God in the moment-by-moment possibilities (prayer of confession for Jan 28)

the prayer of confession from Sunday night’s worship: 

O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times, O God, when we fail to recognize you in the dailyness of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade our own wisdom.

Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom.

fill this sacred space (call to worship for Jan 28th)

the call to worship from Sunday night’s worship service:

Fold up the newspaper. Turn off the kettle. Close up your diary already filled with dates, and times, and people, and places that claim you. This congregation is ready for you to fill this sacred space, to create its spirit, to generate its warmth, to kindle its light. (Adapted/David Blanchard)

Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.

Lighting of candle: Divine spark from sacred dark, Symbol of our holy intent, illuminate this hour. (Kathy Huff)

AMEN

prayer concerns and celebrations (Jan 28)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship January 28th:

Concerns: prayers of healing for Lou’s cousin, for Laura’s grandmother and cousin; for Deb’s hands; prayers of well-being for Debbie and soon-to-be-born Akira; prayers of safe travel for Jerry’s friend; for baby Chris, for Leon (?).

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us unto himself, may the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, and may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts.

Celebrations: Thanksgiving for the three amongst us who became official members tonight: Terry, Blayne, and Steve (Congratulations!); and thanksgiving for Laura’s grandmother doing better.

We praise you, Lover of all! We thank you for calling us to be your people, and for choosing us to give you glory.

Who will carry the light if we do not? (Call to worship for Jan 14th)

The call to worship from January 14th. (We passed a candle around the sanctuary while we said these words.)

In the beginning, the universe was dark and cold. And the Spirit hovered and brooded and whispered: “Let there be life!” In the beginning God said: “Let there be light!” In the beginning the Word was spoken and light and life came into being! In the beginning God looked at all that had been made and saw that it was very good. In the beginning… In the beginning…

In the beginning…

After the beginning, God handed the light to human beings.

And they handed the light on to their children.

And their children handed the light on to their children, who handed it on to their children, who handed it on to their children.

And to their children.

The light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… And some took the light into desert places. And some took the light into city places. And some to the east. And some to the west. And some to the north and the south. The light waits.

Who will keep the light burning in our day? Who will take the light into the world?

Who will carry the light if we do not? Whom, then, shall the Lord send?

Here we are. Send us.

prayer concerns and celebrations (Jan 21)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship January 21st:

Concerns: healing for Laura’s grandmother, for Sue, for Janine’s hand; support for Damon’s relationship transition and for his family; safe travel for Laura’s parents travelling to Louisiana to be with Laura’s grandmother; health and well-being for Debbie and soon-to-be-born Akira; and silent prayers.

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Celebrations: Thanksgiving for Terry and Kathy’s wonderful weekend with Kathy’s niece; praises for David’s answered prayer (the prodigal thief repented!); praises that the rainbow flags carried on the MLK peace march turned out to be the means by which two different people realized — for the first time — that, yes, there are gay and lesbian people in Yakima!; and big welcome to Damon .

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory! Hosanna in the highest!

We make our boast of God’s mercy!

prayer concerns and celebrations (Jan 14)

Please pray for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship January 14th:

Concerns: For Blayne’s grandmother; for silent prayers; for health and well-being of Debbie and soon-to-be-born Akira; for relationship transitions; for Megan to see her children soon; for healing of Sparky’s ear (Lou’s dog).

God of mercy, you care for me as if you had no one else to care for, yet you care for all even as you care for me. I commend to you now my own needs but also the needs of all this world to which I belong, specifically…. Amen.

Celebrations: Thanksgiving for a wonderful day skiing (Deb and Laura) and for the beauty of the world; for Elias’s and Eisa’s birthdays this week (and for the wonder children bring to our lives).

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

MLK Day in Yakima: Worship service on Sunday, peace march on Monday

Morning, all.

See below the notice from today’s Yakima Herald-Republic on an MLK Peace march to be held this Monday.  The parade route image is not given online (but is in the paper itself (frontpage of the Home Front section)).  It also announces the ecumenical worship service on Sunday at 3:30pm which Rev. Jane will be participating in (see also our list of “Upcoming Events”).  See you there!

Peace march held Monday
Below is the parade route for the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace and Justice March, celebrating King’s birth Monday.

The march starts at noon at Sixth Avenue and MLK Jr. Boulevard. The parade route will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 11 a.m.

The march ends at the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St., where a program will be held with keynote speaker Superior Court Judge Michael Schwab.

Following the march and program, the Southeast Yakima Community Center will host a soup kitchen from 1:30 to 3 p.m. for the homeless and hungry.

On Sunday, the 24th annual community church service will be held at at 3 p.m. at Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church, 221 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. [which Rev. Jane will be participating in]

prayer concerns and celebrations (Jan 7)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God at worship on Jan 7:

Concerns: Guidance for Megan and Ana; healing for Steve, for Brandon, and for Kyle; safe travel for David; for silent concerns.

O Christ, our true and only light, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds, visit us with your salvation, and sustain us with your gracious Spirit.  Amen

Celebration: Thanksgiving for partial healing of Kyle’s tumor.

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation!  Psalm 95:1

Breathing in, breathing out, God patiently shapes our fragile, earthen vessels into members of the eternal, grace-filled Body of Christ.

the call to worship from last night’s worship service:

Breathing in, breathing out, the Spirit of God calls us to this time and place.

Breathing in, breathing out, we practice living in the presence of God.

