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

BCCC Worship Schedule

In-person worship services: 11am 1^st and 2^nd Sundays; ZOOM worship services: 2pm 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th (if there is one) Sundays; 3pm check-in

We Gather

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said; people forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou 

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

Welcome! No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey – you are welcome here, today, for a celebration of All Saints and All Souls days with Holy Communion. Greetings from Huichin Village/Berkeley, ancestral land of the Lisjan-Ohlone people.

Invocation (pastor)

One: Let us invite the ancient souls of Jesus’ beloved disciples to gather with us:

All: Join us! (singing prayer bowl)

One: Let us call upon the departed faithful who served Christ’s Church throughout history:

All: Join us! (singing prayer bowl)

One: Let us invite our ancestors, regardless of religion or creed, to assemble:

All: Join us! (singing prayer bowl)

One: Surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us open ourselves to God’s transforming Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lighting the Christ Candle & Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor)

Passing the Peace (all) Offer joyful gestures and words of peace to one another: “Peace be with You.”

We Rest in God’s Grace

Special Music “Sent Out” Written and performed by Rev. Will Burhans, “Making Shadows” CD ℗ 2003 Rev. Will Burhans. see Worship Resources below. Used with permission.)

Prayer and Silence (pastor)

Let us shift into silence in God’s presence with this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10.

Be still and know that I am God. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know that I am. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know. (Breathe slowly)

Be still. (Breathe slowly)

Be. (Breathe slowly)

(Breathe in silence) Amen.

Words of Assurance (pastor)

It is a grace to step out of our mistakes and errors; to take off our sins and poor judgments like worn-out garments. The saints who have gone before us call us to set aside what no longer serves that we might join them in the most wondrous adventure! Dear Ones, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses eternally testifying to God’s goodness and mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. May this assurance bless us today. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2 (NRSV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

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

Sermon “A Glass of Water and a Golden Necklace” (pastor) An abuela and a psychiatrist testify to the many benefits of calling upon blessed presence and memory of beloved saints and souls. (Live sermon on ZOOM)

*Special Music: “For All the Saints” Words: William W. How, 1864. Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906. Chalice Hymnal #637.

We Pray

Prayer Requests (all)

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

On those days when skill and imagination fail us, during those nights when worry and sorrow assail us, let us call upon Your faithful servants, O God, the Beloved Saints and Souls. May they comfort us with spiritual presence redirecting our gaze to the Perfector of our Faith, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayers of the People, Private Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer (pastor)

We Celebrate Holy Communion

Invitation

Sweet mystic communion! Here we are – those present in body and spirit, as well as those we call in love and memory — all are welcome at God’s open table! This feast is freely offered to everyone.

Gathering Souls

Let us speak the names of those persons, living or dead, who are not physically present but with us in spirit. (During Check-In, after worship, please share photos and stories.) Let us speak their names…

Consecration Invitation and Prayer

(Church-blessed crackers and juice or items from your home.)

Let us pray: Living Christ, may we encounter Your eternal mercy and forgiveness, Your compassionate care for our wholeness and holiness, as we receive this blessed meal today. Amen.

Sharing the Elements (elements will be consumed after words of institution)

Jesus and his Beloved Disciples gathered for the memorial Passover Seder – a meal recalling and re-entering God’s faithfulness toward their ancestors, enslaved Hebrews. God called those in bondage out of Africa, back to their homelands, through the prophet Moses and his siblings.

We recall and re-enter God’s faithfulness to the ancestral community of Jesus’s family. God called the broken Jewish nation out of hopeless and shame, back into right relationship, through the messiah Jesus Christ and his disciples.

This is God’s Table – an eternal gathering place of spiritual nourishment and healing – where people of faith from all times and places gather for support and forgiveness. Amen!

Here we are — present as Jesus lifts up the bread for blessing… breaks it… and gives it to us, saying: “Take, eat. This is my Body, which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

Here we are — present as Jesus lifts up the cup for blessing… and gives it to us, saying: “Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Here we are. Let us receive these gifts from God for the well-being of all beings. Amen.

(all eat and drink)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Most Generous God, this blessed ritual continues to connect us to You and to all Christians. We praise You for this treasured inheritance given to us by Jesus Christ and passed on, from generation to generation, to all who call Jesus of Nazareth our Lord and Savior. Amen.

We Give

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (all; acapella) Please mail your donations to the church or directly to Treasurer Diane Huie.

We Continue in Hope

Announcements (pastor)

*Song: “Eagles Wings” Music written by Father Michael Joncas.

