Stretching To Universalism: Stretching Toward Universalism: The Story of the Bible
Gathering in Community, 9:30 a.m.
Christ Community Church 19, February 19, 2006
PEAL OF CARILLON
225 E. Exchange Street Spring Lake, MI 49456 Phone (616) 842-1985 FAX (616) 842-3476
PRELUDE CHIMES INTROIT
Partitita on Lauda Anima
...Robert Hobby
Web:www.christ-community.net Subscribe to weekly ezine: allison@christ-community.net E-mail rather than paper mailings: savepaper@christ-community.net
OFFICE AND BUILDING HOURS Office Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Building will be open: Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Other building hours by scheduled appointment only.
...words borrowed from reading of Bishop Spong, set to music by Betty Van TIll God is here within us, God is here between us, God is here beyond all knowing. God, the Source of living, God the Source of loving, God the Ground of all our Being. Dwell in Life, dwell in love, joy in being all in all, being all that we can be.
God is Here
GATHERED IN COMMUNITY
As we come together and feel the pulse of life course among us, let us be thankful for this day and these people. May we, gathered here in mystery and unity, share an intention to live fully, breathing deeply into each moment, finding more love in ourselves and each other. May we, gathered here in struggle and power, remember to listen for that voice still and small inside all of us that reminds us to look for more hope, everywhere. Jesus said, “I have come that all people may have life, and have it in abundance.” Leader: All: Leader: All: Leader: All: We gather to celebrate our religion As we live fully, love wastefully and be all that we can be We gather to wonder in the mystery of our divinity As we live fully, love wastefully and be all that we can be We gather to honor our shared humanity As we live fully, love wastefully and be all that we can be
...words adapted by Betty Van Till
Welcome to Christ Community! This community is open to all who would join and continue the human journey, seeking to learn, to grow, to love deeply, and live more meaningfully! We are glad you are here. Let us know how we can connect with you.
Ian W. Lawton, Executive Minister, Preaching and Theological Inquiry; J. Robert Kleinheksel, Care and Social Justice; Brigit Hassig, Administration and Fund Raising; Allison Rockey, Outreach and Communications Ministry; Brad Vander Ark, Audio/Visual and Online Ministry; Abigail Rockwood, Organist and Music Coordinator Toni VanDyken, Spiritual Director; Richard A. Rhem, Minister Emeritus Peter J. Theune, Minister Emeritus
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN
The Church Today
...Tune: Duke Street
The church today and every age Expresses change and must be led, Must claim and test its heritage And keep on rising from the dead. Across the world, across the street The victims of injustice cry For shelter and for bread to eat And never live before they die.
PARTICIPANTS: Minister: Bishop John Shelby Spong Liturgist: Ian W. Lawton Organist: Betty Van Till Choir Director: John Slagter Vocalists: Goldie Weideman, Erin Miller, Michael McLary, Josh Vanderweide Guest vocalists are from Grand Haven High School Choral Ensemble directed by Shirley Lemon. Ushers:
Then let the servant church arise A caring church that longs to be, A partner in reclaiming lives And clothed in true humanity. We have a mission here to serve In full commitment, named in love To care for all without reserve And spread love’s liberating word.
WELCOME AND NEWS OF THE COMMUNITY CHORAL CALL TO JUSTICE
...Sanctuary Choir We Are Called ...David Haas Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord! We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God! Come ! Open your heart! Show your mercy to all those in fear! We are called to be hope for the hopeless so all hatred and blindness will be no more! Sing! Sing a new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one! God will reign, and we’ll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love! Congregation join on the refrain after third verse.
