Hybrid Church,13th Sunday after Pentecost, September 4, 2022

Hybrid Church,13th Sunday after Pentecost, September 4, 2022

Rev. Karen Hollis

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Welcome & Announcements 

If you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

Acclamation          Islands Liturgy

One:  The night has now passed and the day lies open before us.

All:    Let us greet the beginning of a new week in Christ and acknowledge, with thanksgiving, the circle of life.

Facing East (towards the rising sun)

O risen Christ

The image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation, in whom all things hold together, we welcome the radiance of your holy Presence.

Facing South

O risen Christ

In whom we live and move and have our being. We affirm the wonder of creation and a world of humbling needs We welcome your Word to reveal paths of faith, hope and love.

Facing West

O risen Christ

Through whom the deep mystery of God is revealed and made known We welcome the fresh winds of your Spirit to awaken us to your summons.

Facing North

O risen Christ

We stand as a people of the north and of these western isles. We commit ourselves once again to you, and call out our praise to you, our Creator and Sustainer.

Facing the Cross

Let the earth rejoice. Let the multitude of the isles be glad.

Let the earth sing out its praise. Rejoice together. 

Again, I say rejoice.

One:  Glory to God in the highest,

All:  and peace to God’s people on earth. Holy God, Mother God, Light and Love of all creation, we worship you, we give you thanks, and we praise you, for you alone are the Holy One.

Kyrie         VU #945

Centering Stillness: Let us hold this moment open to the Spirit of God.

silence

Opening Prayer

We gather this morning from the east, south, west and north to worship you, God of all creation. We give thanks for the stories that teach us about your love, the stories that shape us, the stories that challenge us to grow and deepen as your people. As we hear familiar stories today alongside stories that are new, open us to the collective wisdom you gift to the people of the world. Amen. 

Hymn: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness       VU #375

Refrain:

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

blow thro’ the wilderness calling and free,

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

1 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. [Refrain]

3 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. [Refrain]

4 You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,

from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,

our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,

with bold new decisions your people arise. [Refrain]

Prayer of Confession   Audry Asaad, adapted

As we come to the prayer of confession today, I invite you to consider from what you want to be free today. We come to this time each Sunday to unburden ourselves, to offer over to God the things that are too heavy to carry, that no longer serve us, things that keep us from being the people we are called to be.

From the love of my own comfort

From the fear of having nothing

From a life of worldly passions

Deliver me O God

From the need to be understood

And from a need to be accepted

From the fear of being lonely

Deliver me O God

From the fear of serving others

from the fear of death or trial

And from the fear of humility

Deliver me O God

Draw us close to you, O God, 

and help us to notice the things 

that keep us from your goodness. 

In relationship with you, we want for nothing,

for we are filled with your love.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace 

When we trust God enough to receive our burdens, God responds with compassion and grace. In these gifts, let us be renewed today! 

Passing of the Peace 

Let us rise in body or spirit and share the Peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding!

One:    The peace of Christ be with you! 

All:      And also with you!

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another.

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

First Reading: Genesis 1, selections (NRSV)         Reader: Betty Schultze

And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. 

Then God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ And it was so. 

And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ 

And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so.

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ 

And it was so. 

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Psalm 139        VU p.862

1 You are before me, God, you are behind,

and over me you have spread out your hand;

such knowledge is to wonderful for me,

too high to grasp, too great to understand.

2 Then from your spirit where, God shall I go;

and from your presence where, God, shall I fly?

If I ascend to heaven you are there,

and still are with me if in hell I lie.

3 If I should take my flight into the dawn,

if I should dwell on ocean’s farthest shore,

your mighty hand will rest up on me still,

and your right hand will guard me ever more.

4 If I should say, “let darkness cover me,

and I shall hide within the veil of night,”

surely the darkness is not dark to you:

the night is as the day, the darkness light.

5 Search me, O God, search me and know my heart;

try me, O God, my mind and spirit try;

keep me from any path that gives you pain,

and lead me in the everlasting way.

Reading: Skywoman Falling (Braiding Sweetgrass)      Reader: Corinne Carlson

Reflection:   Our Stories

Silent Reflection

Hymn: Deep in Our Hearts      MV #154

1 Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;

Deep in our hearts there is a common song;

Deep in our hearts there is a common story,

Telling Creation that we are one.

2 Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;

Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;

Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,

Justice and peace in harmony.

3 Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;

Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;

Deep in our hearts there is a common current,

Flowing to freedom like a stream.

4 Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;

Deep in our hearts there is a common song;

Deep in our hearts there is a common story,

Telling Creation that we are one.

