Hawai’ian box with carved hono — PAAM’s symbol is a turtle
PAAM is the United Church of Christ’s Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries. Sunday April 25, 2021 is PAAM Sunday. You are welcome to use this prayer poem anytime. It was created by the NCNC UCC PAAM BLM Sacred Conversations Group, especially Charlene Kiyuna, Teipo Brown, Darlene Hamady, and Kathryn Schreiber.
“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech,but in truth and action.” – 1 John 3:16-24
Dear God, open my heart to hear and know the truth.
Give me the humility to learn and reflect.
With truth and humility,
may I serve as Your instrument to help heal.
Holy One, we thank You for the wisdom bearers:
“What you do makes a difference,
and you have to decide what kind of difference
you want to make.”– Jane Goodall
May we commit to making the kinds of difference
that are most pleasing to You, O God.
Beloved God, thank You for opportunities to learn.
May we look back on old experiences with new eyes
correctly seeing systemic racism.
May we revisit old, uncomfortable feelings
and witness the empowerment they engendered
inspiring us to repair social norms.
Source of all Life and Love,
we place into Your hands, for transformation,
the xenophobia of today, the past, and the future.
Remind us that most of us came from other lands.
We arrived taking from indigenous peoples what was not ours.
May we honor the first peoples, our mother cultures,
and our beloved, increasingly blended, identities, too.
Most Holy God, on this PAAM Sunday,
we pray for a world which cherishes social diversity
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
A year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time with Children of All Ages
Out of the Bag: “Jesus’s Ride” Jesus picked a special animal to ride into Jerusalem
Worship Service
We Gather
Invocation
Dear Jesus – ride before us –
making a way for all people
to equally adore and serve You,
O Humble Messiah, sent by God!
Hosanna in the Highest!
Dear Jesus – ride before us –
steering us through the maze
of questions about You,
O Child of Royalty, O Prophet of Nazareth!
Hosanna in the Highest!
Dear Jesus – ride before us –
paving the way with grace
for all our days and nights,
O Everlasting Christ, our eternal hope!
Hosanna in the Highest! (LL6W)
Light the Christ Candle
*Song: “All Glory, Laud and Honor” Words: Theodulph of Orleans; Tune: ST THEODOULPH. Setting: c Bärenreiter-Verlag; reprinted by permission. Descant: c 1993 Kermit G. Moldenhauer. 2019. (Chalice #91)
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon being a Christian faith community. This Palm Sunday we celebrate the excitement of being part of a group rallying together in the name of Christ. We also acknowledge that our exuberant unity may dissolve to the disappointment of sobering differences. Being a part of a group includes learning to move through the seasons of that group. How are you and your faith community? Do you feel connected and hopeful? Are you moving along with the crowd but not quite sure where you’re going? Maybe, you’re on the sidelines watching the parade go by? Whatever your experience is, God is with you as the Living Christ. Speak honestly with God and be open to a new blessing. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
There are golden times in our lives together when we are giddy – joyfully connected to each other through Christ. These are magical moments that don’t last forever but can be revisited. Take a few deep breaths, go for a walk, or do a simple chore. Give your body something to do allowing a blessed memory to rise.
Recall a time when you were part of something bigger than yourself, possibly a church-related event. Who were you with? Where were you? What were you doing? Cherish the deep sense of soul-connection. If the memory is also difficult, honor that, too. Such important memories may be a “grace snap shot” from which you can harvest wisdom and blessings.
We Listen
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11 (MSG)
As Jesus’ earthly ministry is concluding, he and his disciples join the masses entering Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with Jews from around the world. Everyone is filled with hope that this year God’s Messiah will arrive and liberate them from suffering.
When Jesus and his disciples neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”
This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet: Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way, poised and ready, mounted on a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.”
The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is the one who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
As Jesus made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”
The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Meditation Quote about The Crowd
“I assert that the most fundamental quality of community is some degree of expanded identity – a sense of “we-ness” – a state of feeling connected or joined with another.” — Bryan Husted, 21c. sociology professor
Reflection: “The Crowd… Expands”
The Original Crowd
On Palm Sunday our spiritual imaginations place us smack dab in the middle of “The Crowd” – the throngs of people on their way into Jerusalem, many of whom were heralding Jesus’s triumphant entry into the Holy City.
Among The Crowd were Jesus’s seasoned disciples, people who’d left behind their previous work to join his travelling movement. Some of these people, male and female, became leaders of the Early Church. Also in The Crowd were Jesus’ family members, including his mother Mary, as well as other relatives. Among the travelers would have been Jesus’s aunts, uncles, and cousins.
There would have been many Jews in The Crowd cheering on the one they believed was the Messiah foretold by the Hebrew Prophets, but there would have been people from other ethnicities and religions, too. Also present were people whose lives had been radically changed because Jesus healed them or a family member — those whom Jesus touched in compassion and those who touched Jesus in faith.
There would have been people who’d been funding and hosting Jesus and his followers, including friends and co-workers in faith. These “Behind the scenes” folks would have been in The Crowd, too.
Imagine all the different people who walked alongside Jesus riding on the borrowed donkey. each waving palms and offering cheers as Jesus entered Jerusalem.
The Growing Crowd
Years ago I saw a beautiful Advent art installation. It was a large painting made up of twenty-five panels, five-by-five. On the first day of December all the panels were turned to the backside, except for one. It showed Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we usually see her depicted. I presumed the surrounding twenty-four panels would reveal a traditional Nativity scene. Boy, I was wrong! (nhhsp)
The images were revealed, day by day, but they didn’t illustrate a scene from the past. One panel featured a modern Asian business woman in high heels carrying a briefcase walking beside a medieval farmer with a hoe over his shoulder. In another, an urban youth listening to tunes on her iPod, danced past an elderly man from the ancient Middle East carrying an alabaster jar. For twenty-five days a new panel was turned over revealing a beautiful image of diverse humanity moving in the same direction.
On Christmas Eve the final panel was revealed – an ordinary baby boy with black hair and brown skin. This smiling infant was Jesus of Nazareth, our eternal Christ. Everyone in the crowd was moving toward infant Jesus Christ!
