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
“Touch the Earth Lightly”
#3129 W&S
Welcome
Threshold Moment
Pastor:We gather to worship, each stream feeding the growing chorus of creation. Our voices rise, like babbling brooks, flowing falls, and roaring rivers. In our daily courses, we encounter obstacles, divisions, and diversions. Still, we are drawn toward the deep ocean of God’s unconditional love. All creation is singing the glory of God.
“Let Love Be” · Laurie Bayen
Let Love Be, Let us do Justice, Hold to what is good
Let us love one another as a family,
Let us welcome the stranger as our own
Opening Prayer
All:God of the prophets and the people, we hear your voice, calling to us through the ages, as the sound of water reaches our ears through the forest. We long to be part of your time of peace and justice, part of the efforts to listen and preserve. We anticipate that hard choices are coming for us and for your people around the world, times when you present us with opportunities to provide sustainably for all, rather than excessively for just a few. Strengthen us with your wisdom and courage. Help us turn toward you again and again, individually, as a community, and as a witness for what you make possible through the power of your way. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Gwen:The Peace of Christ be with you.
All:And also with you.
Gwen:You are invited to pass the peace among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely.
Praising
“God of Wonders”
#3034 W&S
Young & Young at Heart Time
Contemporary Reading
Excerpt for Rivers and Streams
by Walt Whitman
I keep generally buoyant spirits, get in the sun and down to the river whenever I can,
How the water sports and sings!
I am sooth’d by its soft gurgle in one place—
The inimitable soft sound-gurgles of it as I sit there hot afternoons—
And the hoarser murmurs of its three-foot fall in another,
Gurgling, gurgling ceaselessly, the whole year through;
Surely it is alive! meaning, saying something, of course, if one could only translate it.
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
Into temptation, Into 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
The Message
EZEKIEL 18:25-32
“Do I hear you saying, ‘That’s not fair! God’s not fair!’?
“Listen, Israel. I’m not fair? You’re the ones who aren’t fair! If a good person turns away from his good life and takes up sinning, he’ll die for it. He’ll die for his own sin. Likewise, if a bad person turns away from his bad life and starts living a good life, a fair life, he will save his life. Because he faces up to all the wrongs he’s committed and puts them behind him, he will live, really live. He won’t die.
“And yet Israel keeps on whining, ‘That’s not fair! God’s not fair.’
“I’m not fair, Israel? You’re the ones who aren’t fair.
“The upshot is this, Israel: I’ll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel? I take no pleasure in anyone’s death. Decree of God, the Master.
“Make a clean break! Live!”
ROMANS 12:9-21
Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy people; be inventive in hospitality.
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
We Sing
“Take My Life and Let It Be”
#399 UMH
Message
“Preserve”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“Everything Is Beautiful · Ray Stevens”
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 Blessings Flow”
#94 UMH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*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
“For the Healing of the Nations”
#428 UMH
Opportunities for Ministry
Opportunities where you make a difference: A strong church has members who are actively taking part in ministry and service.
- ⤷Gentle Yoga: Every Wednesday and Saturday with hand weights at 8:15 am, yoga at 8:30 am in the Social Hall led by Pastor Michele. It will resume June 3rd.
- ⤷Book Study: Meets at 4:00 in room 106 on Thursday. We’ll be discussing chapter 6 of Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle.
- ⤷Photo Directory: Our photo directory is coming along. If you have not had your photo taken yet, please contact Trudy Morgan (morganmiller95482@gmail.com) to set up a time to have one taken, or send a headshot to Debbie in the office (office@ukiahumc.org).
- ⤷Housing Informational Meeting: Jesse Davis, Chief Planning Manager for the City of Ukiah, will be here on Thursday the 11th at 5:30 to hold an informational meeting about the possibility of creating housing on our property. This is open to everyone in the congregation and is for information purposes only. We will meet in the parking lot, then move to the social hall for questions and answers.
- ⤷Recycling: Annie is collecting CRV bottles & cans, to benefit Ukiah UMC. Text Annie at 707-513-9634 for pickups and more information.
- ⤷Mendo Labor Co-op: Our church sponsors a worker-led co-op connecting underemployed and unhoused workers with people needing help around the house or yard. We need church members willing to hire workers with patience as we get started and work out the kinks. Call/text Cheryl and Casey at (369) 216-1512 to be matched, or fill out the online form on mendolaborcoop.ukiahumc.org.
- ⤷The Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center: If you would like to donate to Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center, below is a list of needed items. All donations can be dropped at HRC M-F, 9-5 or to Trudy’s front porch at any time. Thank you to everyone who donates! Trudy•Items needed are: Eating utensils, paper plates, napkins, water, ice, soda, to-go containers, paper towels
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.