Monday Evening Opening worship Then the World Might Believe 7:00-8:30 PM Pure Imagination Soloist: Daniel Arredondo *Processional Hymn All Creatures of the Earth and Sky All Creatures of the Earth and sky, with gladness lift your voices high, Alleluia, Alleluia! Your burning sun with golden beam, Your silver moon with softer gleam; O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Your rushing wind that art so strong, Your clouds that sail in heav n along Alleluia, Alleluia! Your rising morn, in praise rejoice, Your lights of evening, find a voice; O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! (Instrumental verse) Your flowing waters, crystal clear, make melodies for You to hear, sing Your praises, Alleluia! Your fire so bountiful and bright, remembering Your warmth and light, O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! To You, O God, day after day, Your planet earth in every way, sings Your praises, Alleluia! As savory fruit and fragrant flower show forth Your glory and Your pow r; O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! (Instrumental verse) Now we who are of tender heart, forgiving others, take our part, sing Your praises, Alleluia! 1
To You we lift our pain and care, receive the burdens that we bear, O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Eternal are Your mercies, God; your truth stand ever high and broad; sing Your praises, Alleluia! Your praise shall sound from shore to shore till suns shall rise and set no more; O sing praises, O sing praises, Alleluia, Alleluia, Allleluia! Welcome Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson Special Words Rev. Elder Lillie Brock Announcements Revs. DeWayne Davis and Rachelle Brown, GC Worship Team *Opening Prayer Litany Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrez One: The dazzling fire of God s glory welcomes us into this holy space. All: We are here to worship! One: Our voices rise in song with ancient words in multiple accents and languages. All: We announce the work of God around the world! One: Our actions embody the liberating love of God flowing as a mighty river. All: We experience Your overflowing and renewing Spirit! One: Tonight we represent those who experience the resurrection, the people alive and called. All: We are called to BE and to believe you work through us! *Song: Draw the Circle Wide Draw the circle, draw the circle wide. draw the circle, draw the circle wide. No one stands alone, we ll stand side by side. Draw the circle, draw the circle wide. 2
Contemporary Reading Rev. Elder Dr. Mona West This evening s first reading is from Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead, by Dr. Brene Brown Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path... Shame (on the other hand) is highly correlated with addiction, violence, aggression, depression, eating disorders and bullying (and) erodes our courage... Daring greatly is not about winning or losing. It s about courage. In a world where scarcity and shame dominate and feeling afraid has become second nature, vulnerability is subversive. Uncomfortable. It s even a little dangerous at times. And, without question, putting ourselves out there means there s a far greater risk of feeling hurt. But as I look back on my own life and what Daring Greatly has meant to me, I can honestly say that nothing is an uncomfortable, dangerous and hurtful as believing that I m standing on the outside of my life looking in and wondering what it would be like if I had the courage to show up and let myself be seen... Choral Anthem The Presence of the Lord is Here MCCDC Choir, Soloist: Derek McClure-Hewitt Leader: God be with you. ALL: And with your Spirit. *Scripture Reading Rev. Elder Darlene Garner Leader: A reading from the Gospel of John 17:20-21. ALL: Glory to you, Oh God. I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me. Leader: This is the Word of Hope. ALL: Praise to you Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. 3
Gloria Glory to God Glory to God, Glory to God! Glory to God in the highest! Glory to God, Glory to God! Glory to God in the highest! Introduction of Preacher Rev. Elder Larry Rodriguez Sermon Then the World Might Believe Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson Call to Offering Rev. Elder Freda Smith Offertory Love in Any Language MCCDC Choir, Soloists: Desire Dubose & Bawi Thenasian *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Communion Rev. Elder Ken Martin For Everyone Born ALL: For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread; A shelter, a space a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead. Celebrant: On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is given for you. Take. Eat. Do this in remembrance of me." 4
ALL: For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share; with wisdom and grace dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that s fair. Celebrant: In the same way after supper, he took the cupalso, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Poured out for the forgiveness of all. Take. Drink. Do this in remembrance of me." ALL: For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be; to work, to speak out to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free. One: Lead us into singleness of vision and purity of heart, that we may will one thing, and answer back in love to your great love to us. We pray in Christ, with Christ and through Christ who loved you fully, fearlessly and perfectly to the end. Amen Ushers, servers, and prayer partners come forward as singing continues For gay and for straight, a place at the table Transgender and queer* in one single tree Engaging each gift and blessing each covenant for a gay and for straight, a new way to be Chorus: And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace; Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy. Music During Communion Make Us One Lord Make us one, Lord, make us one, Holy Spirit, make us one. Let Your love flow so the world will know we are one in You. (x2) Let Your love flow so the world will know we are one in You. I Worship You I worship You, Almighty God; there is none like You. I worship You, O Prince of Peace; this is what I want to do. 5