Imagine such a work of art for Palm Sunday. Imagine the Christian Community – diverse in genders, cultures, and ages over two thousand years and into the future. All of us moving in the same direction toward an unrevealed panel — the panel of Easter Sunday’s empty tomb.
We are a part of the joyful Crowd! Let us join in waving greenery and singing “Hosanna!” Let us honor the One who comes in the Name of the Lord. “Hosanna in the Highest!” Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon: “What Jesus Sees” The Living Christ looks into The Crowd with hope
Special Music: “Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord” Music by Stephen Schwartz, from the musical Godspell. Performed by Hallelujah Broadway. Recorded in the Church of St Simon & St Jude in Prague in 2010. Featuring vocal talents of Anthony Kearns, Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke, and guest star Linda Eder.
We Pray
Prayers of the People, The Lord’s Prayer
We Give Thanks
Offering
What does Jesus Christ mean to you? What has God, through Christ, given you which causes your soul to rejoice? Let us rejoice TOGETHER! “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God! Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!”Amen. (also see donation footnote)
We Continue in Hope
*Song: “Rejoice, You Pure in Heart” Words: Edward Plumptre; Tune: MARION. Performed by Grace Community Church – Sun Valley, California. 2017. (Chalice #15)
Benediction
We may not have the joy of being physically together,
but we do have the wondrous blessing
of being spiritually united through Jesus Christ.
Let us cherish being a part of The Crowd this Holy Week,
all moving together toward Easter morn.
“Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name!”
“Hosanna in highest heaven!” Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
(kms) All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
(nhhsp) This original work of art appeared at the Newman Hall – Holy Spirit Parish near the University of California-Berkeley campus in the early 1990’s.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. 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: artwork: He Qui “Triumphant Entry”
Online Publishing Date: March 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”
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
A year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time with Asian American, Pacific Islander Women and Girls
“Breath and Centering Prayer in the Wake of the Atlanta Hate Crimes” by Mira Sawlani-Joyner, Resurrection City DC. Posted on Mar 17, 2021 after the Atlanta deaths.
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
This is the secret that isn’t a secret –
we all desire to be treated with great love and respect.
God sent Jesus Christ into this world
to make incarnate, in human form, divine reality:
each human being is a beloved person,
beautiful and worthy in God’s eyes.
God sent Jesus Christ into this world
to make incarnate, in human form, divine reality:
we are to love each other as God loves us,
cherishing and protecting each other. Amen.
Light the Christ Candle
*Song: ”We Are One in the Spirit / By Our Love” Words and Music: Peter Scholtes, 1966. Performed by Mark Swayze Band. (Chalice #494) Licensed to YouTube: The Orchard Music, Syntax Creative (on behalf of Central South); Music Services, Inc. (Publishing), Sony ATV Publishing, and 2 Music Rights Societies.
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon being a Christian faith community. Today, we pause to reflect on our calling to care for each other and to share our resources within and beyond our local Christian community. How do you support your faith community? How do they support you? Talk to God and listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Be open, honest. God is listening. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
We are a “we”. We belong to the Christian community. To belong to, and to be held by, a community of faith is a deep blessing. Like all meaningful relationships, being “in community” is a give and take dance of mutual compassion and aid.
During this past year we lost a lot of congregational bonding experiences such as in-person worship, social events, meetings, and property tending. We were stripped down to our relationships – with God and each other – and forced to find new ways to be in contact with each other. For many, this past year has been a time of deepening connections. Being released from some routine practices has offered time and space for new ways to connect.
To live in hope of God’s mysterious grace is to always believe in God’s goodness. Where is God’s grace manifesting in your faith community relationships these days?
We Listen
Scripture: Acts 2:43-47 (NRSV)
This passage continues the story of the formation of the Church after Jesus’ Resurrection. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit appeared, the Hebrew Prophets were remembered, and the gathered followers of Jesus repented and were baptized. And then, they began a new life together.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Reflection: “Loving Action Evangelism”
Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, in addition to speaking to the public and offering private healings, Jesus spent a lot of time with his disciples teaching them how to be a community of faith. Jesus encouraged them to care for each other and to remain clear and strong as they engaged in ministry. Jesus was laying the foundation for the organization which we now call “The Church.”
The second chapter of the book of Acts recounts the earliest days of The Church – of that heady time when the Jewish followers of Jesus, gathered in Jerusalem for a Jewish festival, found something new happening to them. A new spirit moved, connecting them, inspiring them, enabling them to speak and listen to each other and to God. And from that baptism in the Spirit – a new awareness dawned, one tied to the ancient prophets AND to a radically new unimaginable future. Hum… that resonates, doesn’t it?
Today’s scripture tells us that as the fledgling community showered each other with support and helped those in need their actions inspired others to join them.
There is an old European Jewish story that goes like this:
One day two older gentlemen were talking and one said to the other, “So, have you heard about the new rabbi? He has studied with the best scholars. He has taught in the finest synagogues. He is a man of great importance.”
The other fellow thought for a while, stroked his beard, and then asked his friend, “But, have you ever seen him tie his shoelaces? By that — I will know what sort of rabbi he is.”
The point of the story is that actions matter. What we DO reveals our character. That resonates with the reading from Acts, too – the behavior of the Jesus followers – their acts of love for each other and for those who were vulnerable – inspired others to join them. New converts were drawn because they witnessed true love in action.
How we love shows the world just what sort of Christians we are. This is a good thing to think about as we prepare to return, or have begun, returning to our physical ministries. Instead of going “back” – maybe the Holy Spirit is calling us to go “forward”? Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon: “Loving Community” Filled with the Holy Spirit we can love each other well
Special Music: “Jasmine Flower” Chinese folks song arranged for piano solo by Schindler (excerpt). Performed by Lang Lang from solo album “Piano Book” 2019. Offered as an express of support for Chinese-Americans.