Jani Ingersoll, Don Anderson, Dan Bouma, Kristin Jolink, Todd Kuypers, Jean McCabe, Marianne Oresik, Bob Scheifele, Gina Zornes
The White Team ushers next week and Ash Wednesday. Greeters: Pam Curtis, Allyson and Shelby; Val Eggert Ministry Council Host: David Keizer Sound Room: Brad VanderArk Camera Crew: Kate Ujlaky Growing Place: Diane Kalusniak
NEXT WEEK
MARDI GRAS
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Mardi Gras is a time to celebrate humanity, in all our beauty and diversity. It is a party time where we let our hair down before the more reflective season of Lent. At C³ we will honor Mardi Gras with one community gathering at 9.30 a.m. It will be a family-friendly, rollicking festivity. The Weideman Band will be welcomed back and will sing some festive tunes. We will also be joined by the Dancers who will wow us with their performance. Come along wearing your brightest, boldest clothing and hairstyles, and be ready to join in the fun. There will be no 8.30 a.m.service. Mardi Gras has been celebrated by Christians as a way to express the earthy, fleshly side of our humanity prior to the traditionally reflective time of Lent, which means “Lengthening of Days.” Mardi Gras, or Carnivale means “the celebration of the flesh.” Join us for a rich, creative, meaningful gathering! The annual Congregational Meeting will follow the 9:30 a.m. service.
LIBERATING THE GOSPELS
He (Jesus) had a unique capacity to be. His gift was to be whole, free, and giving, which in turn seemed to cause those around him to live more fully and more completely. He seemed to have an infinite capacity to love, to forgive, and to accept others. He appeared to enhance the personhood of every human being who touched his life. He broke every barrier that human beings erected to protect themselves inside their insecure world. Women, Samaritans, gentiles, lepers, those judged to be unclean felt his touch and were called into a new dignity. He had the capacity to live in the present moment, to drink from that moment all of its wonder, to scale its heights and to plumb its depths, to enable that moment to share in eternity. . . .
by John Shelby Spong Harper, San Francisco (1996)
–Reading the Bible with Jewish Eyes,
BIBLE READING
1
–Matthew 26:1-13 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? 9For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
6
PEACE EAST STER MAKING PEACE WITH EASTER
8:30 AM Gathering and Eucharist 9:30 AM Gathering Celebration
CHORAL REFLECTION
...Sanctuary Choir
I Have A Dream ...M. Donnell/G. Strid I have a dream for all humanity, that we may know truth and dignity; that peace on earth becomes reality, and that one day we’ll stand arm in arm, hand in hand. I have a dream for all people in the world; peace, hope and freedom shall ring, that we may come to a place in time. When we will know that true peace of mind that comes when we share, when we learn how to care. I have a dream that all nations shall celebrate, that every trace of fear will be gone. That we will join our voices in unity and sing freedom’s song. I have a dream that hope will shine like the morning star and with the day that has just begun, we may come to embrace the entire human race! Children four years old through fifth grade are invited to their classes. Parents who wish to assist their children may do so at this time and return as they can. Students in grades 6-12 may also leave at this time for their classes. ...Ian W. Lawton ...Taizé
March 1–Ash Wednesday, 7:30 PM Unoriginal Sin Ian Lawton speaking March 5 – Lent 1 Crucified God: Jesus and Personal Liberation Ian W. Lawton speaking March 8 – Midweek Lenten Service How Do We Face Lent? J. Robert Kleinheksel speaking March 12 – Lent 2 Crucified God: Jesus and Social Liberation Ian W. Lawton speaking
TODAY IN THE WORSHIP CENTERS
Christ Community Worship Centers are offered for children three years through fifth grade. Children four years through fifth grade leave the 9:30 gathering at approximately 9:45 a.m. to attend their Centers in Rooms A-G located off the Great Room. Feel free to accompany your child to find their designated room and return to the service as you are able. This morning, the Three-YearOlds hear the story of Jesus and the Children. Four-Year-Olds hear the parable of The Mustard Sower. In a gold parable box, they learn that parables are precious stories told by Jesus – gifts to us to help us “see.” Kindergartners and First Graders hear a parable story today – the Parable of the Good Shepherd and the Wolf. This is one of the foundational stories of the Worship Center – a parable that assures the children again of God and Jesus’ loving care for them. Second Graders hear the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. Third Graders enjoy a slide presentation entitled, “I Am the Way.” Fourth and Fifth Graders, tell your parents what today’s “clue” was and see if they know what story you heard! Under the direction of Lisa Chorny, children four years through fifth grade have Dance & Music today before joining their Worship Centers.