I give You praise for You are my righteousness. I worship You, Almighty God; there is none like You.(x2) This is Holy Ground This is holy ground, we re standing on holy ground For our God is here and where God is is holy This is holy ground, we re standing on holy ground For our God is here and where God is is holy These are holy hands, God s given us holy hands God works through these hands and so these hands are holy These are holy hands, God s given us holy hands God works through these hands and so these hands are holy. We Are Standing On Holy Ground We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now, we are standing in God's presence on holy ground. Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel God s mighty power and God s grace. I can feel the brush of angel s wings, I see glory on each face; Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. (repeat this line the last time through) The Heart of Worship When the music fades all is stripped away and I simply come longing just to bring something that s of worth that will bless Your heart. I ll bring you more than a song. For a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear. 6
You re looking into my heart. Chorus - I m coming back to the heart of worship and it s all about You, all about You, Jesus. I m sorry Lord for the thing I ve made it, when it s all about You, all about You, Jesus. God of endless worth no one could express how much You deserve. Though I m weak and poor all I have is Yours, every single breath. I ll bring you more than a song. For a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear. You re looking into my heart. All about You. I ll bring you more than a song. I ll bring You more than a song, more than a song. I ll bring you more than a song. I ll bring You more than a song, You re looking into my heart, looking into my heart. (repeat) I ll bring You more than a song, more than a song. (repeat) Come Just As You Are Come just as you are; Hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are. Come and see, come, receive; come and live forevermore Life everlasting, and strength for today; Taste the Living Water, and never thirst again. We are One in the Spirit We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord, And we pray that all unity May one day be restored: 7
Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand, We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand, And together we'll spread the news That God is in our land: We will work with each other, We will work side by side, We will work with each other, We will work side by side, And we'll guard each one's dignity And save each one's pride: All praise to the Maker from whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, God's incarnate Son, And all praise to the Spirit Who makes us one: One Bread, One Body Chorus: One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord. Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man no more. Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one for all. Blessed Blessed are those who dwell in Your house they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You. Whose hearts are set on our God. 8
We will go from strength to strength 'till we see You face to face. Hear our prayer, O Lord God Almighty. Come bless our land as we seek You, worship You. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You. Whose hearts are set on our God. We will go from strength to strength 'till we see You face to face. Hear our prayer, O Lord God Almighty. Come bless our land as we seek You, worship You. Hear our prayer, O Lord God Almighty. Come bless our land as we seek You, worship You. For You are holy, for You are holy, for You are holy Lord. (repeat x4) Hear our prayer, O Lord God Almighty. Come bless our land as we seek You, worship You. It Is Well With My Soul When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrow like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. *My sin -- O the joy of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul. 9
Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Elder Ken Martin Benediction Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson *Closing Song Celebration Yahoo! It s a celebration! Yahoo! It s a celebration Celebrate God s Love come on! - Let's celebrate Celebrate God s Love come on! - Let's celebrate There's a conference goin on right here, a celebration that comes every three years. So bring your worship and your laughter, too, we're gonna celebrate this conference with you! Come on now celebration, let's all celebrate and have a good time Celebration, we gonna celebrate and have a good time It's time to come together, it's up to you what s your pleasure, everyone around the world, come on Yahoo! It s a celebration; Yahoo! It s a celebration Celebrate God s love, come on; It s a celebration Celebrate God s love, come on; Let s celebrate Celebrate God s love, come on! Yahoo! (repeat) Celebration, Let s all celebrate and have a good time 10
Celebration, We gonna celebrate and have a good time Celebration! (x4) Celebrate! 11