We Pray
Prayers of the People, The Lord’s Prayer
We Give Thanks
One Great Hour of Sharing
This fifth Sunday of Lent we express our love through the 2021 One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. This fund responds to basic needs around the world and emergency crises in the US. BCCC folks: Please send your check donations to the church Treasurer, “OGHS” in the note area. Others may donate online to the national fund: https://www.ucc.org/giving/donate-now/general-donation/
“California church cares for newcomers” page 14 (Meals for Refugees through Eden UCC in Hayward, CA)
“Dry conditions fuels fires, devastation” page 15 (Wildfire Response in California, Oregon, and Washington)
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Dedication
Holy Giver of all good gifts, bless now this offering that great hours of labor have made possible. Bless the drops that become mighty rivers of grace and transformation. Bless the vision of a world transformed. Let a shining river of love flow through us to Your waiting world, in Christ’s name. Amen. (OGHS 2021)
We Continue in Hope
*Song: “Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant” Words and Music, Richard Gillard, 1977. Performed by virtual choir of First Congregational Church of Rockport, Massachusetts, 2021. (Chalice #490)
Benediction
We who share a common faith,
share a common fate –
we are inextricably bonded one to another.
May God bless us with love for each other,
an ever-growing love which reaches many. Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
(OGHS 2021) One Great Hour of Sharing, 2021 Planning and Resource Guide, United Church of Christ.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. 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: artwork: He Qui “Clever Bridesmaids”
Online Publishing Date: March 18, 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”
Hello Dear Ones, on this St. Patrick’s Day, as news of more deadly attacks upon Asian-Americans spreads, please receive this ancient prayer attributed to the patron saint of Ireland – a prayer calling upon the protection and healing power of Jesus Christ in all persons. Take care. Be safe. Keep your hearts opened to God’s Big Love.
“St. Patrick’s Lorica”* (excerpt)
I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me; God’s wisdom to guide me; God’s eye to look before me; God’s ear to hear me; God’s word to speak for me; God’s hand to guard me; God’s way to lie before me; God’s shield to protect me.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every person who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through a belief in the Threeness, through a confession of the Oneness of the Creator of Creation. Amen.
*”lorcia” is Latin for “breastplate;” this excerpt is from a much longer prayer; my adaptation. Portions of the prayer resonate with ancient prayers from many cultures, especially: “… with me, … before me, … behind me… (etc)”
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
About a year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time for Children of All Ages
Spiritual Practice: Butterfly Hug Technique to sooth an anxious spirit
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
We are blessed by God the Creator
who provides all living beings
with what we need to thrive.
We are blessed by God the Christ
who takes human form
to liberate bodies and souls.
We are blessed by God the Spirit
who animates the mortal realm
with holy wisdom.
We are the Christian community
filled with hope and promise
in this world and the next. Amen.
Light the Christ Candle
*Song: ”Be Thou My Vision” Words: Mary E Byrne; Music: Traditional Irish melody. Performed by Audrey Assad. TuneCore (on behalf of Fortunate Fall Records); Music Services, Inc. (Publishing), LatinAutorPerf, BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., Adorando Publishing, and 6 Music Rights Societies. (Chalice #595)
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon our faith community. Today, we pause to reflect on our calling as Christians to care for bodies and souls – our own and those of others. Pay attention to your whole self. How are you today? Tell God. Maybe you’re concerned about someone? Share those thoughts and feelings. Be open, honest, and know that God is listening. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
Jesus had a deep love for the souls and bodies of each person he encountered. He did not divide the person into two spheres of reality, rather he met each person as a whole being – fully physical, fully spiritual. Jesus understood each one’s material and sacred needs. The Living Christ meets us every moment of our earthly days in this way, too.
Be still and let a memory rise. Remember a time when you experienced an act of physical care that touched your spirit, too. Maybe it was a glass of water offered when you were very thirsty? Or the compassion of a skilled healer attending your medical needs? These are enfleshed moments of grace when God was tending you – body and soul. What grace!
We Listen
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13 (NRSV)St Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer
Pray then in this way: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Quotes about Care of Souls and Society:
“My business is anything that comes between men and the Spirit of God.” – Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley
“When religion becomes so involved in a future good ‘over yonder’ that it forgets the present evils over here it is as dry as dust religion and needs to be condemned.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Any gospel which does not embrace both ‘evangelism’ and ‘social action’ is a counterfeit, offering either an escapist’s dream, which leaves power structures of the world untouched, or a mere social reform which leaves the soaring spiritual dimension of reality out of consideration, and thereby dooms itself to compromise and failure.” – N.T. Wright, Spiritual and Religious
“We are not here as a church to manipulate the State or to live in it with privilege and pomp. We are not called simply to bind up the wounds of those the system oppresses. We are surely called as the Church of Acts to be prophetic presence in its midst, the voice of the prophets in our time. Why? Because we pray daily, ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,’ and so we must do something to bring it.” – Sister Joan Chittister, essay in Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century
“Members of these two camps of the Church [evangelists and social gospelers] need to heed the wisdom of Elton Trueblood, the Quaker philosopher, who taught that the most important word in the Bible is and. It is not either personal piety or social witness. It is both.” – Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr, essay in Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century
Reflection: “Piety and Justice”
A little over 100 years ago, Rev. Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918), who’d begun his ministry among the poor of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, wrote a seminal text: Christianity and the Social Crisis. It was published in 1907. Noting the growing chasm between rich and poor in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, Rauschenbusch was deeply concerned that Protestant Christianity was focused, nearly exclusively, on the salvation of souls. Did not God also care about the bodies of dedicated people who were sick and died too soon due to social injustices? Rauschenbusch, along with others in what is now called the “Social Gospel Movement,” rose up to challenge the American Church to reclaim the Hebrew Prophets and the teachings of Jesus Christ amid a rising moral demand to attend to the lives of those suffering on earth. He took to heart the words of Jesus’ teachings and actions, especially the prayer asking for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
His great-grandson, Rev. Paul Raushenbush, would begin his ministry in the poor slums of Brazil. In the “favelas.” Paul’s first religious impulse was to criticize social systems. However, his pastoral heart understood that the youth in his care had unmet spiritual needs, too. He found in his great-grandfather’s work a call to tend body and soul. To honor the 100th anniversary of his great-grandfather’s classic that changed the American Church, Paul asked contemporary Christian leaders from evangelical and social justice camps to pen essays to accompany the original text. The result is Christianity and the Social Crisis in the 21st Century. (wr/pr)(A serious text that I’m reading slowly, carefully.)
