Meditation “The first and most important, task of a healing theology is to proclaim the good news that God wants us to be healthy and whole, regardless of our current physical or mental condition. God does not punish us….Manifestations of God’s healing desire occur in worship and in private prayer, and bodies and minds can be transformed in the immediacy of the moment. But many, if not most spiritual healings and physical cures take place quietly and imperceptivity in the gentle and natural process of growth and renewal of body, mind and spirit…It is helpful for persons facing chronicle and life-threatening illness to remember that the greatest healing arises from a trusting relationship to a faithful God. While we can always hope and pray for a cure, our ultimate hope is to become partners in God’s holy desire for shalom and wholeness…..healing worship must be part of an ongoing congregational emphasis on theological education and pastoral care that explicitly address the questions, controversies and doubts persons have about God’s presence in their lives as well has the constructive expression of healing images of God. (emphasis mine)” Bruce Epperly Healing Worship
Lighting of Candles, Welcome and Check in
Invocation Our Dear, Dear Mother by Raffi
Our dear, dear Mother, daily provider, earth be your name. The time has to honor you to and to show our love. 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
Passing of the Peace God Loves You and There is Nothing You Can Do About It
Sharing of Announcements and reading of meditation
Hymn There is a Balm in Gilead (see insert)
One: Dear All Loving God, Goddess, You who we call by many names, and are the source of life, the glue of the universe, you who are in intimate relationship with every living thing, up and down, inside our bodies and in unfathomable far away galaxies. We give thanks for this cosmic dance you give us that we all share.
All: We come to pray for healing and wholeness and ask to feel your holy presence. We pray for all those with life threatening disease, chronic illness, emotional physical or sexual abuse, grief, mental and spiritual illness, those in poverty and hunger, those falsely accused, those in war torn catastrophes in far way places and violence close to home, and for all the non-human creatures who are suffering from ecologic poison, and rape of the land. (Silence) We pray for all those who have asked for our prayers, our clients and those in our church. (Silence) We pray for Mother Earth, as we recommit to caring for her in love. (Silence) We ask for your help Holy One as we pray for our enemies as Jesus taught us. (Silence)
All: We come to make confession for we are often self-centered and ignorant of the harm we do. Please forgive us for those things we know we have done and for those things we do not know we have done. We long to be close to you, Gracious God and to become more loving to ourselves and all of creation. Amen, Shalom and Blessed Be Prayers (We will go around the circle and you are invited to lift up prayers of those in need or say Pass.)
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
Scripture Matthew 4:1-4 The Inclusive Bible, the First Egalitarian Translation
Gospel of Mary Magdalene edited Karen King “Be on your guard so that no one deceives you by saying, ‘Look over here!’ or ‘Look over there!’ For the child of true Humanity exists within you. Follow it! Those who search for it will find it.”
Reflection Giving Up Loneliness for Lent; Reconnecting to God’s Love for Healing
Anointing
Hymn There is a Balm in Gilead (see insert)
Laying on of Hands We lay our hands upon you that you may reconnect to God’s healing love.
Prayers of Gratitude Thanks A Lot Raffi
Sharing “What you are grateful for?”
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 worship?)
Sending Forth and 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.
Matthew 4:1-4 The Inclusive Bible, the First Egalitarian Translation Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the Devil (aka his inner false self or ego.) After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry. Then the tempter (false self or ego) approached and said to him, “If you are the Only Begotten, command these stones to turn into bread.” Jesus replied, “Scripture has it, ‘We live not on bread alone, but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.’” Next the devil (false self or ego) took Jesus to the holy city and set him on the parapet of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Only Begotten, throw yourself down; Scripture has it, ‘God will tell his angels to take care of you,’ With their hands they will support that you will never stumble on a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Scripture also says, ‘Do not put God to the test.’” The devil (false self or ego) then took Jesus up a very high mountain and displayed all the dominions of the world in their magnificence promising. “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me” At this Jesus said to the Devil, (false self or ego.) “Away with you, Satan (false self or ego) ! Scripture says, ‘You will worship the most high God. God alone will you adore.’ “At that the devil left, and angels came and attended Jesus.
Announcements: We are witnessing the 6th extinction of life on earth and we gather for worship, prayer and community every Sunday at 5 pm and we need one another more than ever. Jesus taught a way to live that we need now more than ever and that “the truth will set you free.” Following worship we invite you to the Mary Magdalene Cafe for a pot luck dinner at 6 pm, with vegetarian soup or main dish and drinks provided. Weather permitting we share a bon fire, star gazing and dancing. We offer weekly study of the scriptures including the gnostic gospels in Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer, dream sharing, creative and artistic projects as spiritual practice, social justice activism, as well as monthly Taize chanting, prayer and healing services. Dogs welcome at worship.
Seek computer person 4 -8 hours a week $20 an hour.
Making giant rod puppets Monday Feb 19th join us 3 pm!
Easter sunrise service Sunday, April 1st, Torrey Pines Beach.
Weekly Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer Contemplation of scriptures for following Sunday and an ancient Christian contemplative prayer practice every Wednesday, 10-11 am.
Monthly Taize first Sunday of every month 5 pm, March 4, 2018
Monthly Prayer and Healing Service third Sunday 5 pm
Dream Circle every first and third Sunday before church 3-5 pm
Cobb/Ramanathan Earth Day Weekend Event Saturday, April 21, First UU Church of San Diego afternoon program followed by dinner and dancing.
Earth Day Worship preacher Dr. John B. Cobb Jr. Sunday 10 am
Minister Rev. Bonnie Tarwater, (858) 248-5123 revtarwater@yahoo.com. www.churchforourcommonhome.com If you would like a pastoral call, contact Bonnie.
Church for Our Common Home, 13014 Calle de Las Rosas, SD CA 92129