Honor the past

But welcome the future

And dance your life away at this

wedding.



e e cummings

Order of Worship

21 April 2024

All are invited because no matter who you are or where

you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

WELCOME TO SHADOW ROCK UCC!

Prelude ~

Shared by Travis Meyers

GATHERING IN THE SPIRIT’S PRESENCE

Centering Affirmation: Honor the past but welcome the future, and dance your life away at this wedding.

Welcome and Announcements

Led by Lois Beberniss

We welcome and thank Susan Wadell for sharing the message today. She was on the church staff for many years and now is the president of our governing board. She brings unique perspective, joy, and hope to us this morning.

Opening Words

Led by Susan Wadell

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called

to create a world where every person is radically

affirmed and barriers between people become

bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.

Call to Worship

Led by Marilyn Rampley

One: We join together as many and diverse

expressions of one loving mystery.

Many: We join with each other to recreate and

bring new life to the human community.

One: We come together to provide justice and

peace.

Many: We come to remember who we are.

All: We come to celebrate the Spirit of Life and

Love, the one who calls us, empowers us,

renews us.

Singing Our Faith

~ It's a Brand New Day

It’s a brand new day full of possibility,

It’s a brand new day full of hope for you and me.

And tomorrow’s here today bringing change along

the way,

So let’s live our life and say it’s a brand new day.

It’s a brand new day full of awe and mystery,

It’s a brand new day to create our history,

As tomorrow fades away, weaving lessons through

our way

We can live our life and say, “It’s a brand new day!”

Celebration Song

Led by Travis Meyers

Celebrate your heart and your spirit,

Celebrate your life while you live it.

Even when it’s hard to do,

Celebrate the best of you.

Celebrate your dreams and your visions,

Celebrate the love you’ve been given.

Cherish all that you’ve been through,

Celebrate the best of you.

Invitation to Give

Shared by Marilyn Rampley

Let us bring our offerings as a decision to be

co-creators with God in a safer and more inclusive

world. Let us give of ourselves and our offerings to

make life good.

Offerings and Offertory ~

Shared by Travis Meyers

Dedication of Our Offerings

Led by Marilyn Rampley

One: There is so much to be done. “Dedicating”

means deciding to be the ones to do it.

All: Let us go forth boldly into our worlds-

decisively, lovingly, joyfully to bring God’s

peace and new creation to everyone.



Words For Mission

One: Come along with me, companions on the journey.

Bring along a sense of expectancy, a vision

of high hopes, a glimpse of future

possibility, a vivid imagination-

for God’s creation is not done.

All: We are called to pioneer a future yet

unnamed. As we venture forward, we

leave behind our desires for a no-risk

life. Let us travel together in the spirit

of faith and expectation, girded and

guided by the Spirit of Life and Love.

One: May we work together, secure in the

knowledge that we never travel alone.

These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed.

All: May we love all and serve all.

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.



EMPOWERING AND SENDING

Sending Forth Song ~ Now More Than Ever Before

Led by Travis Meyers by Janet Allen

I’ve come too far now. I can’t look back.

I’ve come too far down this railroad track.

I’ve come too far now. I won’t turn back.

I’ve come to see now that I am needed.

Chorus

Now more than ever before, (3xs)

I am needed.

Now more than ever before,

Now more than ever before

I am the force now who’s setting the

course now.

It’s now more than ever before!

We know too much now. We can’t ignore.

We feel it more than we did before.

We know too much now. We won’t ignore.

We’ve come to know now that God is with us.

Chorus

Now more than ever before,

Now more than ever before,

Now more than ever before,

We are willing.

Now more than ever before,

Now more than ever before,

We are the force now that’s setting the

course now.

It’s now more than ever before!

Sermon Reboot is ON for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.