In 2021 we still experience a false dichotomy of the calling to live the Gospel. We have been pitted against each other and taught to mistrust each other. This is not the way of Jesus Christ’s true Church. The ministry of Jesus Christ is always an integrative effort to uplift the whole person, body and soul, here on earth and in heaven.
This week we mark one year of radically changed lives due to the pandemic. The past 12-months have showed us just how deeply we are interconnected one to another. We have witnessed the power of an invisible virus. What if a similar powerful force (the Holy Spirit) is stirring within us infecting us with an integrated Gospel, one that cares for the eternal wellbeing of each soul and the dignity of all persons? God may be asking all of us to blur hard edges to better embody the Christian Community. May God’s will be done! Amen. Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon
Sermon: “Souls and Society” Following Jesus’ lead, sharing a broad Gospel
Special Music: “One Love / Ue O Muite Aruko” “One Love” written by Bob Marley and “Ue O Muite Aruko” (“Sukiyaki”) words by Rokusake Ei; music by Hachidai Nakamura. 1961. Blended performance by various artists for “SING OUT from JAPAN” after the March 11, 2010 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. Offered this week, the 10-year anniversary, in solidarity with survivors and anti-nuclear efforts.
We Pray
Prayers of the People, The Lord’s Prayer
We Give Thanks
Offering
This forth Sunday of Lent we reflect on “Body and Soul.” God’s call through Jesus Christ invites us to seek personal salvation and community uplift. (also see donation footnote)
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
On Sunday March 21, 2021, Berkeley Chinese Community Church will bless donations made to the “One Great Hour of Sharing” ecumenical fund which provides assistance internationally. In 2020, giving to OGHS fell drastically as churches responded to immediate pandemic needs. This year, we are asked to give generously to continue support for our global partners who depend upon this fund. Thank you! BCCC folks: Please send your check donations to the church Treasurer, “OGHS” in the note area. Others may donate online to the national fund: https://www.ucc.org/giving/donate-now/general-donation/
OGHS video: “Let Love Flow’ OGHS funds will be used to bring water to villages
We Continue in Hope
Song: “Community of Christ” Words: Shirley Erena Murray, 1985. Music: Hebrew Melody; arr. Meyer Leoni, 1780. David Myers, Jr., Vocals Linda Lambrides, Organ. North Yarmouth Congregational Church. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this video obtained from OneLicense.com with license # A-731487. Recorded 2020. (Chalice #655)
Benediction
Jesus taught us to ask God
for God’s ultimate reality to come;
for God’s will to be done –
here on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus told us to ask for our daily food,
and to seek and offer forgiveness.
Jesus still tends us body and soul.
This is our calling, too. Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. 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: artwork: He Qui “Samaritan Woman”
Online Publishing Date: March 10, 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”; YouTu
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
About a year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time for Children of All Ages
Out of the Bag: “Soul to Soul” We are more than our physical body
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
Let us be gathered as Jesus taught us,
welcoming everyone from everywhere.
Gathered in fond affection we call into presence
those dear ones on earth not physically present.
(speak their names)
Gathered in eternal love we call into presence
those dear ones in heaven who are spiritual present.
(speak their names)
Holy Spirit, hold us together. Amen.
Light the Christ Candle
Special Music: “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”
Lyrics: Percy Dearmer, Music: Harold Friedell. Performed virtually by choir members of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston, Texas. 2020. Words and Music copyright and streamed under One License #A-719994. (Chalice #392)
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon our faith community. Today, we pause to reflect on our spiritual connection to Christians beyond our local group. We are connected, as Christians, to all for whom Jesus Christ as brother, friend, teacher, healer and redeemer. We are each a grain of sand on a very long, wide, eternal beach. With whom would you most like to be with today? Ask God to allow you to connect soul to soul. Chat soul to soul. Tell God how you’re doing. God is so grateful you are here, open, honest. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
In the moving German film, “Wings of Desire,” about angels, filmmaker Wenders beautifully depicts angels as messengers from God gently speaking into the ears of humans, filling their thoughts with messages of hope and guidance. (ww)
Today, let us rest into the mystery of the many ways God tends us weaving mortal and divine, temporal and eternal, together. God is still speaking to our souls, sometimes through blessed angels. This is yet another way God’s grace blesses our lives now and forever.
We Listen
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NRSV)
St Paul’s teaching about Holy Communion and Holy Community
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?
Because there is one bread,
we who are many are one body,
for we all partake of the one bread.
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Quotes about Holy Communion and Holy Community:
Prayer from The Didache* (1st Century)
“As this broken bread was scattered upon the hills and, having been gathered together, became one, so may Your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom. For Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. Amen (gc)
*”the most important document we have concerning the celebration of Communion in the earliest days of church history” (hoo)
From The Apostles Creed (14th century)
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”
**The word “catholic” in the Apostles’ Creed refers to the universal church of Jesus Christ, not the Roman Catholic church which is but one portion of The Church.
From “The Church’s One Foundation” (17th century)
“Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won: O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, Like them, the meek and lowly, in love may dwell with Thee.” (sjj)
From the UCC’s Book of Worship (20th century)
“The invitation and the call to the supper emphasize that all people of faith are welcome at Christ’s table. The invitation and call celebrate not only the memory of a meal that is past, but an actual meal with the risen Christ that is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet at which Christ will preside at the end of history. … The visible breaking of the bread and pouring of the wine are symbolic actions.… The wheat that is gathered to make one loaf and the grapes that are pressed to make one cup remind participants that they are one in the body of Christ, The Church.” (uccbow)
Reflection: “God’s Eternal Table”
Before the pandemic Holy Communion was a ritual we performed together in each other’s presence. Usually, we’d be assembled together in a church building. Sometimes, we’d visit church members at home or in the hospital, extending the church building based event out into the world.
Holy Communion, for most of us, has meant being with each other in a consecrated place, using very special objects, performing sacred actions, led by faith leaders. Since we’ve been separated due to the pandemic this has changed. Again, this Sunday, all around the world, Christians will again celebrate Holy Communion in novel ways.
