“The end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience…I know you are asking today, how long will it take?”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Welcome- Rev. Andy Bachmann

PRELUDE- “Jesus, Etc.” by Wilco. Offered by Andy and Stella Bachmann

RESPONSIVE PRAYER – (Containing excerpts from Dr. King’s speech in Montgomery, Alabama, at the culmination of the March from Selma to Montgomery, March 25, 1965)- Offered by Peggy Bowie

Leader: O God of peace and healing, We come before you feeling powerless to stop the hatred that divides races and nations. We come before you saddened and angered by the denial of human rights in our land. We come before you with wounds deep in our hearts that we long to have healed. We come before you with struggles in our personal lives that it seems will not go away. And we pray Lord

People:  How long? How long for justice?

Leader: Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

People:  How long for truth?

Leader: Not long, because no lie can live forever.

People:  How long for our wounded hearts to heal?

Leader: Not long, for God calls you by name, and reminds you that you are loved. God whispers to your weary soul, “you are with me; you are mine.”

People:  How long for our struggles for human rights, equity, and dignity?

Leader: Not long, for though the struggle seems long, we remember that we are held in God’s everlasting arms, beneath which we cannot fall.

People:  How long for the healing of what is broken inside and all around us?

Leader: Not long, for we shall overcome, together in partnership, human holy partnership, we shall overcome, indeed. Blessed be the struggle. Blessed be the march. Blessed be. Amen.

OPENING SONG – “You Called Me”

You called me to the water, and holy is Your name.
You called me to the water, and holy is Your name
You called me to the water, to become a new creation,
And holy, holy is your name.

You called me to forgiveness, and holy is your name.
You called me to forgiveness, and holy is your name.
You called me to forgiveness, to a new life in your presence, and holy, holy is your name.

You called me to your table, and holy is your name.
You called me to your table, and holy is your name.
You called me to your table, to the bread of your living body, and holy, holy is your name.

You called me to the listening, and holy is your name.
You called me to the listening and holy is your name.
You called me to the listening, your word is truth and
wisdom, and holy, holy is your name.

You called me to your people, and holy is your name.
You called me to your people, and holy is your name. You called me to your people, to love them as you love them.  And holy, holy is your name.

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN- Rev. Bachmann
PRAYER
BIRTHDAYS
INTERLUDE

SPECIAL MUSIC AND OFFERTORY- “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney. Offered by Andy and Stella Bachmann

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SCRIPTURE AND READING- Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan

Isaiah 58: 6-12 – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you. The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and God shall answer you, saying, “Here I am.” 

“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom be like the noonday. God will guide you continually, satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water.”

“Now the ears of my ears awake, now the eyes of my eyes are opened.” – e.e. cummings

“What we believe about God will tell us what we believe about people, and what we believe about people will tell us what kinds of communities and societies we believe we should strive to create.”  -Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil

SUNG RESPONSE- Nan Ryan has composed a chant titled “Love, People, Love” that we will use as a response following our speakers. The words are simply, “Love, People, Love”

REFLECTIONS- Jackie Davis and Dawn Beachy

“What’s in a Name?”- Rev. Andy Bachmann

PRAYER RESPONSE

FINAL SONG- “Will You Come and Follow Me”

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA

Many thanks to artists Ron Haase who created the banner at the front of the Sanctuary, Glenn Terry who created the two bird sculptures and Glen Purdy, who created the mobile specifically for our worship theme.

Here are our UCG friends celebrating a birthday this week!

Happy Birthday!