September 1 — Be Love!

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ! A blessed Labor Day weekend to all.

As is our custom on the first Sunday of every month, today we gather around God’s table for communion. If you are worshipping with us from home, please collect the elements so we may celebrate together. All are welcome.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Amazing Grace

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Pat Winship
One: Come, people of God.
All: This is the Sabbath Day, and we are drawn to God.
One: Come, and receive all that God longs to teach us.
All: It is a blessing to learn from God.
One: God’s grace is pouring into our lives.
All: The image of God is within each one of us.
One: We are here to touch the hem of Christ’s grace;
All: To let go of our worries and to be cleansed of our sins;
One: To savor hope and to linger in mystery.
All: We are here to touch God, and to be touched by God.

*HYMN — Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love — worship booklet, p. 57

Refrain:
Jesu, Jesu fill us with your love,
Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Knelt at the feet of his friends, silently washing their feet,
Jesu you acted as servant to them. Refrain

Neighbors are rich and poor, varied in color and race,
Neighbors are near and far away. Refrain

These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love;
All these are neighbors to us and to you. Refrain

Loving puts us on your knees, showing our faith by our deeds,
Serving the neighbors we have from you. Refrain

Kneeling at the feet of our friends, silently washing their feet,
This is the way we should live with you. Refrain

*CALLING ON GOD IN PRAYER — Pat Winship
Loving God, we rejoice to be with you and with one another today. You are the God who redeems and who makes all things new! In this life, we experience fullness of life in a wide range of circumstances. This range of experiences extends from ‘blessing’ to ‘tragedy;’ from ‘joy beyond measure’ to ‘despair seemingly deeper that we can endure.’
Faithful God, you are the One who sustains us through all of the plateaus, the peaks, the depths, and everything in between! Through your grace and power, you bless people with bold, life-giving trust in you.
Compassionate and Ever-Present God, you are our refuge and strength; a very present help in all situations. Come, now, O Holy One; come to life within us and among us as we worship you. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — Reach Out and Touch — #505

Reach out and touch a soul that is hungry;
Reach out and torch a spirit in despair;
Reach out and touch a life torn and dirty,
A man who is lonely If you care!

Reach out and touch that neighbor who hates you;
Reach out and touch that stranger who meets you;
Reach out and touch the brother who needs you;
Reach out and let the smile of God touch thru you.

Reach out and touch a friend who is weary;
Reach out and touch a seeker unaware;
Reach out and touch, tho’ touching means losing
A part of your own self If you dare!

Reach out and give your love to the loveless;
Reach out and make a home for the homeless;
Reach out and shed God’s light in the darkness;
Reach out and let the smile of God touch thro’ you.

GOD’S WORD — James 1:19-25 — Pat Winship

SPECIAL MUSIC — His Eye Is on the Sparrow

GOD’S WORD — Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 and Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN — We Come As Guests Invited — #258

We come as guests invited When Jesus bids us dine,
HIs friends on earth united To share the bread and wine;
The bread of life is broken, The wine is freely poured
For us, in solemn token Of Christ our dying Lord.

We eat and drink, receiving From Christ the grace we need,
An in our hearts believing On Him by faith we feed;
With wonder and thanksgiving For love that knows no end,
We find in Jesus living OUr ever-present friend.

One bread is ours for sharing, One single, fruited vine,
Our fellowship declaring Renewed in bread and wine-
Renewed, sustained and given By token, sing and word,
The pledge and seal of heaven, The love of Christ our Lord.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
All who desire to receive the bread and the cup are welcome. Cups in the outer circle on the communion tray contain grape juice. Other cups contain wine.

*HYMN — They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love — #119

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:
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:
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 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 man’s dignity and save each man’s pride:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love

All praise to the Father from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

*BENEDICTION — God Sends Us — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — It Is Well with My Soul

Edgy

“When you reap the harvest of your land, don’t reap the corners of your field or gather the gleanings. Leave them for the poor and alien. I am God, your God.” – Leviticus 23:22 (MSG)

At the small scrappy city church I used to serve, nobody wanted to mow the lawn, and we couldn’t afford a landscaping company. We made a creative decision: we’d tear it up and plant a garden instead.

