A Service of Mantling (June 30, 2013)

For our June 30th worship service, we met in the sanctuary for a time of remembering and renewing the covenant we made in 2006 to be an Open and Affirming congregation. After this brief service, we carpooled downtown to St. Louis PrideFest to walk with other UCC churches in the parade.

A SERVICE OF COVENANT (MANTLING)

Words of Introduction
In our Scripture reading this morning, we heard the story of the prophetic mantle, a loose sleeveless garment that symbolized the prophet’s spiritual empowerment and calling, passing from Elijah to Elisha. Elisha is at first unsure about his ability to take up this mantle, so he hesitates. In middle of political power games always bending the world toward greater wealth and power for some and suffering for many, will Elisha be able to discern God’s voice and speak up against injustice with the power of God’s spirit? [1] It’s a question not only for Elisha, but for us here today as well.

Elijah at Horeb (June 23rd, 2013)

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’  - 1 Kings 19:11-13

For this service I created a powerpoint with animation and sound of the wind, earthquake, and fire to enhance our dramatic reading of the Scripture.  I am working on turning it into a video, so I can post it, but for now here's a preview:

What's the Measure? (July 14, 2013)

On Sunday, we were asking the question, what's the measure? How do we, better yet, how does God measure our lives? The message began and ended with a quartet singing, "Seasons of Love" from Rent. Thanks to Still Waters for the idea. Here are a couple snippets from the service, which incorporated the lectionary texts from Amos and Luke:

Back in the 8th century B.C.E. there was a prophet named Amos. Once, Amos had a vision from God. In it, he saw God standing beside a wall that had been built with the help of a plumb line - and in case you’re not sure what a plumb line is I just happen to have one with me today. A plumb line is a tool used in construction to make sure that the walls are built perfectly straight. If you hang it off the side of a building and wait for it to stop moving then that would give you a perfectly straight, vertical line to use as your guide.  

So in Amos’s vision, God is standing in front of the wall holding a plumb line and God says “Amos, what do you see?”