worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber (c) 2021

Format Shifts

As vaccinations spread, we are alternating between in-person and at-home worship options – staying flexible, more than meeting public health requirements. Thus, formats may change as needed for the church I serve. We continue to freely share our materials for use during the pandemic. If you’re sharing this content with a group, please see “Permission” and “Donation for Use of Content” comments at the end of this document. Thank you and God Bless!

For the BCCC Community

This Sunday’s worship service will be in-person! Back on ZOOM for July 4^th Holy Communion.

Prepare for Sunday Worship Service:

*Watch UCC music video “I Will Sing of Your Love Love Love” Written by Christopher Grundy. (see below)

*(maybe) Print this document or view on your device during worship

*(maybe) Bring offering for outdoor collection (no indoor offering time)

*(maybe) Make plans to share lunch with friends and family after worship

*Remember public health safety protocols: if sick, please stay home; always wear mask; follow ushers and keep distances; no indoor singing or group speaking

*Send Pastor Kathryn your prayer requests by Saturday evening 6/26 8pm

5 Pentecost Sunday Morning Worship Service 6/27/2021

(inside reconfigured sanctuary)

We Gather

Please follow ushers’ instructions upon entering the sanctuary. Please wear a mask.

Prelude (live)

Welcome

Words of Welcome; Land Acknowledgment

We are gathering on Lisjan (Ohlone) Territory, Village of Huchiun. We are very blessed to be near the West Berkeley Shell Mound Sacred Site beside Strawberry Creek, a sacred place for over 5,500 years. (wbs)

This is our second in-person service since March 2020, taking place two days after the 64^th Anniversary of the formation of the United Church of Christ. Let us gather with the UCC Cloud of Witnesses as we call the presence of the Triune God:

Invocation “The United Church of Christ Statement of Faith” (doxology read by liturgist)

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to Your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in Your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. You judge people and nations by Your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, You have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to Yourself.

You bestow upon us Your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races. You call us into Your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be Your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at His table, to join Him in His passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust You forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, Your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in Your realm which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen. (ucc)

Lighting the Christ Candle

Welcoming Those Not Present

Let our hearts and minds fill with our loved ones and friends who are unable to gather today or who dwell, eternally, in heaven. All say, “Join us.” (light votive candles)

Passing the Peace

Remain in place and turn to one another with joyful gestures and soft-spoken words of peace. All say, gently, “Peace be with You” (exchanged distanced greetings)

Community Prayer “We Need One Another” by George Odell (all seated; read by Pastor)

We need one another when we mourn and would be comforted… when we are in trouble and afraid… when we despair, in temptation, and need to be recalled to our best selves again.

We need one another when we would accomplish some great purpose, and cannot do it alone… in the hour of our successes, when we look for someone to share our triumphs [and] in the hour of our defeat when with encouragement we might endure and stand again.

We need one another when we come to die, and would have gentle hands prepare us for the journey.  All our lives we are in need, and others are in need of us. (go)

*Song: “I Will Sing of Your Love Love Love” Written by Christopher Grundy. Official theme song for the UCC’s “Three Great Loves.” (c) 2018 Hand and Soil Music. CCLI #7109567 https://www.uccfiles.com/mp4/3GL-Music-Video.mp4

We Listen

Scripture: Psalm 133 and Romans 12:9-13 (NRSV)

Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
life for evermore.

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.

Sermon: “Together” Delivered live, in person on 6/27/2020. A recording will post on our Facebook page “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” shortly afterward.

Special Music (live)

We Pray

Pastoral Prayer

Author of All Life, Light, and Love, You have perfectly designed us to be connected – connected to You and all the everlasting beings, connected to our neighbors of all species living on Earth, connected to the wondrous pulse of being in our own souls. Whenever outside or inner voices suggest we are alone, only fit to be by ourselves, call us up and into connection, call us to our fullness of being, just as You designed. Amen.

Prayers of the People

No spoken prayer requests in the sanctuary. Please send prayer requests to Pastor Kathryn.

The Lord’s Prayer

Doxology (We are not passing collection plates; instead let us continue to offer praise for the God we serve. All are invited to sing silently or softly.)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God all creatures here below.

Praise God above ye heavenly hosts.

Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

We Go Forward in Hope

Recognizing Graduates (in person)

Announcements

Benediction

Postlude (live)

Please follow ushers’ instructions upon exiting the sanctuary. Please wear a mask.

(the service is concluded)

Worship Resources:

(NRSV) New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text formatted, adapted by Kathryn M. Schreiber, 2021.

(go) George Odell

(kms) All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.

(wbs) https://shellmound.org/

(ucc) UCC Statement of Faith in all formats: https://www.ucc.org/what-we-believe/worship/statement-of-faith/

COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws changed in early 2021. Please check with your denominational legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content publicly. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Thank you.

Online Image: Photo by John Gillespie, ©2015. United Nations visitors viewing mosaic of Norman Rockwell’s painting “Golden Rule.”

Online Publishing Date: June 23, 2021

Permission: Permission is not granted to share or distribute this resource beyond your community without additional permission from the author. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow your platforms publishing requirements for all created content.

Donation for Use of Content: Due to the current coronavirus pandemic this content is offered free. If you’d like to support the congregation I serve as pastor – Berkeley Chinese Community Church – we’d be most grateful for your support. Please send checks to: BCCC UCC, 2117 Acton Street, Berkeley, CA 94702, Attn: Diane Huie, Treasurer. Thank you!

Living Liturgies: www.inthebiglove.com; Facebook: “Living Liturgies”; YouTube: “Kathryn Schreiber”