At the front, near the sidewalk, we planted a peach tree. In Boston. Probably at the wrong time of year. We didn’t spray it; we didn’t prune it. We added a wonky bench next to it, and a sign that invited people to snack from our garden.

Against all odds, the peach tree thrived. It produced a dozen, then several dozen, then hundreds of peaches with each passing season.

Commuting pedestrians who would never dare enter a Christian church would soften their stance and step gingerly onto this sacred ground. Snag a peach and put it in their pocket. Eat a few cherry tomatoes in season, or snip some herbs. Sit on the bench, sometimes just look around at the world going by instead of at their phones, an endless stream of bad news.

Ecologists teach that edge habitat—where human ecosystems bump wild ones—is especially fertile, attracting and nourishing all kinds of wildlife.

What would it mean to cultivate edge habitat in our hearts? To keep soft boundaries, to leave our outer edge fruitful, and let the poor in spirit and those alienated from community rest there and be nourished? God can take a scanty harvest and make it an ample Eden, with our willingness.

PRAYER
Holy One, the world leaves us all on edge. Make us edgy in other ways, as we welcome more people into the sacred ground of our hearts.

Rev. Molly Baskette
Find this post and others at the UCC Daily Devotional, (which can be delivered right to your inbox! ).

Blessing of the Animals

Join us Saturday, Sept 21st from 1-3 pm under the pavilion as we celebrate Ivy Chapel UCC’s
 Blessing of the Animals.

Our partner animal assistance organization is  Bi-State Pet Food Pantry.  
You are invited to offer gifts in support of the pantry’s ministry:  
Cat treats
Dog treats
Canned cat food
Canned dog food
Cat litter
They are also accepting new or gently used: 
Cat toys
Dog toys
Cat bedding
Dog bedding
Leashes
Collars
Monetary gifts are always welcome. 

Thank you! 

We are blessed by the companionship of our pets.  Let’s offer them a blessing! 
Come to Ivy Chapel UCC along with your creature companions where we will enjoy sacred time together.  All God’s creatures are welcome! 

What the Colors of the Progress Pride Flag Represent 

The Progress Pride Flag was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quaser, a non-binary artist and graphic designer.  The word “progress” in the name of this flag is not only about adding new colors.  It is also because of the shape, which differs from the original design of horizontal stripes only. The Progress Pride Flag displays White, Pink, Baby Blue, Black and Brown depicting the shape of an arrow, while retaining the original six rainbow colors in horizontal stripes alongside the new, additional colors.

Canada and the United States of America continue moving forward on the journey in support of LGBTQIA+ rights, and Daniel Quaser’s design is inspired by this progress, shaping the Transgender Flag colors along with black and brown stripes into an arrow pointing forward.  Quasar spoke publicly about how work is still needed in terms of ‘people of color’ rights and ‘trans’ rights. The arrow design is meant to highlight this ongoing need for progress.     

Each color on the Progress Pride Flag has a distinct meaning. 

Here is a description of what each color represents:

Red
The color Red on the flag represents life. 

Orange
The color Orange on the flag represents healing. 

Yellow
The color Yellow on the flag represents sunlight.

Green
The color Green on the flag represents nature.

Indigo or Blue
The color Indigo or Blue on the flag represents serenity. 

Violet
The color Violet on the flag represents spirit. 

Black and Brown
The colors Black and Brown on the flag represent people of color (POC). This is an important addition, because people of color often have been left out of the narrative despite being highly influential in the LGBTQIA+ movement.

Additionally, the colors Black and Brown represent people living with HIV/AIDS, those who have died from it, and the stigma around the virus that is still present today.

Pink, Baby Blue and White
The colors Pink and Baby Blue have been used traditionally to represent whether a baby is a boy or a girl. Here, the colors denote those genders.    The color White on the flag represents people who are transitioning, intersex, or identify outside of the gender binary. 