Some of us are still restricted to our homes because it is not safe to gather with other households. At home, we prepare personal-use Communion elements (bread and cup). We look at a piece of paper or gaze into a digital screen as we “gather” with others – electronically or in memory.
Some of us are able to assemble taking precautions. We gather with others wearing masks, keeping distance, probably not singing. We might bring our own Communion elements or be served pre-packaged, sanitized items. We are with other worshippers, but not as we would have been before the pandemic.
HOW we celebrate Holy Communion has changed a lot this past year. What hasn’t changed is WHAT happens to us. No matter where we are, no matter how many are physically present, no matter who prepares the Cup and Loaf, when we assemble for Holy Communion, through Jesus Christ, we are always united in a “sweet mystic communion” with the souls of all Christians of all times – past, present, and future. We are the Body of Christ – one body forever united.
The human mind cannot fully comprehend this wondrous spiritual gift, but our souls know the truth of sweet mystical union. May this re-awakened awareness of the cosmic quality of Holy Communion transform our Christian communities this Lent. Amen. Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon: “Sweet Mystic Communion” We partake of the same bread – the many are one
Everyone, every soul, is welcome – right here, right now. We gather in this perfect moment wading into eternity blessed to gather with Jesus Christ and his Beloved Community.
Sharing the Elements
Jesus lifted up the loaf, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said:
“Take, eat. This is my Body, which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
The bread we break – the body of Christ. (eat bread)
After super, Jesus lifted up the cup, gave thanks to God, and offered it to them 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.”
The cup of blessing – the blood of Christ. (drink from cup)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Author of Life on Earth and Life Eternal, we offer our thanksgiving for the gift of sweet, mystic communion. May these holy moments mark the beginning, again, of our endless existence in Your presence, forever united one to another. We who are many, we are one in Christ. Amen.
We Pray
Prayers of the People, The Lord’s Prayer
We Give Thanks
Offering
This third Sunday of Lent reflect upon “Sweet Mystic Communion” merging, spiritually, with all Christians of all times through the ritual of Holy Communion. Let us remember we are always part of this blessed cosmic whole – thanking God for what has been and what is to come. (also see donation footnote)
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.
On Sunday March 21, 2021, Berkeley Chinese Community Church will bless donations made to the “One Great Hour of Sharing” ecumenical fund which provides assistance internationally. In 2020, giving to OGHS fell drastically as churches responded to immediate pandemic needs. This year, we are asked to give generously to continue support for our global partners who depend upon this fund. Thank you! BCCC folks: Please send your check donations to the church Treasurer, “OGHS” in the note area. Others may donate online to the national fund: https://www.ucc.org/giving/donate-now/general-donation/
OGHS video: “When Water Comes – Interviews” Words of gratitude for OGHS funds.
We Continue in Hope
Song: “The Church’s One Foundation” Words: Samuel K Stone, Tune: AURELIA written by Samuel S Wesley. Performed by 250-voice choir at CSI Egmore Wesley Church Chennai. Conductor: Emmanuel Ponraj. Pipe Organ: Arul Siromoney. Recorded live in 2012 (Chalice #272)
Benediction
St Paul assured us: “We who are many are one body.” Let us carry forward the blessing of this mystical union – taking faith, hope, compassion, peace with us to share abundantly.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
(ww) Wim Wenders, “Wings of Desire” (German title: “Der Himmel über Berlin”). 1987. B/W film w/subtitles.
(sjj)Samuel John Stone, writer of lyrics for “The Church’s One Foundation”
Video sermon note: Film mentioned: “Places in the Heart” 1984 movie set in 1930’s Texas small town.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. 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: artwork: He Qui “Supper at Emmas”
Online Publishing Date: March 4, 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”
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
About a year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time for Children of All Ages
Out of the Bag: “Different and Blessed” Seeing the Light of Christ in each other
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
God sees us, each of us,
radiant with original blessing.
We are the seeds of God’s Dream –
embodiments of incarnate Belovedness.
Jesus, our earthly teacher,
Christ, our eternal guide,
call us, collectively, to awaken
to our truest identity:
We are The Beloved Community.
Amen.
Light the Christ Candle
*Song: “In This Very Room” Written by Ron & Carol Harris. Directed by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez. Accompanied by Allen Diadem Chesed Jovita. Produced by COPVA Tech Team October 4, 2020. (Chalice #295)
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon our faith community. Today, pause to reflect upon our spiritual group as a Beloved Community. We are a gathering of beloved persons. Beloved… how does that word resonate within you? Who makes you feel beloved? Who are your beloved ones? Have you experienced yourself as God’s beloved one? We experience belovedness differently. Check in with God about your current state of belovedness. You can tell God anything. Anything. What God most wants is for you to show up as you. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
We are beloved, each and every one of us. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Every moment of our being we are held in God’s eternal care and supportive concern. This is our ultimate reality, though we can only partially perceive this fundamental, expansive grace.
Maybe you have been blessed with a glimmer of this timeless, complete, holy love. However these moments come to you, whenever these moments come to you, cherish them and know they represent a much, much, much larger reality. Know this, too: this grace is a shared grace. It is given to us. We are God’s beloved. We are the Beloved Community.
We Listen
Scripture: Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV)
St Paul’s advice to groups of Jesus-followers:
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.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Quote by Dr. Donald M. Chinula, Associate Professor, Religion and Philosophy, Stillman College:
“In King’s thought, the beloved community is heaven incarnate. It is an inclusive community here on earth. For the concrete American polity of which King spoke, integration was synonymous with inclusivity. The beloved community was, therefore, a society that had achieved optimal integration, not just desegregation. For King, a desegregated society was not synonymous with an integrated one. A segregated society was one where legal sanction for separateness had been removed. An integrated society was unitive. It had achieved a sense of human togetherness and solidarity and was vigilantly intentional about promoting human togetherness. The beloved community is, therefore, an integrated society. In King’s thought, such a society was akin to the biblical dominion of God, as King understood that metaphor.”