Benediction (pastor)

We are never alone! A Cloud of Witnesses always runs beside us, encouraging us, keeping us going. May we go forth with gratitude and hope fueled by the Peace of Christ. Amen.

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

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

(NRSV) Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

(wb) Rev. Will Burhans. “Sent Out” is written and performed by Rev. Will Burhans, from his album “Making Shadows” ℗ 2003.  His music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms or CD’s purchased from www.cdbaby.com. Music used with permission. (Thank you, Will!)

Sermon Resource: Dr Warren Dahlin’s story was broadcast on “The Moth: Radio Hour” online, begins at 35:40: https://themoth.org/radio-hour/squeaky-wheels Retold by Pastor Kathryn.

Residency Acknowledgement: This content was written in Huichin Village, unceeded territory of the Lisjan-Chochenyo Ohlone People, where I dwell and serve as a local church pastor. Please support indigenous rematriation efforts, the #LandBack movement, and give to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Soghttps://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ and other non-profits that reform, balance, and heal relationships with our indigenous hosts. Thank you!

Copyright Note: Copyright laws changed in December 2020 when Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act). Please check with your legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content online. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Protect the rights of content creators. Thank you!

Online Publishing Date: October 26, 2021.

Permission: Permission is not granted to share or distribute this resource beyond your community without additional permission from the author. Please attribute source and observe ethical use of all resources. Follow your platforms’ publishing requirements for all created content especially if publishing online or broadcasting. Thank you!

Donation: 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!

For Online Content: Please see Facebook pages: “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” and “Living Liturgies”; as well as my website: www.inthebiglove.com and YouTube channel: “Kathryn Schreiber”

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

BCCC Worship Schedule

In-person worship services: 11am 1^st and 2^nd Sundays * ZOOM worship services: 2pm 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th (if there is one) Sundays; 3pm check-in

Out of the Bag (for children of all ages) “Blessed by Animals” https://youtu.be/n5j3n66cucw

We Gather

“Sing, Sister Cricket. Praise Your Creator with a joyful song.” – St Francis of Assisi to a sibling creature in the woodlands around Porziuncola, one of the sanctuaries he restored

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

Welcome one and all! Today we welcome every one of every species to join us in worship and the Blessing of the Animals! I am here in Huichin Village/Berkeley, not far from the 5,000-year-old sacred Shellmound created beside Strawberry Creek. And, we gather as a joyful people for the winter rains have begun!

Invocation (pastor)

May all living beings join in our opening praise:

Praise God for the rain! Hallelujah!

Praise God for the nourishment of heavenly waters tending all life on earth.

Praise God for the protection precipitation brings our drought-weary community.

Praise God for the grace of cleansing rain as it washes away what isn’t needed.

Together, we all praise God! Hallelujah! Amen!

Lighting the Christ Candle & Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor)

Passing the Peace (all) Offer joyful gestures and words of peace to one another: “Peace be with You.”

We Rest in God’s Grace

Special Music “See the Rain” Written and performed by Rev. Will Burhans, “Weight of Grace” CD ℗ 2006 Rev. Will Burhans. (see Worship Resources below. Used with permission.)

Prayer and Silence (pastor) We shift into silence in God’s presence with this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10.

Be still and know that I am God. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know that I am. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know. (Breathe slowly) 

Be still. (Breathe slowly)

Be. (Breathe slowly)

(Breathe in silence) Amen.

Words of Assurance (pastor)

No matter who we are – a tiny little cricket or a great ocean whale – we are a Beloved Creature adored by a good and holy God. And, we are siblings in life – the wild raptor that flies overhead and the furry companion by our side, the pollinating bees and the animals we consume – together, we are one earthly family. God created us in relationship for relationship with all manner of beings. May we deeply treasure this grace today. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture: Psalm 104:1-5, 10-13, 24, 27-30, 33-34, 35b (pastor; NRSV adapted to feature a cricket’s version of praise for God’s goodness.)

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great!

You are adorned with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with luminous skin! You stretch out the heavens like a shade tree, You set the beams of Your shelter on the waters, You make the clouds Your nest, You soar on the wings of the wind, You make the winds Your messengers, fire and flame Your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every living creature; each of us quenching our thirst. In the marshes and forests, where we crickets live; we sing among the reeds and fallen leaves. From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; we are satisfied with the fruit of Your work!

