Sunday, May 30, 2021
Trinity Sunday
PRELUDE
“Here I Am, Lord”
[#593, by Dan Schutte] arr. by Jack Schrader
Rebecca Nelson, Piano
WELCOME
from the Pastor ~ Jan Everhart Hartliff (recorded worship)
from our Lay Leader ~ John Bradbury (outdoor worship)
OPENING PRAYER (unison)
Jan Everhart Hartliff (recorded worship)
John Bradbury (outdoor worship)
[prayer by Rev M Barclay, enfleshed]
Move Slowly Enough To Notice
Wherever God shows up today,
may I not be too hurried to notice,
nor too aloof to care.
When the Sacred surprises me,
like an unexpected guest,
may I not be hesitant to greet Them with open arms.
Let not my bias be a barrier
to embracing The Holy’s mysterious ways.
May I be hospitable to God enfleshed
in even the dullest circumstances,
and the hardest situations,
and the strangest of places.
I am open
to encountering Love,
to meeting with Justice,
to being held by Awe.
May it be so.
OPENING HYMN
“Holy God We Praise Thy Name” UMH #79
[WORDS: Ignaz Franz, 18th Cent.; MUSIC: Katholisches Gesangbuch, ca. 1774]
Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
all on earth thy scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite thy vast domain;
everlasting is thy reign.
Hark the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name thee,
though in essence only one;
undivided God we claim thee,
and adoring bend the knee
while we own the mystery.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Jan Everhart Hartliff (recorded)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE…THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our God, your name is holy. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us where we have harmed others, just as we forgive those who have harmed us. Lead us not toward temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
PRAYER RESPONSE
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH #334
[Doris Akers, 1962]
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place
and I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face.
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit
sweet heavenly dove
stay right here with us.
Filling us with your love.
And for all these blessings
we lift our hearts in praise
without a doubt we’ll know
that we have been revived
when we shall leave this place.
SCRIPTURE READING
John Bradbury, Lay Leader
John 3:1-17 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
HYMN
“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” TFWS #2120
[James K. Manley]
R. Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,
blow through the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness,
wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters,
you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains
from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
“Wake from your slumbers
and rise on your wings.” R
You swept through the desert,
you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded
with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets
to open their eyes. R
You sang in a stable,
you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence
when the whole world was still;
and down in the city
you called once again,
when you blew through your people
on the rush of the wind. R
You call from tomorrow,
you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow
all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions,
our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions
your people arise. R
SERMON
Mary Juarez Dalton, Guest Preacher
SONG
“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” TFWS #2153
[African American spiritual arr. By Wendell Whalum]
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time!
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
“Interlude on Nicaea”
[arr. by Hal Hopson]
Rebecca Nelson, Organ
DEDICATION AND BENEDICTION
SONG OF DISMISSAL
“Shalom to You, Now” UMH #666
[Trad. Hebrew blessing; Israeli melody]
Shalom to you now, shalom my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you my friends.
In all your living, and through your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
POSTLUDE
“Trumpet Tune”
[by John Stanley (1713-1786)]
Rebecca Nelson, Organ