Table of Contents
The words in black bold are spoken or sung by the congregation. Please, no food or beverages are allowed in the Sanctuary. * Indicates when to rise in body or spirit.
UMH--United Methodist (Blue), TFWS--The Faith We Sing (Black), W&S--Worship & Song (Green)
Prelude
“Gather Us In”
#2236 TFWS
Welcome
Threshold Moment
P:Sometimes, it seems like every big problem left in the world is intractable, stubbornly hard to take care of. If it could be solved easily, it would have been done already. Like the disciples in last week's story, we are inclined to look at the problems in front of us and say, "I don't know how to fix this. It's impossible." But we are children of a creative God. The very first act in God's story is the creation of an earth that includes palm trees and sea anemones, giraffes and armadillos—all from nothing. How is God likely to work in the world today?
In my dreams I can flyand I soarand my feet touch the skyand it seems I can go anywhere if I tryand the world's not so darkwhen the clouds make it whiteIf there's no hope tell me whyin my dreams I can fly
P:We have the capacity to be creative because God is creative. Look at creation, at diversity. We are made in God's image. We have everything we need to make change; we have enough. We just need to stretch our imaginations, break out of constrained thinking.
In my dreams I can flyand I soarand my feet touch the skyand it seems I can go anywhere if I tryand the world's not so darkwhen the clouds make it whiteIf there's no hope tell me whyin my dreams I can fly
Call to Worship
L:The world needs to change, a lot. There are so many things that need change,
All:and we can get overwhelmed,
L:especially if we think that we need to make all of the change by ourselves. We need to remember that God is already at work.
All:God has been, and always will be, doing a new thing.
L:We are called to show up and cooperate with what God is doing! We are the changemakers, and we are being made ready!
All:May we be changed by this time of worship! Amen.
Passing the Peace
Pastor:The Peace of Christ be with you.
All:And also with you.
Pastor:You are invited to pass the peace among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely.
Praising
Young & Young at Heart Time
Contemporary Reading
"Changemaker Blessing" by Rev. Kathi McShane
Blessed are the changemakers.
Blessed are you who are not asleep to the world's pain and suffering.
Blessed are you who lament for the way things are.
Blessed are you who know, to the depth of your bones, that this is not how things are meant to be. Blessed are you for not believing the lie that this is how they will always remain.
Blessed are you who know that things can change, who long for things to change.
Blessed are you whose life's ambition is to bring the change that is justice and mercy for all.
Blessed are you who know that God has always employed the faithful acts of ordinary people to heal and change this world.
Blessed are you who know that change begins today, change begins with us, and that we are blessed to be the changemakers.
COMMUNITY PRAYER ~ THE LORD'S PRAYER
Sung in Echo
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven, On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day, Give us this day
Our daily bread, Our daily bread
And forgive us all our sins, And forgive us all our sins
And lead us not, And lead us not
In temptation, In temptation
But deliver us from evil, But deliver us from evil
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
Forever, Forever
And ever, And ever
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Ancient Readings
NRSVUE
Luke 7:36-50 (CEB)
L: One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee's home, he took his place at the table. Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee's house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.
Jesus replied, "Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Teacher, speak," he said.
"A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day's work. The other owed enough money for fifty. When they couldn't pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled."
Jesus said, "You have judged correctly."
Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn't give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't greet me with a kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little."
Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The other table guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this person that even forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
We Sing
“All Creatures of Our God and King”
#32 UMH
Message
“Creativity”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“We Are the World”
Offerings can be placed in the basket on the table, online at ukiahumc.org, or mailed to PO Box 323, Ukiah
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
#95 UMH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures high and low
Give thanks to God in love made known
Creator, Word, and Spirit One
Amen
*Membership Statement
Members of the Ukiah United Methodist Church accept the freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. We welcome opportunities to bring God's love to the world in as many ways as we can. We promise to uphold our beloved church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.
Communion Setting
#2257 a, b, c, d TFWSLiturgist:Bring all the places you're weary, all the ways you're restless. Bring your hunger for peace, your thirst for justice. Bring it all -- and come! Jesus invites us to dine as friends! Come! God's welcome feast is set for us, for all!
Pastor:It's a good and joyful thing to open our hearts in thanks and praise to you -- always and everywhere. So, we join with all of creation, with people on earth and all the saints in their unending song of praise:
Liturgist:Creative God, You formed all that is. You created us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast, calling us home. With Jesus, we take, bless, break, and share our daily bread. You fill us and heal us to send us into the world as a community of faith, hope and reconciliation. So, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Pastor:Holy One of Love and Mystery, you blessed your son, Jesus Christ, anointing him with your Spirit to preach good news to the poor, to announce freedom to all captives, vision to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to spread the word that help and healing were at hand.
Liturgist:Continue to pour out your life-giving Spirit, O God. Make us one body in Christ, one ministry to the whole world.
Pastor:On the night before he gave everything, Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body, given for you. Every time you share it, remember me." When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, and again gave you thanks and praise. He gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you. This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for all people, filled to overflowing with forgiveness for everyone. Whenever you share it, remember me."
Liturgist:And so, we do remember -- the movement of your powerful Spirit, and your amazing love in Jesus. As we eat this bread and share this cup, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. In God, with Christ, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, forever and ever.
Getting Strong
“Bring Forth the Kingdom of God”
#2190 TFWS
Opportunities for Ministry
Go For It!
South:Do all the good you can,
North:By all the means you can,
South:In all the ways you can,
North:In all the places you can,
South:At all the times you can,
North:To all the people you can,
All:As long as ever you can. Amen.
— John Wesley
Blessing
*STEPPING OUT
“You Are Good”
#3014 W&S
WE ARE A WELCOMING & AFFIRMING CONGREGATION:
We welcome all persons into full participation in the life of the congregation regardless of age, gender identity, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, marriage status, or physical or mental condition.