O God bring us from our famine and self-dependence to Jerusalem and beyond — to Jesus our Savior.

Last night’s communion prayer:

God of our ancestors and God of our children, we come knowing we have preferred to test you, rather than to trust you. The famine in our souls makes us long to be filled with the empty promises of the world. We listen to the soothing words of the advertisers, rather than to the uncomfortable words of discipleship.

Forgive us, God of our lives. Bring us out of that dependence on ourselves, and bring us into the presence of the One we seek to follow, not only to Jerusalem, but beyond — into life with you forever, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Rev. Jane’s interview on Woman-Stirred Radio now scheduled for April 5th

Rev. Jane’s interview on Woman-Stirred Radio is now scheduled for April 5th at 1:30pm Pacific Time.  We can listen to it live at www.wgdr.org by clicking on their “Listen Live” link.

Woman-Stirred Radio (WGDR 91.1 FM, Goddard College) features “interviews with GLBTQ writers, poets, musicians and artists from Vermont… and the rest of the world.”

prayer concerns and celebrations (Feb 25)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship February 25th:

Concerns. Prayers of support for the Vega, Corbin, and Stiles families in their grief; prayers of healing and support for Leah (Sue’s friend), for Fern (Laura’s grandmother), and Kyle (Laura’s cousin), for Luke (Anaïs’s friend’s brother), and for Deb’s wrists; and silent prayers. Additional prayer: for Ana & Megan — for healing and may they return to us soon!

God of peace, let us, your people, know, that at the heart of turbulence there is an inner calm that comes from faith in you. Amen.

Celebrations. Thanksgiving for Lou’s birthday (February 23rd). Additional celebration: thanksgiving for the deeelicious brownies (thank you, Jeanine) and the ice-cream bars! Thank God for simple pleasures.

It is the joy of our salvation, God of the universe, to give you thanks through Jesus Christ!

Happy Birthday to Lou!!!

Happy Birthday to Lou!!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Lou, Happy Birthday to you! And many more!

O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servant Lou, as she begins another year. Grant that she may continue to grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen her trust in your goodness all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN.

prayer concerns and celebrations (Feb 18)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship February 18th:

Concerns: Help and support for all those who are hurt or in pain; healing for Deb’s wrists (especially the right one), healing for Laura’s grandmother and cousin; and support for Laura’s mother.

God be your comfort, your strength;
God be your hope and support;
God be your light and your way;
and the blessing of God,
Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life,
remain with you now and for ever. AMEN.

Celebrations: Thanksgiving for the safe delivery and well-being of Debbie and baby Akira (welcome to the world, Akira!); praises for the deep blue skies; and celebration of David and Joshua’s engagement.

Hallelujah! Praise the Name of the Lord; give praise, you servants of the Lord, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his Name, for it is lovely. Psalm 135:1-3

For Akira, born February 16th:

Living God, we thank you for the gift of Akira, this new member of our pastor’s family and of our church family, and for the promise of his personality. Guard him from all that may harm him, and make him happy in receiving and giving love. AMEN.

Watch over your child Akira, O God, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be. Stengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he fall; and in his heart may your peace which is beyond understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

erring on the side of inclusivity (“Church takes stand against straight marriage”)

Hi, all.

I just wanted to pass on something I just came across.  Pamela Miller, from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, writes about a couple of churches that have decided to treat their hetero- and homo- sexual couples equally — by no longer offering civil weddings.  Great title: Church takes stand against straight marriage.  It appears to have been published April 16, 2006, but the article’s no longer on the Star Tribune website. 

Anyway, besides the great title, I wanted to quote one of the pastors:

The Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, a member of Lyndale United, acknowledged that people of faith cite scriptures for both sides of the same-sex marriage debate.

“The arc of the gospel always moves toward circles of inclusivity, and in earlier debates about human rights, people who err on the side of inclusivity have been proven right,” she said. “Very few passages in the Bible deal with homosexuality, but many can be lifted up in arguments for justice and equal treatment.”

Yes, yes, yes! 

life upon earth rose to love (call to worship Feb 11)

the call to worship from tonight’s worship service:

Out of the stars in their flight, out of the dust of eternity, here have we come, stardust and sunlight, mingling through time and through space.