O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made us all; the earth is filled with Your beloved creatures! We all look to You to give us our food in due season; when You give to us, we gather it up; when You open Your hand, we are filled with good things. When You hide Your face, we are dismayed; when You take away our breath, we die and return to the soil. When You send forth Your spirit, we are created; and You renew life on earth.

May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in divine works— who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live! I will sing praise to my God while I have being! May my meditation be pleasing to God, for I rejoice in the Lord! Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! Amen.

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

Sermon “Sister Cricket” (pastor) God gave St Francis of Assisi a Christ-heart for all creatures. Many stories about St Francis include inteverventions to tame violence between species. This is one of those stories. Crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts are historic enemies of farming humans.

Special Music “Prayer of St Francis” (recommended recording: St Francis of Assisi’s prayer performed by Buddy Comfort. ℗ 2001 Buddy Comfort/Laughing Tree Music.)

Blessing of the Animals

Holy Water If you do not have Holy Water – water that has already been blessed – place your hand near or in a little bowl of water, newly collected rainwater would be most appropriate.

Let us pray: Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we call Your Holy Spirit into this water that it may be a living symbol for us of Your eternal love. Amen.

Blessing All Creatures (pastor and community)

We bless the animals we know by name… (speak companion animal’s name/s) _______, may God bless you, for you are one of the Creator’s Beloved creatures. (make the sign of the cross in water on animals’ forehead or safe place to touch)

We bless our unnamed animals neighbors… (speak type/s of outdoor animal/s) _______, may God bless you, for you are, each, one of the Creator’s Beloved creatures. (sprinkle Holy Water in areas where you often see animal neighbors)

We bless the humans in our households… (speak human’s name/s) ________, may God bless you, too, for you are one of the Creator’s Beloved creatures. (make the sign of the cross in water on humans’ forehead or safe place to touch)

May God bless our relationships with each other. May we grow in love and affection for one another across species. In the name of Jesus Christ and in the way of his devoted disciple, St Francis, we pray. Amen.

We Pray

Prayer Requests (all)

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

O Lord, may we humans listen to our Sister Cricket and Brother Wolf singing; may we hear their beautiful songs of praise. May we join Creation’s chorus united in praising You, growing in respect and love for each other.

Today some of us are grieving. Comfort us in our loss and attend our friends in heaven as we remember dear humans and animals who are deceased. Hear us, as we speak their names: (pause).

Great Healer, lay Your kind hand upon any creature, of any species, in need of healing and special care today. Hear us, as we speak their names: (pause).

We also pray for refugee animals, those awaiting adoption, and wild, commercial, and domesticated animals, each with unique challenges and graces. We lift up thanks for humans who preserve, tend, and love our sibling animals. Amen.

Prayers of the People, Private Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer (pastor)

We Give

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (all; acapella) Please mail your donations to the church or directly to Treasurer Diane Huie.

We Continue in Hope

Announcements (pastor)

*Song: “All Creatures of Our God and King” (recording) written by Francis of Assisi, LASST UNS ERFREUEN (Chalice #22)

Benediction (pastor)

St Francis, through his love for the Eternal Christ, saw all creatures as God sees us – precious siblings in the great family of life. May our hearts continue to expand, welcoming more beings into our love and care. May be truly go forth with peace and hope in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

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

(NRSV) Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

(wb) Rev. Will Burhans. The song “See the Rain” comes from Rev. Will Burhans’ Album entitled “Weight of Grace”.  His music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms or CD’s purchased from www.cdbaby.com. Music used with permission. (Thank you, Will!)

Sermon Resource: Fortini’s Francis of Assisi, pp 541-542 as recorded in Stoutenberger and Bohrer’s Praying with Francis of Assisi, pp 94-95, retold by kms.

Residency Acknowledgement: This content was written in Huichin Village, unceeded territory of the Lisjan-Chochenyo Ohlone People, where I dwell and serve as a local church pastor. Please support indigenous rematriation efforts, the #LandBack movement, and give to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Soghttps://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ and other non-profits that reform, balance, and heal relationships with our indigenous hosts. Thank you!

Copyright Note: Copyright laws changed in December 2020 when Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act). Please check with your legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content online. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Protect the rights of content creators. Thank you!

Online Publishing Date: October 20, 2021.

Permission: Permission is not granted to share or distribute this resource beyond your community without additional permission from the author. Please attribute source and observe ethical use of all resources. Follow your platforms’ publishing requirements for all created content especially if publishing online or broadcasting. Thank you!

Donation: 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!