A New Creed:

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People     Betty Schultze                         

One:  Loving God,

All:    Hear Our Prayers

Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                                                                           VU #959

Our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, 

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil,

for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.

Offering

Doxology                                                                                                                              CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer

We give thanks, O God, for all the gifts that come from your good earth. We offer our gifts in return that the story of your love may be known in places of need. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving   Islands Liturgy, adapted One: God be with you        

All:    And also with you

One:  Lift up your hearts               

All:     We lift them to God

One:  Let us give thanks to God most high           

All:    It is right to give God thanks and praise

Great Creator, with wit and wisdom you formed the universe.

In expectation, your Spirit brooded over all: the midwife of transformation. At your Word, the skies, the seas, the lands and all life came to be. In you, all created things shared life with one another. In ceremony and song, dance and art, these relationships were portrayed and honoured by the first peoples of these Islands and Inlets. When we turned from you, connections were broken and creation suffered. Still, you continued to bring light from night, freedom from slavery, and life from death. Therefore, together with our ancestors in faith and with your beloved creation we sing:

Sanctus        MV #203

Holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace

Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

We praise you, Source of all, for the living Word: Jesus, born in poverty; a child refugee, a worker with his hands. He gathered disciples and taught and healed the people. In vulnerability, he showed power over sin and triumphed over death. On the night before Jesus died, he feasted with his companions. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, “Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you, do this to remember me.”

After supper he took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to his companions saying, “Drink this, all of you; this is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and the world for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this to remember me.”

Entering into the mystery of faith we call:

Come Source of life. 

Come, transforming Word. 

Come, Creator Spirit.

With his sacred presence unbounded by space and time, we offer to you this bread and cup. Send your Breath of Life, like wind, blowing where it will, north, east, south and west. May your Spirit brood over these gifts and all who feast at this table offering a foretaste of the eternal feast to come. May all who share your abundant gifts be incorporated as one body and one holy people. Reveal the unity of your Church and the mystery of our communion with our holy forebears and those yet to be born, that we may be guided in faith and walk gently on the earth.

Glory and honour to you Triune God, 

dynamic of love, complete and perfect unity, 

now, and in all ages.

Amen

Breaking the Bread

One:  “I am the bread of life,” Jesus says. “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

All:    Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him!

One: These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

All:    Thanks be to God.

One:  Let us all who are gathered here receive Christ in our hearts. Those gathered in the sanctuary are also invited to receive a wafer.

Those on the socially distanced side of the sanctuary, please remain seated to be served in the pew. Those on the non-socially distanced side, please keep to your right as you process up behind the communion table to receive and continue around, back to your seat.

Communion Hymn: Bread of Life     MV #194

1 Bread of life, feed my soul,

as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.

Bread of life, fill my heart

with the grace and mercy you impart.

2 I have heard your voice calling,

‘Come, my friend, and share

in the feast that is laid out for you

to show how much I care.’

3 Bread of life, help me live

a life as pure and true as Jesus did.

Bread of life, help me see

the boundless love of Christ for you and me.

4 I have heard your voice calling,

‘Come, my friend, and share

in the feast that is laid out for you

to show how much I care.’

5 Bread of life, feed my soul,

as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.

Bread of life, fill my heart

with the grace and mercy you impart

Prayer After Communion       enfleshed

God, we give you thanks! For this meal that nourishes us in body and spirit. For a taste of your dreams. For the earth that gifts us these resources. And for these bodies of ours through which you take on flesh. May our gratitude produce faithfulness and our faithfulness produce justice. Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: Long Before the Night        VU #282

1 Long before the night was born from darkness

Long before the dawn rolled unsteady from fire

Long before she wrapped her scarlet arms around the hills

there was a love this ancient love was born 

2 Long before the grass spotted green the bare hillside

Long before a wing unfolded to wind

Long before she wrapped her long blue arm round the sea

there was a love this ancient love was born

3 Long before a chain was forged from the hillside

Long before a voice uttered freedom’s cry

Long before she wrapped her bleeding arms around a child

there was a love this ancient love was born

4 Long before the name of God was spoken

Long before a cross was nailed from a tree

Long before she laid her arm of colours ‘cross the sky

there was a love this ancient love was born

5 Wakeful are our nights and slumbers our morning

Stubborn is the grass sowing green wounded hills

As we wrap our healing arms to hold what her arms held

this ancient love this aching love rolls on

Thank You

Blessing        Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,           guiding you, cherishing you.

Right/Zoom The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, 

          bread and stories,

          feeding you, challenging you.

Left:  The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,           comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living,  guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a           community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Organ Postlude

 

Cover Photo: Wouter Supardi Salari on Unsplash