hearts that are true. (4) Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away: here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day. Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own; gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone. Scripture Lisa Thompson Ezekiel 37:1 14 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. The Holy One led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. God said to me, Mortal, can these bones live? I answered, O Lord God, you know. Then the Lord said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then God said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then the Holy One said to me, Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely. Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Sermon Let These Bones Live! Lisa Thompson My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (1) My shepherd, you supply my need; Jehovah is your name. In pastures fresh you make me feed, beside the living stream. You bring my wandering spirit back when I forsake your ways, and lead me, for your mercy s sake, in paths of truth and grace. 2

3 (2) When I walk through the shades of death your presence is my stay; one word of your supporting breath drives all my fears away. Your hand, in sight of all my foes, does still my table spread; my cup with blessings overflows; your oil anoints my head. (3) The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days; O may your house be my abode, and all my work be praise. There would I find a settled rest, while others go and come; no more a stranger, or a guest, but like a child at home. Prayer Out of the depths we cry to you: O Lord, hear our prayer. We pray for those whose hope is lost, who feel dried up and cut off from you. By your grace, open their graves; bring them back to the land of the living. We pray for those who are oppressed, held captive by the power of death. Release them from their chains; unbind them and let them go! We pray for those who weep, lost and lifeless in fear and regret. Grant them the peace of your presence; show them what your love can do. We pray for those who are dying, the light of life fading from their eyes. Help them to believe in you so that they may live and never die. Empower and equip us, O God, to live out the words we pray offering hope to the hopeless, liberty to those who are oppressed, comfort to those who weep, and abundant life to all. 3

4 Guide us by your Word, O Lord, and fill us with your Spirit so that we may share your transforming love through our own words and actions; through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life. Amen. Soon and Very Soon (1) (2) No more crying there: we are going to see the King. No more crying there: we are going to see the King. No more crying there: we are going to see the King. (3) No more dying there: we are going to see the King. No more dying there: we are going to see the King. No more dying there: we are going to see the King. (4) Blessing and Charge David Gambrell, Lisa Thompson May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace and faith, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Alleluia! O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord O mortal, let these bones live. Amen. Postlude William McConnell 4

5 Liturgist: David Gambrell Preacher: Lisa Thompson Musician: William McConnell (organ, piano) Music: All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense: New license # E