Breathing in, breathing out, we practice loving as God loves the world.

Breathing in, breathing out, God patiently shapes our fragile, earthen vessels into members of the eternal, grace-filled Body of Christ.

Welcome to the season of Epiphany!

P.S. The air-wind-breath imagery of this call to worship was especially appropriate last night. First, we worshipped in the main sanctuary due to a gas and/or heating issue in our sanctuary (I arrived late, so I’m not exactly up on what the problem was.) And then, while we worshipped, the wind outside squeeeeeealed and rattled the stained-glass windows. I took it all as God’s way of helping me remember to relax into the Holy Spirit, to relax into the Power of God, God’s Wind, God’s Breath.

An MCC Pastor reflects on Saddam Hussein’s execution

Hi, everyone. This was posted as part of MCC’s Diverse Voices of Justice Newsletter (an ongoing series of reflections and op-ed articles by members of Metropolitan Community Churches). I thought it was worth re-posting on our blog.

Reflections on the Occasion of an Execution

The following reflection was authored by the Reverend Pat Bumgardner, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York. Rev. Bumgardner serves as Chair of MCC’s Global Justice Team.

January 2007

Saddam Hussein was hung to death in Iraq before dawn on December 30, 2006, just prior to the call to morning prayer. Though accused of many things, the conviction and death sentence were for the massacre of 148 men and boys in the town of Dujail 24 years ago.

Four women stood before photographers for the New York Times with pictures of their slain loved ones, and people who witnessed the hanging said Mr. Hussein was unusually submissive and, in the end, simply resigned himself to his fate.

Not much was said about the letter authored to the Iraqi nation in the final days before this execution, calling for peace and attempting to quell any potential escalation of sectarian violence his death might inspire.

Following his death, the media devoted much time to the question of where the body of this one-time dictator would be laid to rest. Many fear death’s apparent ability — even in the case of those who have committed atrocities — to alter views of the past and inspire hopes for the future.

Perhaps that should be the real question we ask ourselves in our prayers this week, and the question we ask every morning in prayer: “What are our hopes for the future — our hopes for the world?”

Will executing human beings, even those of admittedly tyrannical repute, guarantee a better future for the hundreds of thousands of people who cling to life under desperate conditions in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East? What will restore hope and promise to a part of the world once hailed as the cradle of civilization?

Every morning in prayer, the breviary I follow begins with the words, “Open my lips, O God, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” What will proclaim the praise of God this day? Perhaps we should add to our morning prayers the recitation of the text we hold most sacred and the higher law we profess to live by: “Thou shalt not kill.” “God takes no delight in the sacrifice of life,” Psalm 51 says.

Not long ago, in this same corner of the world, in Iran, two young boys named Mahmoud and Ayaz, were hung to death because they, too, broke the law. They were gay. And in their country, being gay is a capital offense — it undermines the future of the people and dashes the promise of humanity, we are told.

Many will say there is no connection between the two executions. But many of us also learned early in life that two wrongs don’t make a right. Taking life is taking life. Maybe our morning prayer today should begin simply with a petition for forgiveness for all the ways we have worked against the promise of peace on earth and good will among all.

/authored by/
The Reverend Pat Bumgardner
Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of New York
and
Chair, MCC Global Justice
E-Mail: RvPatMCCNY@aol.com

Celebrate Epiphany, when Jesus came out to the world!

Hi, everyone.

I was just thinking a little bit about Epiphany (when Jesus came out to the world as Savior). It still gets dark early this time of year, but this weekend we get to celebrate a million or so watts of bright light – bright, spiritual light — the unveiling of the infinite God in Christ!

For the western church, the coming out was when Jesus “appeared” to the Magi from the east (representing all gentiles, all peoples of the world). For the eastern church, the coming out was when Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan and by God by the Spirit descending upon him. But, in either case, it’s Jesus coming out to the world. God is not only come to be with us (Emmanuel, God-with-us), but through Christ has broadcast his love for us to the whole world, has revealed who he really is — the infinite God who is also God-with-us.

And God-with-us is a balmy light we can bask in in the middle of winter and always. Very cool.

If you’re not planning to come already, please join as tomorrow evening as we celebrate the feast of Epiphany!

Spirit of God, send forth your light, your flame, your healing, and your strength

the call to worship from last night’s worship service:

facing East: Spirit of God, who in the beginning of time moved upon the face of the waters, we call upon you, wind of east, of the air, creative source, golden eagle of the dawn, whirlwind, star-abiding one, rising sun: come by the air that is your breath. . . send forth your light. . . be among us now.

facing South: Spirit of God, who frees us and calls us to the continuing task of liberation, we call upon you, wind of the south, wind of fire, flaming one, summer warmth, spark of life, wind of change and hope, come by the fire that is your power. . . send forth your flame. . . be among us now.

facing West: Spirit of God, who gives us birth, who nurtures and sustains us, we call upon you, wind of the west, wind of water, rain maker, grey robed twilight, evening star, gentle breeze, touch of compassion, come by the water of birth and renewal, send forth your healing. . . be among us now.

facing North: Spirit of God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we call upon you, wind of the north, wind of earth, cornerstone of all power, stone, mountain, fertile field, north star, center of the whirling midnight sky, come by the earth that is your body. . . send forth your strength. . . be among us now.

All: Spirit of God, of creation, of liberation, of healing, of strength, we seek you beyond the borders of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one. Come, be among us now.