INVITATION TO CLASSES
PRAYERS CHORAL RESPONSE (All singing)
Let This Be Our Prayer
SERMON
...Bishop John Shelby Spong Stretching Toward Universalism: The Story of the Bible
Christ Community is an alternative to church as usual. We live together in the awe of worship in the Presence of the Mystery of God whose inclusive grace moves us to embrace all with unconditional love and gracious acceptance, irrespective of race, gender, economic status, age or sexual orientation, loving the world as God loves it, following the way of Jesus, sensitive to the winds of the Spirit, seeking to discern the Word of God in the biblical tradition, the Movement of God in the context of our culture. Christ Community is an ecumenical community— in background in faith perspective in worship expression; a blending of all the great Christian traditions. Christ Community finds its window to God in the face of Jesus while affirming the quest and insight of other faiths; opening ourselves to dialogue and mutual enrichment in our pluralistic world. Christ Community is intentionally a community of open mind and warm heart, where the broken find healing, the doubting learn to trust, the anxious find peace, and the strong are confirmed, trusting God . . . The God of The Beginning, The God of The End, The God with us in The Meantime . . . this in-between time.
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
The Lord is My Shepherd
...Choral Ensemble
...Allen Pote
*RECESSIONAL HYMN
Wondrous God, More Named than Known
...words by Carl P Daw .
...Tune: Dix
Wondrous God, more named than known, give us firm and certain grown, grace to doubt what we surmise, lest we miss the glad surprise when we find your truth exceeds all the forecasts of our creeds. Pregnant Silence, Lively Calm, Singer of creation’s psalm, great “I AM” of burning bush: still resist our urge to push till you fit the names we choose, shadows of the light we lose. Save us from proud, empty claims in our zeal to give you names. Let our notions be expressed not to limit but suggest views that icon-like disclose splendor more than we suppose. God not female, God not male, God for whom all labels fail, Truth beyond our verbal games, Life too vast to bound with names; from vain wordlust set us free to embrace your mystery.
*BLESSING
We place ourselves in the ever expanding epic (sacred story) and write the next chapter as we embrace that new humanity. We have entered into the consciousness of God. That is what it means to discover that we are now God’s dwelling place. There is no supernatural deity beyond the sky working miracles. There is only a God-infused humanity through whom the Source of Life, the Source of Love and the Ground of Being lives. We are the God-bearers of the world. We must rise to our new vocation and be God for one another. We leave this place immersed in the Source of Love and Life, inspired to live fully, love wastefully and to be all that we can be.
–Spong, Sins of the Scripture, p. 298
*POSTLUDE ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY
A meeting where Ian and Bob and leadership will be available in the sanctuary to discuss people’s concerns, questions or ideas for C3/ CCC moving forward. Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome.
Rigaudon
...Andre Campra
Don’t Miss a Minute of Bishop Spong’s Trip to Spring Lake Order the complete CRL weekend with Bishop Spong, available on DVD/ CD/cassette tape, including a never before seen dialogue with Bishop Spong and Ian Lawton. The weekend set is only $35. Place your order today! Check out our table in the parlor where you can purchase/order all of our audio/video offerings. Get the Latest Progressive Christian News! Stay connected with C3/CCC by signing up to receive our free ezine (email newsletter), which features original articles, informative links, inspiration, sermons, bulletins, and so much more. Keep informed of C3/ CCC events and the latest news in progressive Christianity today. To receive the ezine, fill out the insert, or sign up online at www.christcommunity.net
CHURCH FAMILY
Recovering at home: Roger Kramer, Marvin Nienhouse