Bathing in the Love of God July 8, 2012 UUMC

Responsive Prayer One: How do we discover the meaning of this moment? Perhaps not how but where. Where are the places, the space, to position ourselves for the future? Where should we place ourselves so the future may present itself?  

All: We must place ourselves together in prayer, on the periphery, on pilgrimage.  

One: In this space visions are born. In the in-between of our prayer beyond isolation, beyond superficial togetherness let us dwell in silence together-to wait, to listen.  

All: Let us nourish this prayer with the symbols and stories of our outrageous faith.  

One: Let us read the Scriptures together letting the words form in the silence of our being letting the words shape the words we have to speak together.  

All: Let us wait in the hope of co-authoring a new chapter. Let us hold ourselves in readiness for a vision.

Welcome and Passing of Christ’s Peace Please fill out the blue prayer and attendance slip in your bulletin.

Gracious Creator of Sea and of Land Hymn on bulletin insert

Hymn Sing What’s your favorite?

Blessing of the Children Come on down! What does the picture with the earth mean? What were Jesus’ hands like?

Hymn #273 Verse 1 Jesus’ hands were kind hands, Doing good for all. Healing pain and sickness, Blessing children small. Washing tired feet And saving those who fall. Jesus’ hands were kind hands, Doing good for all.

Hymn #273 Verse 2 Take my hands, Lord Jesus, Let them work for you. Make them strong and gentle, Kind in all I do. Let me watch you, Jesus, ‘Til I’m gentle, too, ‘Til my hands are kind hands, Quick to work for you.

Prayer Time Sharing of Written Prayer Requests Silent Prayer Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer (#895)

O sweet spontaneous e.e. cummings (1894-1962) Reading O sweet spontaneous e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

Who is the God of… Creation? Garden? Flood? Covenant? Law? Exodus? Conquest? Love? Spirit?

WWJS?

WWJS? Yes Could have Same idea Nope

Isaiah 11:6-9

Martin Luther I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.

John Wesley “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

Wesley Quadrilateral Scripture Tradition Reason Experience

Genesis 1:31

Mark 10:14

Matthew 22:37-39

Romans 8:38-39

Prayers, Presence, Gifts and Service Invitation to Christian Discipleship Offering Doxology #393: Spirit of the Living God

Spirit of the Living God Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me, Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

Responsive Prayer of Dedication One: Listen deeply to each other. All: Stay open to mystery. One: We need breathing space, All: but we need each other, too.

One: Practice blessing each other, All: rather than cursing each other. One: There is always more of love. All: There is always more of God. All: Let us be that “more” of God in our gifts and our service.

Hymn #408: The Gift of Love Though I may speak with bravest fire, And have the gift to all inspire, And have not love, my words are vain, As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Hymn #408: The Gift of Love Though I may give all I possess, And striving so my love profess, But not be given by love within, The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Hymn #408: The Gift of Love Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, Our spirits long to be made whole. Let inward love guide every deed; By this we worship, and are freed.

Responsive Blessing One: You speak, God-you always speak, if we will but listen;

All: All we need to do is pause, and turn our attention to the song singing from the heavens, and whispering in the wind; to the flight of the dove, and the touch of its wings on our heads; to the giggling of the water, and the mark it leaves in our hearts;

One: Your voice comes to us in faithful surround sound, beckoning us to join the chorus, share in the dance, and extend the invitation into all the earth.

All: You speak, God-you always speak; and joyfully, we are listening All: You speak, God-you always speak; and joyfully, we are listening. Amen.

Thanks for joining us… In worship – In our efforts to end spiritual, material, and relational poverty – and See you next week!