For Online Content: Please see Facebook pages: “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” and “Living Liturgies”; as well as my website: www.inthebiglove.com and YouTube channel: “Kathryn Schreiber”

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

BCCC Worship Schedule as of October 1, 2021

In-person worship services: 11am 1^st and 2^nd Sundays

ZOOM worship services: 2pm 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th (if there is one) Sundays

2pm worship format will now be similar to in-person Sundays

ZOOM check-in has moved to 3pm on 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th (if there is one) Sundays

We Gather

“Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.” – Evening Prayer, Lutheran Book of Worship

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

I am here in Huichin Village, unceded ancestral lands of the Lisjan-Ohlone people, not far from the sacred site now known as the West Berkeley Shellmound.

Today, we welcome Rev. Bladimer Paeste, member of BCCC, who has served UCCP and UCC churches in the Philippines and US to the pulpit.

Invocation (pastor)

Dear Ones, we are drawn to God’s presence through Jesus Christ.

Like the original disciples we gather bringing our personal requests.

May we open to the requests the Living Christ makes of us. Amen.

Lighting the Christ Candle & Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor)

Passing the Peace (all) Offer joyful gestures and words of peace to one another: “Peace be with You.”

We Rest in God’s Grace

Special Music (recording)

Prayer and Silence (pastor)

Let us shift into silence in God’s presence with this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10.

Be still and know that I am God. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know that I am. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know. (Breathe slowly) 

Be still. (Breathe slowly)

Be. (Breathe slowly)

(Breathe in silence) Amen.

Words of Assurance (pastor)

What a gift it is to come to the Living Christ asking for what we want. What a gift it is to come away from these vulnerable encounters understanding what God wants from us. May we enter the holy realm of all that is possible when we imitate Servant Christ. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45 (pastor; translation: NIV)

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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

Sermon “We Can” (Pastor Bladimer Paeste; live on ZOOM)

This Sunday church member, Rev. Bladimer Paeste, offers the sermon. Pastor Bladi has served churches in the Philippines and the US. He served as settled pastor of Faith Community Church, UCC in Oakland for many years, as well as other Bay Area congregations in transition. He has also served as a chaplain in healthcare settings and informally as an ambassador of Christian love to many. He and his wife, Lilibeth, have three adult daughters.

Special Music (recording)

We Pray

Prayer Requests (all)

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

Holy God, how grateful we are for those who went before – not only the early disciples who actually lived with Jesus Christ, but those who have attempted, in small and great ways, to embody a life of service. We ask, O God, that You grant unto us desires and passions that will satisfy You! May we be called and blessed to engage in liberating ministry. Amen.

Prayers of the People, Private Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer (pastor)

We Give

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (all; acapella)

Please mail your donations to the church or directly to Treasurer Diane Huie.

We Continue in Hope

Announcements (pastor)

Closing Hymn (recording)

Benediction (pastor)

Dear Ones, Jesus has told us how to be great – to humble ourselves as The Holy Servant did. May we offer ourselves to God for the uplift of others, and in so doing, experience eternal communion with The Living Christ. Amen.

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

(NIV) Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ^TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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

Residency Acknowledgement: This content was written in Huichin Village, unceeded territory of the Lisjan-Chochenyo Ohlone People, where I dwell and serve as a local church pastor. Please support indigenous rematriation efforts, the #LandBack movement, and give to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Soghttps://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ and other non-profits that reform, balance, and heal relationships with our indigenous hosts. Thank you!

Copyright Note: Copyright laws changed in December 2020 when Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act). Please check with your legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content online. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Protect the rights of content creators. Thank you!

Online Publishing Date: October 12, 2021.

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

Donation: 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!

For Online Content: Please see Facebook pages: “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” and “Living Liturgies”; as well as my website: www.inthebiglove.com and YouTube channel: “Kathryn Schreiber”

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

We Gather

“As a daydreamer and one who tills the soil, I am provided with many hours to make connections that will help me continue to care for the seeds of my Nation, to feed all children as Every Child Matters!” – Terrylynn Bryant, Mohawk Seedkeeper Gardens

Prelude (Vicky, piano solo)

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

We are gathered here in Huichin Village, unceded ancestral lands of the Lisjan-Ohlone people, not far from the sacred site now known as the West Berkeley Shellmound.

We are grateful for the generosity of Terrylynn Bryant, a Mohawk of Six Nations, who has generously granted permission to use her Truth and Reconciliation Day* 2021 post that appeared on the Mohawk Seedkeepers Facebook page. The Mohawk Seedkeepers are committed to carrying on the tradition of Indigenous gardening and seed saving. 

