Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

Pond remains; flower boxes can stay or go; arch is angled in front of pond (room for platforms for musicians), its gate mangled and hanging funny. Light is streaming out from the arch, as well as white fabric or table runners. Prayer flags from previous unit come down from ceiling and hang behind cross. White stuff everywhere. There’s a central table, all white and white lights, with the communion elements on it but stripped down, simple. 

• "Cosmic Love" by Florence the Machine 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 the things we think are impossible, God can do – like help a tree grow, or help heal someone’s broken heart, or help us do things we didn’t know we could do. God is always helping us, even when we can't see God. 

Welcome and Breathe

• Rick welcomes, has us breathe, 
• Rick introduces new worship unit 

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• A Journeyer reads the Emmaus story from the Jesus story called the Gospel of Luke

On Resurrection Day

Later on the day Jesus had come out of the tomb, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to their house in a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from the capital city. They were talking about everything that had happened in the last few days. And a man came up and started walking alongside them. It was Jesus himself, but they didn’t recognize him – even though they had been his followers. 

He asked them, "What are you talking about?" 

They stopped, staring at him and staring down, just sad. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "How on earth do you not know what’s been happening all week in the city? It’s all anyone can talk about. It’s a horrible story.” 

Jesus said, “Why? What’s happened?”

They both started talking at the same time. They told him about a man named Jesus. One said, "He was a prophet, powerful in the things he said and did for God, in front of all the people of Israel. The religious council had him arrested, and the government executed him.” 

The other added, “But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to lead us all, and save Israel. So we were all heartbroken and confused. But the hardest part to understand is that today -” 

The first interrupted, “This morning, some of the women in the group amazed us. They went to Jesus’ tomb early this morning, but they didn't find his body.”

The second one said, “They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they didn’t see Jesus." 

Jesus said to them, "You don’t even know the Chosen One’s job, do you. The Chosen One that God sends, is supposed to be a suffering servant, not a king with power. How did you miss this?" And they started walking again, and Jesus talked about the scriptures, and taught them about how Moses and all the Prophets, had said all along that the Chosen One was a servant, who would be executed, and come back to life. 

They walked into the village, and Jesus kept on walking. But they pushed him to stay - "Don’t go; it’s nearly dark, and we’ve got a place to stay, and we can feed you. Come be our guest.” So he went in to stay with them at their house.

They made dinner, and talked some more. And then they all sat down to eat. Jesus offered to say a blessing to God, and he took the bread, and gave thanks, and broke it and began to pass it to them. 

And suddenly, it was as if their eyes were opened. And they recognized him, and it was impossible, it was Jesus… and immediately he disappeared from their sight. They couldn’t believe it. They asked each other, "When we were walking along the road – didn’t you feel it? Something inside us – it was like a fire burning – I knew something amazing was happening.” 

They got up and ran the whole way back to the group’s house in the city – and told the story – and it turned out that Jesus had been appearing to many people all day long. 

• Video clip of man washing strangers’ feet plays
• Rick asks, “What’s hard about receiving?”
• Three Journeyers read from the Jesus story called the Gospel of John, chapter 13; the passage is read 3 times, once by each reader

Listen to this story. You will hear it three times. Close your eyes, get centered, breathe. Listen for what the story says to you, what comes up in your soul. Between the readings we’ll have silence. Don’t be in a hurry; just let the words and the images bring up whatever you and God are in conversation about. 

The evening meal was being served. 

Jesus knew deep down that he had everything he needed. God was his source, and he would be returning to his source soon. 

So, out of that deep knowing --

Jesus got up from the meal, took off his shirt, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl, and knelt to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet, too?" 

Jesus replied, "Yes, I am. I know you don’t realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 

“No," said Peter, "you will never wash my feet." 

Jesus answered, "Well, unless I wash your feet, you’re not part of what I’m trying to create." 

• Video clip of Fr. Damien plays 

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

• A Journeyer reads from a letter from the early Christian leader Paul, to a group of Christians in the Greek city of Corinth

Anyone whose home is in God no longer lives anywhere else or is any other kind of person. The old things have passed away. All things are made new. 

• The same Journeyer leads an offering prayer
• Judi sings "Here's to the Day" by Billy Crockett as the ushers pass the baskets and then bring them to the cross

Telling The Story and Our Story

• Video clip of man washing strangers’ feet plays again
• Rick talks
• Rick introduces Communion
• The community shares the experience of Communion (recorded music plays – something meditative, quiet, and sweet)

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• A Journeyer leads a responsive prayer

We Are Here: A Journey Imperfect Responsive Prayer

Leader:  We are here, God, and we want you to wash and heal and strengthen us.

Journeyers:  We are here, God, still amazed at the idea of resurrection.

Leader:  We are here, God, and we want to be open to mystery and impossible things.

Journeyers:  We are here, God, and maybe you could do the mysterious and impossible inside us… but it’s hard to believe… 

Leader:  We are here, God, and we want to see you, in the middle of where we are.

Journeyers:  We are here, God. We’re confused a lot of the time.

Leader:  We are here God, and we don’t know what to do.

Journeyers:  We are here, God. Help us be part of making the mysterious and impossible, a reality.

Leader:  Right here, right now.

Journeyers:  Where we are. Not in a far-off, theoretical world.

Leader:  In this world. In our world. 

Journeyers:  In my world. Inside me, and all around me.

And all of Journey said “Amen.”

• The same Journeyer dismisses us 
• Song plays again as folks depart