BABY BLESSING
LAINA ANITA ZVAIFLER AND NASIYA SORRELL ORETGA
Saturday, November 11, 2017, 4 pm
Our Common Home, a church and counseling center a new non-profit, provides religious and psychological services to awaken to the moral and ecologic crisis as an invitation for spiritual growth and creating loving community with all of creation, caring for our common home, Mother Earth.
Meditation “The prophet Miriam, picked up a tambourine and all the women followed her dancing, with tambourines.”
Exodus 15:20 Inclusive Bible New Egalitarian Translation
WELCOME AND CHECK IN
Invocation Eternal Our God (call and response)
Passing of the Peace God Loves You and There is Nothing You Can Do About It!
Sharing of Announcements Please write a prayer or message of wisdom one for Laina and one for Nasiya on the dancing picture during the worship service.
Prayers “’Grandma how do you pray? ’You ask God for help and you
say thank you and when you sing you pray twice.’”
Musical Prayer Our Dear, Dear Mother by Raffi
Our dear, dear Mother, daily provider, earth be your name. The time has come, to honor you, to know you and to show our love.” 1.You give us each day our daily grain, kissed by the sun and kissed by the rain. Teach us now to find a way to care for you in our work and play. Chorus2.Within the beauty of your silent spin, we know you’re hurting and we feel your pain your pain. With your forgiveness we can start anew. We need a chance to make it up to you. Chorus
I went down to the River to Pray
Attributed to George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867
I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good old way and who shall wear the starry crown, good God show me the way. Oh Laina, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down, Oh Laina, let’s go down, down in the river to pray. (Repeat- Oh Nasiya, let’s go down…)
Unison Prayer Mother/Father God who is within us, we celebrate your many names. Your wisdom come, your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us. Each day you give us all that we need. You
remind us of our limits and we let go. You support us in our power and we act with courage. For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us, and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen
Scriptures Zephaniah 3:17 ..for Yahweh your God is in your midst…and will rejoice and dance over you and be glad of it: God will show you love once more, and exult with songs of joy and soothe those who are grieving.(rejoice in Hebrew means to spin around under the influence of violent emotion AKA to DANCE!)
Inclusive Bible New Egalitarian Translation
The Round Dance of the Cross Gnostic, Jesus told us to form a circle and hold each other’s hands and he himself stood in the middle….He said, ‘I will play the flute, Dance everyone…the whole universe takes part in the dance. Whoever does not dance does not know what happens. Amen.’
The Gnostic Bible edited by Marvin Meyers
Musical response Medley Tis a Gift to Be Simple,
Lord of the Dance and Appalachian Spring
American Shaker tune and Aron Copland
'Tis the gift to be free 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
It will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed To turn, turn, will be our delight 'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.
I danced in the morning. When the world was begun, And I danced in the moon. And the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven And I danced on the earth, At San Diego I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the God/ess of the Dance, said she, And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said she.
Reflection Laina and Nisiya God is Calling you to Dance Rev. Bonnie
Blessing (Call and response) Laina Anita Zvaifler
and Nasiya Sorrell Oretga
Leader: Laina and Nasiya, we come to give you our blessing. We ask you, gracious God, to bless Laina and Nasiya now and into eternity. I promise that I will love you and keep you in my daily prayers and will always celebrate your divine dance with God. Amen
All: We promise to love you and we give you our blessing and ask for God’s blessing on you now and into eternity. Amen
Laying on of Hands
Anointing
Closing Hymn This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…let it shine….
This little dream of mine, it’s gonna be my guide…..be my guide…
This little dance of mine, dancing with God all the time….all the time…
Closing Prayer St Francis of Assisi Prayer
Make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy, And where there is sadness, joy, joy, joy. God grant that I may not so much see; To be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born, to Eternal Life. Amen, Amen, Amen
Check Out (How are you feeling and how did you feel about our time together?)
Benediction Blessing Song by Miriam Therese Winters
May the blessings of God go before you. May her grace and peace abound. May her spirit live within you. May her love wrap you round. May her blessings remain with you always. May you walk on holy ground.
Everyone is welcome after worship for a Thanksgiving feast followed by dancing!
Dancing and Singing after Dinner
The Hoky Poky
Tiny Dancer, by Elton John
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me…
Announcements: We are witnessing the 6th extinction of life on earth and we gather for worship, prayer and community every Sunday at 5 pm for Jesus taught us that, “truth will set you free!” Following worship we invite you to the Mary Magdalene Cafe for a pot luck dinner at 6 pm, with soup and drinks provided. Weather permitting share a bon fire, star gazing and dancing. We offer weekly study of the gnostic gospels and world wisdom scriptures in Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer, dream sharing, creative and artistic projects as spiritual practice and social justice activism, as well as monthly Taize chanting services.
Dogs welcome at worship.
Special thanks to Mark Knoll the pianist for his gift of music and Matthew Brennan for taking photos and videos today.
New Affiliation with Unitarian Universalist denomination!
Weekly Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer Contemplation of scriptures for following Sunday every Wednesday, 10-11 am.
Thanksgiving pot luck party after worship Sunday before Thanksgiving Nov. 19th!
Monthly Taize first Sunday of every month 5 pm, Dec. 3, 2017
Advent Dream Series Dec. 3,10, 17, 24. “Conscious Contact with God Every Night in Dreams”
Christmas Candle Light and Christmas Carol Sing along Sunday Dec. 24 5 pm and 6 pm Christmas Party Pot luck!
New Year’s Eve alcohol free party with dream sharing, guided mediation, silent meditative walk of the snake labyrinth by candle light, fire ritual and dancing.
Dance Celebration with One Billion Rising Sunday Feb 7th and Valentine’s Day Wed. Feb. 14th 2018.
Minister Rev. Bonnie Tarwater, (858) 248-5123 revtarwater@yahoo.com. www.churchforourcommonhome.com If you would like a pastoral call, contact Bonnie.