Photo: outside still life, Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber (c) 2022. Worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber (c) 2022

BCCC Worship Schedule

Due to COVID spread, all worship services will 2pm Sundays on ZOOM

We Gather

“Stand hard for justice, reach far for beauty, walk long for peace” — Rev. Ted Loder

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

Welcome! No matter who you are… no matter where you are on your faith journey… you are welcome! We are gathering electronically from various places, including Huichin Village, the original name given to the unceded Lisjan-Ohlone territory where we practice ministry.

Call to Worship (pastor)

The Living Christ brings good news to the poor!

The Living Christ proclaims release to the captives!

The Living Christ speaks recovery of sight to the blind!

The Living Christ preaches the oppressed go free!

The Living Christ proclaims the Year of the Lord’s Favor.

Let us welcome God’s Acceptable Year!

Light The Christ Candle (pastor)

Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor)

Passing the Peace (all) Joyful gestures and words of peace to one another.

We Rest in God’s Grace

Special Music “Elegy for the Victims of the Japanese Tsunami 2011″ written by Nobuyuki Tsujii. Offered as a tribute to the victims of the January 14, 2022 eruption on Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, an uninhabited volcanic island of the Tongan archipelago.

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.

Assurance of Grace (pastor)

Sometimes, God answers our prayers in ways we never imagined. Sometimes, we can’t perceive God’s amazing faithfulness. When the Messiah appeared in the Nazarene synagogue Jesus’s hometown couldn’t believe one of their own was Christ, The Anointed One. Through the person of Jesus Christ, God’s grace was proclaimed and promise fulfilled. Let us pause, Dear Ones, to take a deep, safe breath. God really does answer our prayers. May we have the patience, wisdom, and curiosity to receive what we have already been given. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV) (pastor) Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

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

Sermon “God’s Acceptable Year” (pastor) What might God desire this coming year?

Special Music: “Here I Am, Lord” written by Dan Schutte, 1981.

We Pray

Prayer Requests (all)

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

Beloved God, in our times of need You not only hear us, You act by inspiring us, liberating us, healing us. Your deepest desire is the wellbeing of all beings – for You love us, all of us. Most Precious One, we lift up our thanksgiving for Messiah Jesus Christ who proclaimed Your values to us in word and action. May we, also, offer ourselves to be servants of Your holy dream for us. 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.

Announcements (pastor)

Song: “What Does the Lord Require of You? written by Jim Strathdee, 1986.

Benediction (pastor)

Receive the Good News – THIS is the acceptable year of the Lord! 2022/Year of the Water Tiger will be a good year for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. Jesus Christ goes before us opening hearts and minds for the well-being of all beings. Hallelujah! Amen!

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

(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, unceded territory of the Lisjan- 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: January 19, 2022.

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”