April 28, 2024
“Break the Silence Sunday”
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GATHERING MUSIC Hope Tuin
WELCOME Dr. Levi Murray
A TIME FOR CHILDREN Stephanie Font
CALL TO WORSHIP Lorena Wilder
One: We gather today, a community of hope,
All: Surrounded by the grace of God,
One: Filled with the love of Jesus,
All: Trusting in the Spirit’s presence.
One: We gather today, a community of compassion,
All: To listen to what may break our hearts,
One: To hear the pain of our siblings in faith,
All: To speak together words of comfort and commitment.
One: We gather today, a community of justice,
All: To worship,
One: To pray,
All:To break the silence!
OPENING HYMN “I Am Welcome,” (on your handout)
OPENING PRAYER “To The Survivors Among Us”
by Reverend Moira Finley
Kat Snyder
One: To the survivors among us, we are sorry for what you experienced, we are honored that you are here with us,
All: and we believe you.
One: If your experience was last week, last year, or decades ago,
All: we believe you.
One: If you told someone when it happened, or kept it to yourself, or can barely speak of what you lived through,
All: we believe you.
One: If you reported it to authorities, or you didn’t, or you couldn’t, or you might yet, or you can’t,
All: we believe you.
One: If you knew your assailant, were in a relationship with them, or if they were a stranger,
All: we believe you.
One: If you were out on a date, or in your own home, remember every detail, or it’s all a blur, were a senior, a child, or somewhere in between,
All: we believe you.
One: If you fought back, or you didn’t, you did what you needed to do to survive,
All: and we believe you.
One: If you need us to listen, or sit with you in the silence, or hold you while you cry, or give you space to scream,
All: we are here with you.
One: If you are afraid, or ashamed, scared of what might happen if the details are known,
All: we are here with you.
One: If you are wondering if it was all your fault, if you’re damaged goods, if boys and men can really be victims,
All: we are here with you.
One: If you are unsure if God could still love you, if you have a place in the church, if your story matters here, if there’s enough grace for someone like you,
All: we are here with you.
One: To the survivors among us we are sorry for what you experienced, we are honored that you are here with us,
All: and we believe you.
PASSING OF THE PEACE Kat Snyder
HYMN OF PREPARATION “Help Us Accept Each Other,” #376
SCRIPTURE Acts 8: 26-40 Barb Lehman
INTERACTING WITH THE WORD “It Takes Two (at least) . . .” Dr. Levi Murray
INTERLUDE A time of silent reflection
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Stephanie Font
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Creator who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom* come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil for thine is the kin-dom,
and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING Ethan Font
OFFERING (please rise as able in body or spirit and sing the doxology)
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ and Spirit, One. Amen
BLESSING OF THE OFFERING Ethan Font
PARTING SONG “We Shall OverCome,” #476
ANNOUNCEMENTS Cindy Halsey
Saturday May 4, is our annual garage sale. We need all hands on deck that morning especially from 6 to 7 AM. Please talk to Cindy Halsey if you can help out on the day of the garage sale.·
Rev. Shelly Wilson will be back with us on Sunday, May 5!! We are creating a sign for her which is on the table in the back; please feel free to add a message or design.
Stable Strides, which is the next group our congregation has chosen to work with this year, will also be here on Sunday, May 5, after worship from 11:15 AM to about Noon to educate us about what they do.
May 12 is Mother’s Day.
May 18 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM we will be presenting a film called “What I Wish My Parents Knew,” from the Tell My Story organization. We will be offering this to the community to address and talk about teenage suicide as a part of mental health month in May.
May 19 is our Spring Potluck immediately following church!
BENEDICTION Dr. Levi Murray
POSTLUDE Hope Tuin
*In an effort to remain true to our tradition as well as our commitment to inclusive language,the word “kin-dom” reflects the kind of society Jesus envisions—a shared community of equals who serve each other, united in a kin-group, not by blood but by a covenant with God and one another.
Welcome Guests and Visitors!
We invite you to wear a nametag if desired and complete a visitor card (both found in the narthex) and drop it in the offering plate so we can send you weekly emails and call if desired. We invite everyone to join us for coffee and goodies and visit before worship in the foyer.
References to God in traditional prayers, readings, and hymns in our worship may sometimes be gender specific. As we pray and sing together, you are invited to substitute terms that reflect your understanding of the full inclusiveness of the spirit of God.
We acknowledge that the land on which this church stands is the homeland and unceded territory of the Tséstho’e (Cheyenne). We acknowledge this indigenous community who stewarded this land throughout the generations and pay respect to their elders past and present.
Ministry Team: Board Members:
Reverend Dr. Shelly Wilson Janet Burns, Vice Chair
Dr. Levi Murray Brad Carroll, Buildings & Grounds
Leslie Sheley, Ministry Coordinator Sue Garrett, Secretary
Hope Tuin, Accompanist Cindy Halsey, Treasurer
Shelley Levi, Member at Large
Steve Murtagh, Chair
Lisa Snyder, Asst Treasurer