Reflection: “Origins of the Phrase: The Beloved Community”
The term “Beloved Community” became popular when it was used by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960’s to describe society transformed to God’s dream for humanity. However, the term originated with a Californian, the son of British immigrants who settled in Grass Valley during the Gold Rush.
Dr. Josiah Royce (1855 – 1916) was educated in his family’s remote mining town school and then in San Francisco, Oakland, and Germany. He earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins. Royce began his teaching career at University of California at Berkeley, though the bulk of his teaching career was spent at Harvard. Among his more famous students were: TS Eliot, George Santayana, and the black philosopher, WEB DuBois.
Royce, a devote, yet critical, Christian wrote: “My life means nothing, either theoretically or practically, unless I am a member of a community.” Royce’s academic work, grounded in the history of the American West, took a critical view of triumphant individualism. He was interested in the functioning of communities.
Dr. Royce believed the key to creating community among persons was loyalty. “Natural Communities,” he wrote, exhibited vicious or predatory loyalty; they tended toward the destruction of others’ causes and possibilities fueled by strident, oppositional loyalties. Royce also perceived a nobler type of loyalty calling it “loyalty to loyalty,” an adherence to higher universal ideals. Communities who foster this kind of loyalty he called “Genuine Communities” or “Communities of Grace.”
Royce’s philosophical work took a more practical turn after a series of family sorrows. He was deeply impacted by WWI. He turned his intellectual attention to addressing the war and the Church.
About Christianity, Royce noted that doctrines and creeds come and go, but the Church as community goes on. Sometimes, a church community may become a “Natural Community” with conflict and abusive behavior because its loyalties are petty and privatized. However, a church community may become a “Community of Grace” if its loyalty is to the highest values. Royce called the perfect expression of Christian faith the “Beloved Community,” an ideal he though we could never reach, but should aim for.
55 years ago, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. read Royce’s ideas about community and reflected upon the conditions in the world during his lifetime: national racism, the plight of the poor, the destructiveness of war, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Dr. King reclaimed Royce’s idea of the “Beloved Community” not as unattainable ideal of the true Church, rather as the incarnate goal of living Christians. For King, the “Beloved Community” occurs here on earth and includes all human beings. It comes into existence when people embody the teachings of Jesus Christ – respecting all persons, creating well-being for one another, including one’s enemies. Amen. Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon: “Beloved Community” Loyalty creates community – to what are we loyal?
This second Sunday of Lent reflect upon a “Community of Grace” based on higher universal ideas. When and where have you witnessed a group striving to embody the “Beloved Community?” When and how does your faith community come closest to these ideas? What is God calling you to do to support such efforts? (also see donation footnote)
We Continue in Hope
Song: “Help Us Accept Each Other” Words: Fred Kaan & John 15:12 (1974) Music: John Ness Beck (1977) Performed by Doug Smith, 2020. (Chalice #487)
Benediction
God has given us the powerful force of choice. We can choose which principles are foundational to our actions. We can choose loyalty to God’s Dream for us – the Beloved Community where all are welcome, valued, and called to their best selves. May we choose well. Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
(jr; mlk) Josiah Royce and Martin Luther King, Jr, Stanford Philosophical On-line Encyclopedia plato.Stanford.edu and essays on the King Center’s website.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. 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: artwork: He Qui “After Resurrection”
Online Publishing Date: February 25, 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”
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber(c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Lent-Easter 2021
About a year ago the coronavirus converted our congregations from sanctuary-based to home-based ministries. This Lent we reflect upon our calling to be the Christian Community in new ways. May we be open to reinvention by the Holy Spirit.
Time for Children of All Ages
Out of the Bag: “Many Christians” One Christ, Many Christians
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
Beloved, no matter where we are physically;
Beloved, no matter how scattered we are;
Through the grace of being alive;
Through the grace of Jesus Christ;
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit;
We dwell in Christian Community.
In this unique moment;
In the unimaginable wonder of eternity;
In the invisible cloud of witnesses;
We are home with each other. Amen.
Light the Christ Candle
Song: “When Morning Gilds the Skies” Words: German, ca. 1800; tr. Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930), alt. Music: Laudes Domini, Joseph Barnby (1838-1896) This hymn was recorded at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, St. Louis on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 2017. (Chalice #100)
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
This Lent we intentionally focus upon our faith community however it is real to us. On this day, pause to reflect upon your soul’s community. How is your spirit community? How are you within your community? Talk to God honesty. If it feels uncomfortable, stick with it. Tell God you feel awkward. If you are blessed with ease of conversational prayer, make sure to leave spaces for God to speak. Trust that God will use your willingness to connect to lighten a burden, to cause a blessing to bloom. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
We are never alone. We are always spiritually connected, soul to soul, to others throughout time and place. We are always in community, maybe even most of all when we aren’t aware of these blessed, ephemeral ties.
The gifted 20th century theologian, Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, lived, taught, and pastored in Nazi Germany. He wrote about “the invisible fellowship” of persons separated from their congregation due to imprisonment or illness. We who have been pulled apart daily for nearly a year know the loneliness of lost physical presence within our congregations, too, don’t we?
Pastor Bonhoeffer wrote, “…let [the person] who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of [their] heart. … It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with [other] Christians.” (db-lt)
We Listen
Scripture: Acts 11:19-26 (MSG)
Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.
When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.
Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Reflection: The First “Christians”
THE Church was born about 1990 years ago on Pentecost – fifty days after Easter – as the Holy Spirit filled the Jewish followers of Jesus assembled in Jerusalem for a religious (Jewish) festival. These people believed that Jesus – dead, crucified, and buried, had risen from the dead. They believed this Jewish carpenter’s son turn healer and preacher was the long-awaited Jewish messiah. They were not alone. From the very beginning, people were drawn to the person of Jesus and the promise of divine hope he imparted.
It’s hard for us to imagine that in those days there were no “Christians.” Christianity had yet to become a religion of its own. The followers of Jesus called each other “disciples.” They also called each other “siblings” (usually “brothers”) or “saints.” Only once in the Bible do we find a group of these people called “Christians” – this appears in the Book of Acts 11:26.