Today, we observe the United Church of Christ’s Neighbors in Need Offering. This annual collection funds ministries of justice and compassion. One-third of donations go directly to our Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM).

Invocation (liturgist)

Creator God planted us in an abundant world attuned to the cycle of seasons. Our ancestors taught how to live well knowing that what we planted we would harvest. Today, the Eternal Christ asks us, “What seeds of justice shall you sow?”

Lighting the Christ Candle (liturgist)

Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor lights votives)

Passing the Peace (everyone) Wave or bow, offer joyful gestures and words of peace to one another: “Peace be with You.”

We Rest in God’s Grace

Special Music: (Vicky J)

Prayer and Silence (pastor)

Let us shift into silence in God’s presence with this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10.

Be still and know that I am God. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know that I am. (Breathe slowly)

Be still and know. (Breathe slowly) 

Be still. (Breathe slowly)

Be. (Breathe slowly)

(Breathe in silence) Amen.

Words of Assurance (pastor)

Beloved Ones, no matter who or what has blown us away from the endearing beauty of our blessed souls, God calls us back again. God planted the forever-seed of our souls in each of our bodies. God forever invites us to root, deeply, in the sweet soil of our soul’s inner wisdom, peace, mercy, and integrity. Today, whatever has taken us away from our truest natures, may we release these obstructions to God for re-direction and healing. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture: James 3:13-18 (translation: NRSV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

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

Sermon “Sowing Seeds of Justice” (pastor)

We receive the wisdom of Mohawk Seedkeeper, TerryLynn Bryant, as we reflect upon planting healing seeds to tend wounds between human cultures and the heavenly realms of being. We honor, too, the stain of prejudice sometimes found in our translations of Holy Writings. May we listen for God’s voice to align with what is truly true and eternally good. (In-person live sermon)

Special Music (tbd)

We Pray

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

On this Neighbors in Need Offering Sunday, O God, we ask for Your vision – to see all beings honored and dwelling in good ways. We lift up our role in ignoring or creating suffering, humbling ourselves to You for guidance in the good work of healing and repair. We offer our prayers as a salve for all our children who suffered in the past and as an embodied hope for a better future for all our children. Amen.

Prayers of the People, Private Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer

We Give

Neighbors In Need Offering Invitation (pastor)

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (Vicky J) Let us collectively offer praise to God by silently or softly singing. Please use the donation basket or mail your donations to the church or directly to Treasurer Diane Huie.

Announcements (pastor)

We Continue in Hope

Benediction (pastor)

Jesus said the “Kingdom of God” was like a little seed. Great things may come from even the tiniest of seeds. Let us be mindful of what we plant. With God’s help, may we plant seeds that will bear divine fruit for one and all. Amen.

The service is concluded.

*Special Note:

”Truth and Reconciliation Day” September 30^th, was established in 2021 by the Canadian government after 215 unmarked graves were found in Kamloops (hundred’s more unmarked graves at various locations have been identified since). The US and Canada recognize the intergenerational harm done to Indigenous families and communities and seek to honor those who have been affected by the injustice of these mandated practices. As September 30^th was, historically, the date when indigenous children were annually separated from their families forced to attend residential boarding schools, it is reframed as a day of acknowledgment, reparations, and healing.

September 30^th is also known as “Orange Shirt Day.” Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor, was stripped of her new orange shirt on her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, B.C. This special shirt, made by her grandmother, was never returned to Phyllis. All are invited to wear orange shirts each September 30^th to acknowledge the experiences and losses of our indigenous siblings’ children while boarded at residential schools.

Worship Resources:

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

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

Residency Acknowledgement: This content was written in Huichin Village, unceeded territory of the Lisjan-Chochenyo Ohlone People, where I dwell and serve as a local church pastor. Please support indigenous rematriation efforts, the #LandBack movement, and give to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Soghttps://sogoreate-landtrust.org/ and other non-profits that reform, balance, and heal relationships with our indigenous hosts. Thank you!

Copyright Note: Copyright laws changed in December 2020 when Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act). Please check with your legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music when sharing content online. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Protect the rights of content creators. Thank you!

Online Publishing Date: October 5, 2021.

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

Donation: 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!

For Online Content: Please see Facebook pages: “Berkeley Chinese Community Church” and “Living Liturgies”; as well as my website: www.inthebiglove.com and YouTube channel: “Kathryn Schreiber”