Out of the stars have we come, up from time; Out of the stars have we come.

Time out of time before time in the vastness of space, earth spun to orbit the sun, Earth with the thunder of mountains newborn, the boiling of seas.

Earth warmed by sun, lit by sunlight: This is our home; out of the stars have we come.

Mystery hidden in mystery, back through time; Mystery rising from rocks in the storm and the sea.

Out of the stars, rising from rocks and the sea, kindled by sunlight on earth, arose life.

Ponder this thing in your heart; ponder with awe: Out of the sea to the land, out of the shallows came ferns.

Out of the sea to the land, up from darkness to light, rising to walk and to fly, out of the sea trembled life.

Ponder this thing in your heart, life up from sea: Eyes to behold, throats to sing, mates to love.

Life from the sea, warmed by sun, washed by rain, life from within, giving birth, rose to love.

This is the wonder of time; this is the marvel of space; out of the stars swung the earth; life upon earth rose to love.

This is the marvel of life, rising to see and to know; Out of your heart, cry wonder: sing that we live. Robert Weston/slt

prayer concerns and celebrations (Feb 11)

Please pray this week for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship February 11th:

Concerns: healing for Deb’s wrists, for Lou’s sinuses, for Fern (Laura’s grandmother) and Kyle (Laura’s cousin); well-being for Debbie and soon-to-be-born Akira; and support for Kelly and other family/friends of Gene; safe travel for Murray.

May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to you promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Psalm 119:41-42 TNIV

Celebrations: thanksgiving for Deb’s birthday, for Murray’s visit, and for the way the Divine works (with Tim, especially).

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:1-3 TNIV

happy birthday to Deb!!!

Happy Birthday to Deb!!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Deb, Happy Birthday to you! And many more!

Thursday night Bible Study

All are welcome to next Thursday’s Bible Study on homosexuality and the Bible.  We’ll continue to look at the Sodom and Gomorrah story (Genesis 19), and we’ll compare it to Judges 19-21 and to 2 Samuel 10 (in case you want to read ahead in preparation).  We should also be able to spend some time on Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13.

We had a good group last Thursday — ten of us, in fact.

Oh, and I just ordered five copies of a book we’ll be using: The Children Are Free, published by Jesus MCC in Indianapolis, and written by Rev Jeff Minor and John Tyler Connoley.  Three copies are spoken for, but the other two copies will be available to anyone who wants them for $10 each.

See you there!   Anyone want to volunteer to bring some goodies?

prayer concerns and celebrations (Feb 4)

Please pray for the following concerns and celebrations brought before God during worship February 4th:

Concerns: healing for Lou, Ana & Megan, Sue; well-being for Debbie and soon-to-be-born Akira; forgiveness for Steve from his family; support for Lou and other family/friends of Cleon. Later additions: spiritual support for Logan; support for Kelly and other family/friends of Gene Hopkins (who died this week); healing for Kyle (Laura’s cousin) and for Fern (Laura’s grandmother).

In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament, and God will hear my voice. Psalm 55:18

Celebrations: thanksgiving for a good day (David); and for a lump going away (Sue). Later additions: thanksgiving for the great work cleaning/upgrading the sanctuary last Saturday done by Rev. Jane, Terry, Kathy, Deb, and Orion; for Fern’s (Laura’s grandmother’s) daily improvement (from a small stroke).

I love you, O God of my strength, O God my stronghold, my crag, and my haven. My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise. Psalm 18:1-2

[Sorry for delay this week getting these requests posted!]

we incarnate God in the world (call to worship, Feb 4)

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

We celebrate that where people are gathered together in love, God is present and good things happen and life is full.

We celebrate that we are immersed in mystery that our lives are more than they seem, that we belong to each other and to a universe of great creative energies, whose source and destiny is God.

We celebrate that the spirit of God beat in the heart of Jesus of Nazareth and God’s good news was heard by the broken and wounded.

We are glad that the spirit of peace is present with us, the church, as we gather to celebrate our common existence, and the fidelity of God.

And most deeply we believe that in our struggle to love, we incarnate God in the world.

And so aware of mystery and wonder, caught in friendship and laughter, we become speechless before the joy in our hearts as we celebrate the sacredness of life.