Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

The room is bright and warm in color. There are groupings of people but we can see the center because that's where the action will be. The stage is set for Journey Choir.

• "Shelter From the Storm" by Jimmy LaFave plays
• A Journeyer steps up to light the lamp and another rings the bell
• Rick (E) and Leslie (L) make announcements

Worshiping with Our Children

• A Journeyer leads our children in talking about how God is with us in our hearts, even if we can't see God. Also, we can see God, because God is in the way people love and care for each other, in hugs, listening, kindness.

Welcome and Breathe

• A Journeyer reads a poem called “’Dig Here,’ The Angel Said” by 16th century Spanish priest and mystic St. John of the Cross

She caught me off guard when my soul said to me,
“Have we met?”

So surprised I was to hear her speak like that,
I chuckled.

She began to sing a tale: “There was once a hardworking man
who used to worry so much because he could
not feed and clothe his children and
wife the way he wanted.

There was a beautiful little chapel in the village
where the man lived, and one day while
he was praying, an angel
appeared.

The angel said, ‘Follow me.’ And he did, out into an ancient forest.
‘Now dig here,’ the angel said. And the man felt strength in
his limbs he had not known since youth, and with just
his bare hands he dug deep and found a
lost treasure, and his relationship
with the world changed.”

Finding our soul’s beauty does that – gives us
tremendous freedom
from worry.

“Dig here,” the angel said –
“in your soul,
in your
soul.”

• Rick welcomes us, talks about series
• Take a breath...

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• The Journey Sometimes Choir sings "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever"
• Rick introduces Heart Team story; Heart Team member tells story
• Rick introduces Strength Team story; Strength Team member tells story

Giving -- To Help God Do God's Work in This World  

• "Stranger Film" video plays 
• A Journeyer says an offering prayer
• The Journey Sometimes Choir sings "He's Always Been Faithful" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" as the ushers pass the baskets 

Telling The Story and Our Story

• Leslie introduces Heart Team story; Heart Team member tells story
• Leslie introduces Strength Team story; Strength Team member tells story
• A Journeyer reads from the Jesus story called Matthew, chapter 12

Jesus and his students were walking through some fields of grain. They were hungry, and they picked some of the grain, and rolled the husks off between their hands, and then ate the grain while they walked. But Jesus was always trailed by people trying to figure out what he was doing. It turns out that it was a Saturday, which for the Jewish leaders was a holy day when no one was allowed to do any work, including harvesting grain. So some of the Jewish teachers came up to Jesus and asked him, “Your students just harvested on the Sabbath. You know that’s a violation of the Law. We try to keep the Law; why are you breaking it?” 

Jesus answered them. “I know, following the Law and the Scriptures is important to you. So, here’s a question back at you about what’s most important. You know the story that King David and his friends were on the run. They were hungry. They entered the holy place of God, and he and his friends at the bread that had been set aside for religious rituals. Only priests were allowed to eat that bread. But the great King David did it anyway. 

“Or, how about this one – on the Sabbath, priests do things that are actually against the Laws, like working and butchering meat and so on – but they're doing it for a greater purpose than following rules about who can do what on what day. King David was in battle for the kingdom of Israel. The priests are serving the people by offering their sacrifices to God. Do you see? Knowing what's most important is the point. 

“My students haven’t done anything wrong. Go look at the prophet Hosea – he tells us that what God wants is mercy and compassion, not ritual observances. Get it straight. Find out what’s most important.”

• Rick talks

Go Out to Serve with Heart and Strength

• Two Journeyers, a man and a woman, read in unison from Micah 

Hear God speaking, as written in the prophet Micah:

Listen! If you know what’s good for you, you'll hear this. 
Do you expect me to overlook obscene wealth you’ve piled up by cheating others?
Do you think I’ll tolerate shady deals and scheming?
I’m tired of the violence of riches, bullying and lying.
I’m fed up. You’ll pay for everything you’ve hoarded and everything you’ve wasted.
Do you see yourselves? No matter how much you get, it will never be enough – 
Hollow stomachs … empty hearts.
No matter how hard you work, you’ll never have enough to make it worth it – 
Bankrupt lives … wasted souls.
You’ll plant grass, but never get a green lawn.
You’ll make jelly, but never spread it on your bread.
You’ve lived by the standards of the rulers of this world. You’ve been enslaved. 
Listen to me! Before it’s too late!
One of those two readers leads the community in another reading from Micah
And now, let us speak back to God, using words written in the prophet Micah:
There is no way we can impress you, God, with armloads of offerings or lists of good deeds.
God, you are not bought off with a big show or a fancy parade. 
You have already made it plain to us how to live, and what to do.
You have already shown us what you are looking for in the way women and men behave:
It is very simple.
We are called to do what is fair and just for our fellow human beings.
We are called to be compassionate and share your love.
We are to walk with humility and openness, letting you guide our every step. 
Help us, God. 
Thank you, God. 
We are listening, God. 
We will follow, God. 
Amen.

• The other of those two readers dismisses us 
• "Shelter From the Storm" plays again as folks depart