February 16, 2025
Sunday Gathering

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-PRELUDE-
“Be Thou My Vision” – arr. B. Jacobsen
Brenda Gardiner

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-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them. 

We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city. 

We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood. 

We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Welcome”

LET’S WALK TOGETHER FOR A WHILE
PM AND ASK WHERE WE BEGIN
TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE LOVE CAN GROW
AND HOPE CAN ENTER IN,
TO BE THE HANDS OF HEALING
AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF PEACE,

SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.
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-WELCOME-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

"Welcome”

LET’S TALK TOGETHER OF A TIME
WHEN WE WILL SHARE A FEAST,
WHERE PRIDE AND POWER KNEEL TO SERVE
THE LONELY AND THE LEAST,
AND JOY WILL SET THE TABLE
AS WE JOIN OUR HANDS TO PRAY,

SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.

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-COMMUNAL PRAYER-
Creator God,
Our collective hearts are filled with anxiety and fear.
And sometimes, God, This makes us feel alone.
Remind us that you are with us.

Draw us close,
quiet our minds,
and calm our hearts.

WE BELIEVE; HELP OUR UNBELIEF.

Compassionate God,
We cannot understand all the suffering in the world.
We commit our hearts to you,
and we listen for your voice.

Draw us close,
quiet our minds,
and calm our hearts.

WE BELIEVE; HELP OUR UNBELIEF.

Generous God,
give us the courage to persistently act in love.
Teach us to be your gentle hands
which work for justice and good.

Draw us close,
quiet our minds,
and calm our hearts.

WE BELIEVE; HELP OUR UNBELIEF.

Loving Creator,
in times of turmoil, help us see that love
and acceptance of others is our path forward.

Draw us close,
quiet our minds,
and calm our hearts.

WE BELIEVE; HELP OUR UNBELIEF.

Help us to trust in Love.
One day at a time.
One breath at a time.

WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS IN FAITH.
AMEN.

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-PRAYER-
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

"O for a World”

O FOR A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE
RESPECTS EACH OTHER’S WAYS,
WHERE LOVE IS LIVED AND ALL IS DONE
WITH JUSTICE AND WITH PRAISE.

O FOR A WORLD WHERE GOODS ARE SHARED
AND MISERY RELIEVED,
WHERE TRUTH IS SPOKEN, CHILDREN SPARED,
EQUALITY ACHIEVED.

WE WELCOME ONE WORLD FAMILY
AND STRUGGLE WITH EACH CHOICE
THAT OPENS US TO UNITY
AND GIVES OUR VISION VOICE.

THE POOR ARE RICH, THE WEAK ARE STRONG,
THE FOOLISH ONES ARE WISE.
TELL ALL WHO MOURN: OUTCASTS BELONG,
WHO PERISHES WILL RISE.

O FOR A WORLD PREPARING FOR
GOD’S GLORIOUS REIGN OF PEACE,
WHERE TIME AND TEARS WILL BE NO MORE,
AND ALL BUT LOVE WILL CEASE. 

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-SCRIPTURE-
Luke 6: 17-21, 35-36 (MSG)

Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed!

I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our [Creator]  is kind; you be kind.

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-THE MESSAGE-

“Leveling the Playing Field of Life”
Pam Lee-Miller

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Gentle Shepherd”

GENTLE SHEPHERD, COME AND LEAD US,
FOR WE NEED YOU TO HELP US FIND OUR WAY.
GENTLE SHEPHERD, COME AND FEED US,
FOR WE NEED YOUR STRENGTH FROM DAY TO DAY.
YOU’RE THE ONE WHO WE CAN TURN TO
WHO CAN HELP US FACE ANOTHER DAY.
GENTLE SHEPHERD, COME AND LEAD US,
FOR WE NEED YOU TO HELP US FIND OUR WAY.

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-JOYS & CONCERNS-

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-PASTORAL PRAYER-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"The Open Table”

COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

CIRCLE ‘ROUND, LET’S JOIN TOGETHER.
SHARE YOUR JOYS, AND BRING YOUR TEARS.
STRENGTH AND HOPE FOUND AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE; LOVE IS CREATING
SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE CHILDREN OF GOD, HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

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-COMMUNION-

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-THANKS TO THOSE WHO SERVE-

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-OFFERING-

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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-

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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-

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-SINGING TOGETHER- 

"Restless Weaver”

RESTLESS WEAVER, EVER SPINNING
THREADS OF JUSTICE AND SHALOM;
DREAMING PATTERNS OF CREATION
WHERE ALL CREATURES FIND A HOME;
GATHERING UP LIFE’S VARIED FIBERS –
EVERY TEXTURE, EVERY HUE:
GRANT US YOUR CREATIVE VISION,
WITH US WEAVE YOUR WORLD ANEW.

WHERE EARTH’S FRAGILE WEB IS RAVELING,
HELP US MEND EACH BROKEN STRAND.
BLESS OUR URGENT, BOLD ENDEAVORS
CLEANSING WATER, AIR, AND LAND.
THROUGH THE SPIRIT’S INSPIRATION –
OFFERING HEALTH WHERE ONCE WAS PAIN –
STRENGTHEN US TO BE THE STEWARDS
OF YOUR WORLD KNIT WHOLE AGAIN.

WHEN OUR VIOLENT LUST FOR POWER
ENDS IN LIVES ABUSED AND TORN,
FROM COMPASSION’S STURDY FABRIC
FASHION HOPE AND TRUST REBORN.
WHERE INJUSTICE RULES AS TYRANT,
GIVE US COURAGE, GOD, TO DARE
LIVE OUR DREAMS OF TRANSFORMATION.
MAKE OUR LIVES INCARNATE PRAYER.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Restless Weaver”

RESTLESS WEAVER, STILL CONCEIVING
NEW LIFE NOW AND YET TO BE –
BINDING ALL YOUR VAST CREATION
IN ONE LIVING TAPESTRY:
YOU HAVE CALLED US TO BE WEAVERS.
LET YOUR LOVE GUIDE ALL WE DO.
WITH YOUR REIGN OF PEACE OUR PATTERN,
WE WILL WEAVE YOUR WORLD ANEW.

. . . . . . . . . .  

-THE TEAM-

ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner,  Lisa Loeffler, Timmy Smallwood

BUILDING CARE: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson

FACILITIES CARE: Edmond Edwards, Lisa Loeffler, Kathy Lyons, Steve Melton, Barry Thompson, Seth Tuska

NURSERY: Linda Netherton

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner

PROPERTY CARE: West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste

SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson

SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Lisa Loeffler, Chris Cook

TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Dale Hamilton,  Morgan Hamilton, Timmy Smallwood