Art: “Journey with Jesus” Hi Qi. Worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber ©2022.

PAAM: The UCC’s Pacific Islander and Asian Americans Ministry

We Gather

“As we share God’s love with our brothers and sisters, God’s other children, there is no tyrant who can resist us, no oppression that cannot be ended, no hunger cannot be fed, no wound that cannot be healed, no hatred that cannot be turned to love, no dream that cannot be fulfilled.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu, God Has A Dream

Prelude (Ian)

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor)

Welcome to our 5^th Sunday of Easter worship service! Everyone is welcome here! Today we celebrate “PAAM Sunday” and are delighted to welcome Rev. Dr. Sharon Thornton to the pulpit. Welcome other guests.

Through Jesus Christ, we are called together as the Beloved Community. We honor this holy ground, unceded territory of the Lisjan-Ohlone people, committed to healing relations among all peoples.

Altar Flowers (For the Glory of God)

Invocation (liturgist; inspired by Brenda Jo Wong)

Resurrected Jesus Christ, we call Your Light to shine:

Shine on everyone who has experienced anti-Asian hate. Tend our multi-generational wounds from racial traumas. Guide us in crafting Your justice for all.

Shine on our Asian women who suffer from cultural values that favor males over females. Help us to name our sins, growing in respect for each other.

Shine on our souls that we might see each other as You see us – worthy and valued. May Your love free and inspire us.

Shine throughout the Asian American community bringing us together. May Your Holy Spirit create new bonds of solidarity with other oppressed cultures, too.

Shine on everyone, everywhere, to dismantle the blight of racial supremacy. May we be open to allies of all races seeking Your ways. Amen. (bjw, very heavily adapted)

As Pastor Kathryn lights the Christ Candle and Altar Votives, let us remember those who are not physically present, but with us in spirit or thought. Amen.

Light The Christ Candle (pastor)

Welcoming Those Not Physically Present (pastor lights votives)

Votive Lighting Music (Ian)

Time for Children “God’s Glasses” Seeing ourselves as God sees us

Passing the Peace (all share gestures and words of peace)

We Rest in God’s Grace

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)

Dear Ones, what promise, what hope comes from Christ’s proclamation: “See, I am making all things new!” Today, whatever no longer serves, whatever continues to pinch and bruise, whatever critically questions and shames, whatever belittles the wonders our souls know to be truly true – let us offer these to God to be cast away with the unneeded former things.

Our God is always makings all things new. May the grace of God’s faithfulness refresh our spirits with hope and gratitude. Amen.

Special Music (Ian)

We Listen

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-6 (liturgist; version: NTPIV)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride and bridegroom adorned for each other. And, I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

God will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God will indeed be with them;

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

Mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” And this one also said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then the same one said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

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

Sermon: “An Impossible Dream?” Rev. Dr. Sharon Thornton, guest preacher

Special Music (Ian)

We Pray

Pastoral Prayer (pastor)

Magnificent One, Source and Sustainer of All That Is, we thirst for Your vision for ourselves and for our ministry. We have experienced “first things” passing away and we seek Your assurance that You are indeed making “all things new.” We offer ourselves to You for transformation, illuminated by the radiant Risen Christ. Amen.

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

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (Ian; all) Before worship, please leave donations in the basket in the entryway or mail to the church.

Announcements (pastor)

• Singing inside – masks on, softly
• Next Sunday – “Luminous Peace”
• Got grads? Please inform Pastor Kathryn. Dads and Grads Sunday, June 19.

Closing Hymn: “With the People We Have” (handout – all verses; congregation sings softly) Words and Music by Daniel Charles Damon, © 2013, Hope Publishing Company.

We Relocate Outside

Special Music “Oh Happy Day” (Inside – Ian, instrumental)

Special Music “Oh Happy Day” (After everyone is outside – Mark, guitar and singing)

Benediction (guest pastor)

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

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

(bjw) https://intervarsity.org/blog/5-ways-pray-our-asian-american-ohana

(NTPIV) The New Testament and Psalms, Inclusive Version. ©1995 Oxford University Press.

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!

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Online Publishing Date: May 10, 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”