August 25 — At Home With God

We are glad to welcome you to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, and we hope you will feel right at home with us here.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Prelude and Fugue — Zachow

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Sue Wilson
One: Come, let us lift our praises to the Creator of the heavens!
All: God’s promises deliver fullness of joy!
One: God’s works delight us and lead us to dream!
All: Let us worship God, who loves all people
and who rejoices in life everywhere!

*HYMN — Trusting Jesus — #498

Simply trusting every day, Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall; Trusting Jesus, that is all. Refrain

Singing if my way is clear, Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call; Trusting Jesus, that is all. Refrain

Trusting Him while life shall last, Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall, Trusting Jesus, that is all. Refrain

*CALLING ON GOD IN PRAYER — Sue Wilson
Gentle and Kind God; Giver of all life; hear our prayers of praise for summertime beauty, for graceful birds, for fragrant flowers, for the fruit of the earth, for rain, for sunshine, for moonlight, and for much, much more. Send the cooling breath of your Spirit to surround us and inspire our faith journeys. May we be nourished by your life-giving words and ways, Christ Jesus; and may we live as your faithful disciples, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — In the Name of the Lord — #19

There is strength in the name of the Lord;
There is pow’r in the name of the Lord:
There is hope in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 84 — Sue Wilson

SPECIAL MUSIC — On Eagle’s Wings — Hayes

GOD’S WORD — Joshua 24:1-5, 13-15 & John 6:56-69 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN — The Solid Rock — #315

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

Refrain:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on HIs unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my sould gives way He then is all my hope and stay. Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in HIm be found;
Dressed in HIs righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. Refrain

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Laudes Domini — Young

August 18 – Seek Peace

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ! Today, as all days, we pray that we can bring the peace that the world so desperately needs.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Praise Medley
How Majestic Is Your Name – We Have Come into His House – Thou Art Worthy

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: God is the source of all that is alive!
All: God gives birth to every living thing!
One: In certain ways, we are all thirsty.
All: At times, we seek things that do not satisfy.
One: We crave earthly things.
All: But the things of this world do not take care of our thirst.
One: Jesus Christ is the Living Water.
All: Whoever drinks this water will never thirst.

*HYMN — Here I Am to Worship — worship booklet, pp. 48-49

Light of the World, You stepped down in the darkness,
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You, hope of a life spent with You.

Refrain:
So, here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God
And You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days, oh so highly exalted,
Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly You came to the Earth You created,
all for love’s sake became poor. Refrain

Refrain

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of amazing power and almighty love, breathe upon us. We treasure the image of you coming to your disciples on the evening of the first day of the week. That was the evening of your Resurrection. You came to your followers and you breathed upon them. Today, may e realize that you stand among us – risen, alive, and bearing your blessing, ‘Peace be with you.’ Christ Jesus, already you have entered this room. Show us your hands and your side. Jesus, your wounds take away every reason people may come up with not to believe. Help us to see that you are God! Your disciples are believers who live striving to love, to serve and to give as you do. Breathe upon us now. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — Great Is the Lord — #7

Great is the Lord, He is holy and just;
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true;
By His mercy He proves He is love.

Great is the Lord And worthy of glory!
Great is the Lord And worthy of praise.
Great is the Lord;
Now lift up your voice, Now lift up your voice:
Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

Great is the Lord, He is holy and just;
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true;
By His mercy He proves He is love.

Great are you Lord And worthy of glory!
Great are you Lord, And worthy of praise.
Great are you Lord:
I lift up my voice, I lift up my voice:
Great are you Lord! Great are you Lord!

