Photo: *COREM Convocation, 2022 (UCC News). Original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber ©2022.

*COREM: Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries

Public Health Safety Note: Effective 5/29/2022, Sunday morning worship services will be outside in the Courtyard until increased COVID spread declines.

We Gather

“Church of the Verb, not Church of the Noun. What you DO not who you ARE.” – Maria C. Coyne, President and CEO of the Cornerstone Fund (UCC) speaking at NCNC UCC Annual Gathering 2022

Prelude (musician)

Welcome and Acknowledgements (pastor) Welcome! No matter who you are… No matter where you are on life’s journey… You’re welcome here! Since God has welcomed us, we also welcome everyone with open hearts. Welcome! (em) Welcome guests.

Through Jesus Christ, we are called together as the Beloved Community. We honor this holy ground, unceded territory of the Lisjan-Ohlone people, standing in non-violence with hope for the safety and well-being of all beings.

Flowers In memory of May Wong. Given by Stan Wong.

Worship Team Musician Ian Pong, Liturgist Darlene Hamady.  

Call to Worship (liturgist)

Today we reaffirm our regional, conference covenant:

We are people of God, a community of congregations diverse in our ethnicity, culture, and lifestyle. We are the Northern California Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ. We covenant with God and each other To worship God through Word and Sacrament, To proclaim to all the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ through deed and word, To be open to the movement of the Spirit in our midst. We covenant with God and each other To speak of our dreams and visions, To share our resources, To draw strength from one another in the work of ministry. We covenant with God and each other To affirm our journey together, in our diversity, for justice, peace and healing throughout all of God’s creation, To grow with one another, building our future out of past memories and present hopes. We covenant with God and each other To love and support one another To listen and learn from one another To forgive and trust one another To pray for and with one another To answer God’s call to be the body of Christ. (ncncucc)

Beloved Christ, we gather in Your blessed presence. Amen.

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 and Altar Votives (pastor)

Votive Lighting Music (musician)

Time for Children “Our People” Jesus Christ calls us into circles of faith (pastor)

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) We are not alone. God gives us companions on the journey. Jesus Christ began his ministry by creating a community of faith. Christ is still calling us together. We are called to religious gatherings and assemble for wider community projects, too. We find “our people” at potluck tables and in parking lots. Whenever we witness compassion and integrity, we are with kindred souls. We are never alone. God is always blessing us with soul community. Let us thank God for this wondrous grace. Amen.

Special Music (musician)

We Listen

Scripture: Ephesians 2:14-18 and Galatians 5: 6, 21-25 (liturgist; version: NRSV) These passages from the writings of St Paul were read at NCNC UCC (Ephesians reading) and COREM (Galatians reading) gatherings this summer.

Ephesians 2:14-18: For Jesus Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Galatians 5: 6, 21-25: Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh… I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

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

Sermon: “Church as Verb” Reports from June conventions – regional UCC Annual Gathering and national COREM Convention. (pastor)

Sermon Hymn “Community of Christ” Chalice Hymnal #655, all verses (musician)

We Pray

Pastoral Prayer (pastor) Author of Life, Embodiment of Hope, Source of Inspiration – move through us! Connect us with partners in ministry. Engage us in the acts of faith You desire. Help us be the Church as verb. Amen.

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

Offering of Praise “Doxology” (musician; all)

We Transition

Announcements (pastor)

• Next Sunday Holy Communion
• Gather Waters this summer

Closing Hymn: “Diverse in Culture, Nation, Race” Chalice #485, all verses (musician)

Benediction (pastor) The Rev. Linda Jaramillo, COREM keynoter said, “We are a people of distinction – not extinction.” “The future is before us. It is ready to be revealed.” Dear Ones, may the vivacious Holy Spirit found amid UCC siblings give us hope, faith, stamina, and courage. May we FEEL connected by sweet bonds of love and the peace of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Postlude (musician)

The service is concluded.

Worship Resources:

(em) Eileen Mitsueda, “You Are Welcome Here” https://youtu.be/FBSeEjhRC_U

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

(ncncucc) “NCNC UCC Conference Covenant” from NCNC bylaws, Section 2, adopted at the Annual Meeting in 1991.

(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.

COREM: https://www.ucc.org/about-us_council-for-racial-and-ethnic/

Quotes as recorded by KMS during events.

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: July 26, 2022.

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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”