Meditation “We can trust God to direct us to the best possible, but we certainly cannot assume that the best will be pleasant or desirable! Following Whitehead, process theologians also speak of God drawing us toward new contrasts that involve the sacrifice of earlier assurances. To follow God is repeatedly to die to what we have been in order to rise to what is now possible.”
The Process Perspective, Dr. John B. Cobb Jr.
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
Hymn Voice Still and Small (see insert)
One: Dear All Loving God, Goddess, You who we call by many names, we come to give you thanks. You are calling and luring us t the best possible but we know that will not necessarily be what we expect or desire. This Lent we ask for your help so that we can face the truth and make bold inner changes.
All: We come to pray for the strength to hear your call and follow it. (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 Mark 8:34-36 34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
Hymn Nearer My God To Thee (see insert)
Reflection and conversation
“Dying to what we have been in order to rise to what is now possible”
Prayers of Gratitude Thanks A Lot Raffi
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.
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. Children and dogs are particularly welcome at worship.
Seek computer person 4 -8 hours a week $20 an hour.
Committee Meeting for Cobb/Ram Earth Day Weekend
Every other Wednesday, 6 pm First UU Church of SD
Making giant rod puppets want to help?
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