Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

There are white banners stretching above our heads, still coming from the empty tomb. Now our fountain has become a creek bed, with rocks, a tiny trickle of water -- the beginnings of something.

• “Down by the River to Pray” by Alison Krauss 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 we want to do everything RIGHT NOW – like ride a bike, or drive a car, or be in high school. But sometimes the very best thing we can do is to be exactly where we are. God is teaching us and helping us all along the way, and we’ll learn and be able to do all sorts of things when we’re ready and the time is right.  

Welcome and Breathe

• Rick welcomes, has us breathe...

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• A Journeyer reads part one of the poem “Revelation” by Ann Lewin

God’s work of art.
That’s me? 
Then beauty must lie
In the eye of the 
Beholder. 
I feel more like
One of those statues
Michelangelo left
Half emerging
From the marble block;
Full of potential,
On the verge of life,
But prisoned still
By circumstance and
Fear.

• Judi Sawyer introduces guest musician
• Danny Schmidt sings two songs
• Another Journeyer reads from the early Christian leader Paul, in a letter to his friends in the city of Rome:

The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is anticipating what God is doing. God waits until the time is ready. And all around us, the universe is pregnant. When we go through hard times, it’s like the pains of a mother in childbirth. Something’s being born. It’s around us … it’s within us … The Spirit of God is in our souls, waking us up. We're feeling the beginnings of something being born through us. 

• Video clip of Mobile Loaves and Fishes plays 

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

• A Journeyer reads part two of the poem “Revelation” by Ann Lewin

Yet part of me is free – 
And you are still creating,
Bringing to life
The promise that is there.
Sometimes by 
Hammer blows
Which jar my being,
Sometimes by
Tender strokes half felt
Which waken me to 
Life.

• Same reader says an offering prayer
• Danny Schmidt sings as the ushers pass the baskets and then bring them to the foot of the cross

Telling The Story and Our Story

• A Journeyer reads from the Jesus story called Luke

Then Jesus asked, "What is the work God is doing like? What can I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." Again he asked, "What shall I say is like the work God is doing? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour. The yeast grew and spread, until it worked all through the dough."

• Rick talks

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• A Journeyer reads the poem “Revelation” by Ann Lewin 

God’s work of art.
That’s me? 
Then beauty must lie
In the eye of the 
Beholder. 
I feel more like
One of those statues
Michelangelo left
Half emerging
From the marble block;
Full of potential,
On the verge of life,
But prisoned still
By circumstance and
Fear. 

Yet part of me is free – 
And you are still creating,
Bringing to life
The promise that is there.
Sometimes by 
Hammer blows
Which jar my being,
Sometimes by
Tender strokes half felt
Which waken me to 
Life.

And now, the final part of the poem:

Go on, Lord.
Love me into wholeness.
Set me free
To share with you
In your creative joy;
To laugh with you
At your delight
In me,
Your work of art.

Now, let’s all say that last part together, as our closing for today’s worship gathering. 

Go on, Lord.
Love me into wholeness.
Set me free
To share with you
In your creative joy;
To laugh with you
At your delight
In me,
Your work of art.

Amen.

• Same reader dismisses us 
• “Down by the River to Pray” by Alison Krauss plays again as folks depart