Sunday, September 20, 2020

16th Sunday after Pentecost - Black Lives Matter Sunday 2020


 BLM Live Service


Let’s start with three deep breaths and relax….


Blessing of the Quilt…


And a special centering moment..




let us begin today’s worship



CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: There is neither Jew nor Gentile

P: Neither slave nor free 

L: Nor is there male and female 

P: Neither is there black or white 

For we are all one in Christ Jesus.

L: We, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free 

We have been called to serve one another humbly in love 

P: God’s entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

L: And so we gather as one in Christ Jesus 

P: To serve one another humbly 

L: To fulfill the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

P: And to worship our loving, Creator God 

Who sees neither Jew nor Gentile 

Slave nor free 

Male nor female 

Black nor white 

But only a gathering of beloved Children 

Drawn together as one in Christ Jesus 

L: Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us worship God

P: Let us worship God with one heart

One Body

One Mind 

One Soul Hallelujah, Amen! 


Opening Hymn we shall over come #570 courtesy of Loomis Basin UCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcrx3lsb0yA&ab_channel=LoomisBasinUCC


 

 



(All candles lit.)





Today’s Readings

Our faith's teachings tell us that each person is created in the image of God 

Genesis 1:27

27 So God created humankind in his image,

    in the image of God they created them; 

    male and female they created them.


 and therefore has intrinsic worth and value. So why when Jesus proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the jailed, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed (Luke 4:16-19)

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

        to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

    and recovery of sight to the blind,

        to let the oppressed go free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”


Why did he not mention the rich, the prison-owners, the sighted and the oppressors? What conclusion are we to draw from this? Doesn't Jesus care about all lives?


Black lives matter. This is an obvious truth in light of God's love for all God's children. But this has not been the experience for many in the U.S. In recent years, young black males were 21 times more likely to be shot dead by police than their white counterparts. Black women in crisis are often met with deadly force. Transgender people of color face greatly elevated negative outcomes in every area of life.


When Black lives are systemically devalued by society, our outrage justifiably insists that attention be focused on Black lives.

When a church claims boldly "Black Lives Matter" at this moment, it chooses to show up intentionally against all given societal values of supremacy and superiority or common-sense complacency. By insisting on the intrinsic worth of all human beings, Jesus models for us how God loves justly, and how his disciples can love publicly in a world of inequality. We live out the love of God justly by publicly saying #BlackLivesMatter. 




The word of God for the people of God!


P: Thanks be to God



Sermon A Letter to my Son/ A sermonic film by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III 




A call to prayer


God of All,

gather us into a time of prayer

for our family.

Expand our vision

to understand each human being

as our sister or brother;

and enlarge our hearts

to offer love for each other,

even as you love each of us.

Be with us now as we pray for members of your family.

.






O for a world #575

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdXFTJBZ1t4&ab_channel=FPCBoise


Let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us


Our Creator, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kin-dom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kin-dom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen




Invitation to the Offering


Offering our gifts to God is a holy act. In this sacred moment, let us offer our gifts and our lives to the holy work of God.


‘Donate Here!


Doxology #778 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9My-_5s6bBQ


Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God for all that love has done;

Creator, Christ, and Spirit, one.


Offering Prayer 


God, our Creator, through your love you have given us these gifts to share. Accept our offerings as an expression of our deep thanks and as signs of our concern for those in need, especially those experiencing marginalization we praise our Creator. Amen.


 



The office is open for regular hours

We are accepting donations for the kidz cupboard and the food pantry




I am available for one on one virtual visits or phone calls if you need any prayer we will be together again one day, but until then remember you are the hands and the feet of our lord in this world and in this world of no physical contact we can still smile, wave, chat, check in


Let My People Go #572 Hilo  UCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vyoql2G_GM&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=EricAnderson

starts at time stamp 5:53  

  





Benediction/sending forth

May your hope in Christ guide your way through fear 

May Christ of peace calm your troubled hearts 

May the joy of Christ fill your hearts to overflowing 

May the love of Christ let you understand how much you matter And may your Christ-like love show everyone you meet that they matter to you Amen




Just a note Bible study is on Wednesdays at noon…


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