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE — Jo Ann Moody

*HYMN — Where the Spirit of the Lord Is — #142

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace;
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love.
There is comfort in life’s darkest hour,
There is light and life; There is help and power
In the Spirit, in the Spirit of the Lord.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 34:9-14

SPECIAL MUSIC — I’d Rather Have Jesus

GOD’S WORD — Ephesians 5:15-20 & John 6:51-58

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN — Fill My Cup, Lord — #367

For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

Refrain:
Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

There are millions in this world who are seeking
For pleasures earthly goods afford.
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.
Refrain

So my brother if the things that this world gives you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray—
Refrain

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Sweet, Sweet Spirit

August 11 — Shaping Community

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ on this, the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. We’re honored to have you part of our community.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Lied — Young

*CALL TO WORSHIP Jan Wirtz
One: Give praise to the Holy One at all times and bless God’s name.
All: Hope in the Holy One! For with God, there is steadfast love
and sacred power.
One: Let God’s radiance wash over you and lead you to shine brightly
through the presence of the Most High.
All: Hope in the Holy One! For with God, there is steadfast love
and sacred power.

*HYMN — Love Divine, All Loves Excelling — #71

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast.
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Jan Wirtz
God of love, we come to you now. We come to praise you and to learn from you. We approach you with a mixture of emotions. We bring our concerns and our burdens, as well as our thanksgivings and our hopes, which are founded upon your promises. All people are your people, God. Sometimes we are people in need, and sometimes people with abundance. Sometimes we are people overcome by despair, and sometimes people overwhelmed with joy! We are grateful for your dynamic, lively Spirit!
God of love, you promise that wherever we are on life’s journey, you are present to guide and to bless. We gather in your name, Jesus; so that we may continue learning to follow in your way of love and grace. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — The Bond of Love — #123

We are one in the bond of love;
We are one in the bond of love.
We have joined our spirit with the Spirit of God;
We are one in the bond of love.

Let us sing now, everyone;
Let us feel His love begun.
Let us join our hands that the world will know
We are one in the bond of love.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 34:1-8 — Jan Wirtz

SPECIAL MUSIC —Softly and Tenderly — arr. Goss

GOD’S WORD —John 6:35, 41-51 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN —Help Us Accept Each Other — #127

Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe:
We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.

Teach us, O Lord, Your lessons, as in our daily life
We struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
To love them as we find them, or as they may become.

Let Your acceptance change us so that we may be moved
In living situations to do the truth in love;
To practice Your acceptance until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.

Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need,
Who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and for bread,
We need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:
Renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Fughetta — Muffat

What if… God’s Abundant Presence was EVERYWHERE?

Ecumenical means promoting or relating to unity among the world’s Christian Churches.  The United Church of Christ, which was founded just under seventy years ago out of an ecumenical impulse following the second world war, is founded on the principle that working together, people of many faith traditions can achieve more justice than any one organization working alone.

Inspired by the story in John 6:1-21, in which one gift multiplies to feed an entire crowd, many UCC churches have gathered ecumenically with other organizations to create feeding programs inspired by the story of the loaves and fishes.

One of those is Pilgrim Church in Fond du Lac, WI.  Founded in 1982, Loaves and Fishes in Fond du Lac provides meals to approximately 150-200 local people twice a week.  Pilgrim church provides volunteers for quarterly meal preparation that includes donating and preparing food, set-up, serve, clean-up and distributing leftovers.  The numbers of families served continues to grow and the program’s website emphasizes its open and welcoming nature.  “Sometimes they may not be hungry for food but for companionship.  The lonely people are hungry too; we never judge.  This is everyone’s program.  It is ecumenical and covers all faiths.”

Another is St. Luke’s UCC in Jeffersonville, IN.  Loaves and Fishes in Jeffersonville is a weekly community meal in partnership with other local congregations and housed at St. Luke’s.  Every Saturday, groups volunteer to plan, prepare, serve and clean up a meal for individuals who might not otherwise have a hot meal that day.  Much more than a soup kitchen, Loaves and Fishes provides a sense of community and welcome to those who might not find welcome elsewhere.
Another Loaves and Fishes (this one called Fish and Loaves) program in Taylor, MI, counts St. Paul UCC in Taylor among its charter members.  Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, a cooperative, non-sectarian, non-profit, faith based initiative seeking to insure adequate food and nutrition for all residents within several local communities: “client choice” pantry that allows individuals and families to “shop” on a monthly or bi-monthly basis for items they need, providing not only food but dignity to all they serve.

