Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

Room is set up with 4 stations – one with pens, markers, paper, scissors; one with bowls of things that have good or specific smells; one with lots of tea-lights and matches; one with soft music playing on a jam-box (there is one in Leslie’s office). Room is meditative. Five bowls from last week (in DG’s office now) are up front near stage area – on rocks around stage? Lit somehow? 

• “Do You Want to Know a Secret” by The Beatles 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 sometimes the best thing we can do is to listen to God – and everything else we need to do or know will follow that.

Welcome and Breathe

• A Journeyer reads a poem by 13th century Persian poet Rumi

“Guest House” 

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

• Rick welcomes, has us breathe... 
• Rick reviews series, and last week’s theme & worship
• Rick leads a discussion of and prayer for Memorial Day

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• A Journeyer reads from the early Christian scriptures, a letter called “James”

Don’t be confused, my dear family in God. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Eternal Parent surrounded by the lights of the heavens. God does not change like shifting shadows. God has chosen to give us birth through the word of truth, and that gives us a role to play in the world God is creating. 

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

• A Journeyer reads from Acts

Luke describes Jesus’ followers on the Feast of Pentecost, feeling on fire and speaking God’s message to the pilgrims in Jerusalem, in languages the foreigners could understand. Then, Luke says, they began to coalesce as a group. Here is what the group did (from Acts chapter 2):

They devoted themselves to the leaders’ teaching;
They committed to the group overall;
They regularly participated in Communion;
They prayed together and individually. 
They paid attention to – and were humbled by – the power of God at work in their group and beyond it. 
They banded together and shared what they had. 
They sold belongings and holdings, and made sure that no one had a need that wasn’t filled. 
They met together every day, in the city. 
They gathered in each others’ homes – large homes and small. 
They ate together with grateful hearts, and honest words. 
They honored God. 

The people around them saw what was happening in the group – and people came, and became part of what God was doing.

• The same reader says offering prayer
• Maria sings and Kate plays "Remember Surrender" by Sara Groves as the ushers pass the baskets and take them to front

Telling The Story and Our Story

• Rick talks (and Journey talks back)
• Community participates in prayer stations exercise. No music plays. 

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• A Journeyer leads a responsive prayer

Please stand. This is a prayer we’ll read together. We’ll read it slowly and carefully. Plant your feet on the ground. Stretch. Breathe as we read this prayer. Its text comes from an ancient Jewish scripture, Psalm 46:

Be still, and know that I am God. 
Be still, and know that I am.
Be still, and know that I. 
Be still, and know that.
Be still, and know.
Be still, and.
Be still. 
Be. 
Amen. 

• The same Journeyer dismisses us 
• “Do You Want to Know a Secret” by The Beatles plays again as folks depart