In the ancient world, as today, it was not uncommon to call the followers of powerful leader a group name based on the leaders’ name or title. During Jesus’ lifetime “Caesariani” referred to “those of the party of Caesar.” To call Jews who were disciples of Jesus “those of the party of Christ” was probably not a complimentary term. “Christian” wasn’t a term used by Jews who believed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and certainly wasn’t used by non-Jews.
Today, “Christian” technically means a person who practices the religion of Christianity, who strives to live in the way of Jesus Christ. Over the past 1990 years, we Christians have taken on many expressions and will probably continue to do so. While we use different terms to labels ourselves, and sometimes we question the validity of each other’s identities, we are all branches of the same tree. We all spring forth from Jesus of Nazareth, the earth-born Christ.
As we begin Lent this year, let us pray with our fellow disciples, our Jesus siblings, Christians of all types in all places.
Pray with the Pentecostal neighbors speaking in tongues. Pray with the bearded hipsters playing banjos. Pray with the refugees asking the stars to hear their prayers. Pray with the billions attending worship online. Pray with the Greek Orthodox chanting before icons. Pray with the Roman Catholics leading spiritual retreats. Pray with the new converts who have to hide their faith. Pray with the Mothers wearing their crowns to worship. Pray with the old-school Protestants singing their beloved hymns. Pray with the frontline workers fighting to save lives and honor the newly dead. Pray with the preachers holding outdoor tent revivals. Pray with the Holy Spirit dancers keeping time with handmade drums. Pray with the elders holding cherished Bibles. Pray with the Quakers (society of friends) sitting in silence. Pray with the Born-Again Christians. Pray with the Social Justice Christians. Pray with the don’t go to church Christians. Pray with the Nones who want to believe, but have been deeply church-hurt. Pray for the Christians in your heart. Pray for yourself.
We are all members of the Christian Community. We are one, yet we are different. We have always been diverse. May God bless Christians everywhere this First Sunday of Lent. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria. (Glory to God Alone)
Sermon: “Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Us” Christianity is both diverse and united
Song: “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” Words and Music: D Akers, 1962. Performed by The Adventist Vocal Ensemble and the congregation of St. John’s, Hackney, North London. Songs of Praise – 27th May 2012.
We Pray
Prayers of the People, The Lord’s Prayer
We Give Thanks
Offering
This first Sunday of Lent support your community of faith. It may be with a gift of time, talent, or treasure. It may be a gift of goodwill and affirmation. It may be a gift of holding your tongue or letting go of an old grudge. God will guide you in making a gift that will truly serve God’s Dream for your spiritual home. Amen. (also see donation footnote)
Beloved, we are held together, one to another, pearls strung on the strongest cord – the Holy Spirit. We are beautiful and wondrous, luminous and precious. May the holy gift of our community keep you strong and brave, caring and comforted. Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. Please check with your denominational legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Thank you.
Online Image: artwork: He Qui “Holy Spirit Coming”
Online Publishing Date: February 17, 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”
Hello Dear Ones, as has been true throughout COVID-19, we are developing content lead by the Holy Spirit. Our content aligns with the liturgical year, but not always with liturgical pericopes (designated readings).
This Lent we take a further departure from lectionary readings and themes to focus upon the Christian COMMUNITY, a theme usually observed after Easter. Given what has been happening in our lives, what is happening in our world, this Lent feels like the right time to practice an intentional, introspective gaze upon ourselves as Christian community. To examine our roots and some key principles as our calling to be the Church, the Body of Christ.
We are building this bridge of consciousness as we go – so no advance plan this year. However, these are some themes we’re working on, most have not be assigned to a specific Sunday. Some may not appear in our final offerings.
May God bless you and your community as you discern your way forward this Lent and Easter. We are all following the same Christ. May that be a good and deep blessing!
2021 Lenten-Easter Themes:
Lent 1 “Christians” – Pentecost to Antioch. United by the Holy Spirit, trying out “Christian” as a name for the followers of Jesus.
“Through Jesus Christ” – Bonhoeffer teaches that the Christian community is grounded in what Christ has already done for each of us. We are called to gratitude first. (see his book: Life Together)
“Beloved Community” – MLK used this term to describe the racially inclusive human community.
“By Our Love” – 1 John writings call us to love each other. The beloved hymn also calls us to be in solidarity with and protect each other.
Maundy Thursday “Servanthood” – Recalling Jesus’ washing the feet of this disciples, we remember our call to serve each other.
“Mystic Sweet Communion” – The eternal reality of the Christian community throughout time and place.
2 Easter “Body of Christ” – Theresa of Avila reminded her sisters that “Christ has no body now but ours.” Resurrection in community.
worship format and original content: Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber (c) 2021
Worship Note
As the Living God guides us through these pandemic-impacted times, as social justice reforms arise, we freely offer this worship content for you to adapt for your needs.
Ash Wednesday
This service covers the spiritual content of Ash Wednesday for those who may not attend an Ash Wednesday service or use DIY at home devotional materials.It may also be used as an Ash Wednesday service or devotional.
Time for Children of All Ages
Out of the Bag: “Ashes, Part 1” Making Ash Wednesday ashes at home
Out of the Bag: “Ashes, Part 2” Why we wear ash crosses on our foreheads
Worship Service
We Gather
Call to Worship
“Create in Me a Clean Heart, O Lord” a poem inspired by Psalm 51:10. As you read or recite the poem, notice which lines stand out.
When I am soiled by another’s pain and seek revenge,
Create in me a Clean Heart, O Lord.
When I am clouded by accumulating disappointments,
Create in me a Patient Heart, O Lord.
When I am fed by the work of others,
Create in me an Appreciative Heart, O Lord.
When I am in pain and aware of physical limitation,
Create in me a Soulful Heart, O Lord.
When I am unexpectedly smitten with wonder,
Create in me a Joyful Heart, O Lord.
When I am overcome by systemic oppression,
Create in me a Prophet’s Heart, O Lord.
When I am grumpy about my personal relationships,
Create in me a Loving Heart, O Lord.
When I am hiding in the forest of distraction,
Create in me a Curious Heart, O Lord.
When I am resonating with love for Dear Ones,
Create in me a Grateful Heart, O Lord.
When I am rigid and holding court,
Create in me an Open Heart, O Lord.