How will the story of the loaves and fishes inspire YOU?

UCC Sunday Bulletin Service

August 4 – Bread of Life

Thank you for joining us on this day. It’s the first Sunday of August, so we will be celebrating open communion. If you are worshipping with us from home, please gather the elements so we may come together at God’s table as one.

WELCOME

PRELUDE — Blessed Assurance

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Jo Ann Moody
One: We gather in God’s presence.
All: Through Jesus Christ, all are welcome.
One: Come; stay a while.
All: Through Jesus Christ, all find rest.
One: Relax; and be renewed.
All: Through Jesus Christ, all receive strength.
One: Pray; and be filled.
All: We rejoice, overflowing with God’s forgiving love!

*HYMN — Morning Has Broken — #274

Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Jo Ann Moody
Gracious God, we give thanks for your presence among us. In the chaos of everyday life, you provide calm, healing, and sanctuary. Open us to new possibilities for being transformed by you as you bless us with your everlasting love and relentless presence. Your Spirit fills us and our surroundings as we gather in your name from pew to park and from sanctuary to sofa. May we be receptive to your Word as we worship you. Stir our imaginations! Enliven our hearts with fullness of joy! Guide us toward ever-growing participation in your Realm of eternal love and grace. Amen.

*PRAISE RESPONSE — Holy Ground — #83

We are standing on holy ground,
And I know that there are angels all around;
Let us praise Jesus now
We are standing in His presence on holy ground.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 78:23-29 — Jo Ann Moody

SPECIAL MUSIC — I’d Rather Have Jesus

GOD’S WORD — John 6:24-35 — Pastor Dan

SERMON — Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER — Pastor Dan

*HYMN — Break Thou the Bread of Life — #175

Break Thou the Bread of Life, Dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, To me, to me,
As Thou didst bless the bread By Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease, All fetters fall,
And I shall find my peace My All in all.

Thou art the Bread of Life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth That saveth me;
Give me to eat and live With Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, For Thou art Love.

Oh, send Thy Spirit, Lord, Now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes, And make me see;
Show me the truth concealed Within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.

THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
As the United Church of Christ, we celebrate Open Communion. All who desire the bread and the cup are welcome to receive.

RESPONSIVE COMMUNION LITANY
John 6:24-35, “Bread of Life”
A communion litany based onJohn 6:24-35.
One Voice: In the beginning the Holy Three danced in the chaos just before creation. Out of their dance was formed All That-Is, and they looked at it and blessed it, calling it very, very good.

Many voices: One of the parts of that creation was humanity. That’s all of us! Created in God’s image, we sometimes believed that we, alone, were All-That-Is, and our arrogance drove us from the beauty and peace that The Holy Three wished for us.

One Voice: Many voices called throughout time, for humanity to return to our place in All-That-Is. But we did not always listen. When the time was right, one part of The Holy Three, that part called Christ Jesus, came to speak so that we could hear.

Many voices: Jesus said, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. And the people replied, Teacher, give us this bread always.

One voice: And so, on the night before Jesus was killed by those who were threatened by his message of love and care for All-That-Is, he gathered with his closest friends and chosen family and he gave them g=bread saying, “This is my body, the living bread that gives life to the world.” After they ate, he passed them a cup and said “This is the cup of new life, that you might believe in the one whom the Holy Three has sent.” whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Many voices: And so they ate and drank. And so we eat and drink and remember and rejoice.

One voice: Let us pray. Brother Jesus, we thank you that you have given us the bread that is your body, the cup that is the source of life. We eat and drink today in the strong name of the Holy Three- Creator, the Christ and the Redeemer. Amen.

*HYMN — O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing — #93

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease,
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro’ all the earth abroad
The honors of your name.

*BENEDICTION — Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE — Sweet, Sweet Spirit