When I am carrying heavy suitcases filled with hurt,
Create in me a Forgiving Heart, O Lord.
When I am enchanted with the play of colors,
Create in me an Artist’s Heart, O Lord.
When I am sad and swallowed by loss,
Create in me an Eternal Heart, O Lord.
When I am proudly self-important,
Create in me a Humble Heart, O Lord.
When I am hurt and scared, tossed by life,
Create in me a Brave Heart, O Lord.
When I am in the presence of beloved little ones,
Create in me a Playful Heart, O Lord.
When I am surgically dissecting the actions of others,
Create in me a Merciful Heart, O Lord.
When I am isolated by loneliness,
Create in me a Befriended Heart, O Lord.
When I am confused and entertain despair,
Create in me a Strong Heart, O Lord.
When I am anxious and poking the Tempter,
Create in me a Peaceful Heart, O Lord.
When I am exhausted and really need to stop,
Create in me a Sabbath Heart, O Lord.
When I am lost and have forgotten who I am,
Create in me YOUR Heart, O Lord.
Light the Christ Candle
Song: “Come and Fill Our Hearts” Written by Taizé Community. 1982. Performed by Robert Allen. 2020.
We Rest in God’s Grace
Releasing and Receiving
How is it with your soul? Which lines above resonated the most for you? Talk to God, offering God the gift of your honesty. Release what is no longer yours to carry, handing it over to God. Also, receive what God is bringing to you in this precious moment, including sweet memories and new awareness. When you are ready to move on, say “Amen,” with gratitude in your heart.
Silent Prayer
Shift into simply being with God, silently. A helpful way to enter sacred silence is to offer this simple prayer based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God. (pause)
Be still and know that I am. (pause)
Be still and know. (pause)
Be still. (pause)
Be. (pause)
Rest in God’s loving presence for as long as you wish. When you’re ready to move on, take a deep breath, let it out, thank God, and say, “Amen.”
God’s Grace
Long ago, Christian church leaders created the season of Lent – a reflective 40-days plus Sundays leading up to Easter morning. Lent’s purpose is to prepare us to more fully appreciate Holy Week, especially Jesus’ Passion (death on the Cross) and Resurrection.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Annually, this is the day Christians collectively turn inward — as individuals and as groups — to examine the spiritual health of our lives and ministries. We do so in the presence of a loving God who wants the best for us.
If we’ve experienced religious judgement or punishment, Lent can be an uncomfortable reminder of previously shaming human experiences. If this is true for you, recall a time when someone very kindly helped you to grow in maturity and wisdom. This is how God mercifully calls us into the season of Lent, with respect and a desire for good outcome.
The profound gentleness of God is in itself a magnificent expression of divine grace. May our turning to God for redemptive review be such a moment for each of us. May this be a grace-filled season of Lent.
We Listen
Spiritual Practice: “Beginning Lent with Confession”
Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. A time to cleanse that which has become soiled. A time to release what is no longer needed. A time to replace what which has outgrown its use. A time to welcome whatever is truly vivacious.
God has given us freewill. God will not change us without our permission, so we begin the season of Lent giving God permission to change us, to reform us. We come to God with hope, curious to see what sort of upgrade God will download this year.
NOTE: If you will be attending a group Ash Wednesday service, you may wait until after that service to engage this deeply, personal examination. You may wish to write or draw your insights after concluding this practice.
Prayerfully recite the words of Psalm 51 (below) out loud. Pay attention to what lies heavy on your heart, mind, body, or soul. Is there a burden or barrier God is inviting you to release? This may be a vague, unnamed sensation. Or you may know, clearly, what is hard and harming that needs softening. Whatever is draining your spirits, whatever is redirecting your energy, offer this up to God for release.
Or, it may be, that you are not comfortable doing this work at this time. It will wait. You can come back to this practice anytime. Today, may these words of scripture be a shelter keeping you safe from whatever you are not yet ready to explore consciously.
Dear one, trust your inner knowing. God will guide you. There is no wrong process. Enter into this practice with an attitude of inner reflection and hopeful confession. May these words of Holy Scripture truly bless your heart. (Pray this psalm as a private conversation with God)
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-17 (NRSV)
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt-offering, You would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Amen.
May God add a blessing to the reading and reflecting upon God’s Holy Word. Amen.
Sermon:“St Valentine’s Pandemic Big Love” We love in so many ways. This year has asked a lot of us – and has given us new opportunities and challenges to love. God’s Big love guides and heals us. Text: Psalm 51:10.
Of all the offerings we make, the one which pleases God the most is “a contrite heart.” God is pleased not by our being brought to our knees in humility, but in our eagerness to be repaired and restored. The Mighty Repairer awaits each and every offering of contrition we make. Amen. (also see donation footnote)
(hold hands with someone you love, or to put your hand over your heart and call to mind a beloved someone)
St Valentine’s Day Blessing:
There is but one love, Dear Ones, it is the Love of God.
This Big Love flows through all that is.
It moves from one being to another.
It flows from one era to another.
It continually seeks reunion with all beings.
It endlessly attends the wellbeing of everything.
May God’s Redemptive Love,
made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ,
bless you and your loved ones today.
Peace be with you, Dear Ones! Amen.
(the service is concluded)
Worship Resources:
All content prepared and written by Rev. Kathryn M. Schreiber, unless attributed to another source.
Support Chinatowns: The Northern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ’s PAAM (Pacific Islander, Asian American Ministries) recognizes that Asian-American businesses are reeling from a double economic impact – the pandemic and anti-Asian xenophobia. Please support your local “mom and pop” Chinese and other AAPI-owned restaurants. The ox is a symbol of hard work that produces prosperity. Lets’ help make 2021 Year of the Ox prosperous for our Asian-American families and neighbors. Thank you! (see #SaveChineseRestaurants).
2/11/2021 UPDATED COPYRIGHT NOTE: Copyright laws have recently changed. Please check with your denominational legal counsel as to the appropriate use of licensed materials, especially print and recorded music. Please observe ethical use of resources and follow the publishing requirements of any broadcasting or publishing platforms you use. Thank you.
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”
in the big love 