What Is the Church? A Liturgy

08 Thursday Sep 2022

Posted by mictori in Liturgy, UCC Statement of Faith

Tags

Church, Liturgy, progressive Christianity, UCC, UCC Statement of Faith, What Do We Believe

Call to Worship
One: Whether we are rich, middle class or barely getting by-
Many: We are Christ’s church.
One: Whether we have plenty or in want-
Many: We are Christ’s church.
One: Whether we are employed, unemployed or retired-
Many: We are Christ’s church.
One: Whether we give of time, talent or treasure-
Many: We are Christ’s church.
One: In a spirit of unity, caring for one another-
Many: We are Christ’s church.

Invocation
Eager and Empowering God, we come to you this morning to reflect our view on what it means to be Christ’s Church. We enter this sanctuary to examine the ways we can create sanctuary for all. May we see one another through your eyes. May we see your living presence in our gathering together. Allow this time not only to be one where we worship you but one where you open us up to new ways of serving. Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation and Reflection
Holy God, Holy Connector,

Through your Spirit, we find your abundant love. Through your Church, we recognize the gifts of ourselves and others. Yet sometimes we want to focus on the weaknesses of our neighbors instead of acknowledging their strengths. Our relationships crumble when we lack mercy. Inspire us to encourage our neighbors. Remind us that our voices of confidence assist our neighbors along their journey, and when one of us is stronger, the Church is stronger. Amen.

Assurance of Grace
Our Grace-filled God, the One who dwells with us on this journey, is filling our hearts with mercy and our minds with wisdom. We are called to focus on the grace of our journeys which will strengthen the bonds between us, God, and our neighbors. Amen.

Reflection on Giving
The Holy Spirit prompts us to be the Church as we move about the earth. At times, we share our talents, filling the world with our songs and art. Other moments, we share our time, sitting with a neighbor hurting or using our hands to strengthen our building. And then there are times when we contribute the gifts of treasures, giving financial offerings for the good of our local church and the entirety of Christ’s Church. However you give this week, may we grow with God and neighbor.

Blessing of the Gifts
Holy Spirit, Divine Winds of the Church, you gather us together, breathing new life into our souls. You gather us together, filling our hearts with inspiration and creativity. You gather us together, focusing our minds on how we can care for one another. May each of our gifts build the Body of Christ, this congregation, and our community. Amen.

Benediction
May the winds of the Spirit carry us to new possibilities, even in the face of anxiety.
May the dust on Christ’s path strengthen our courage when the road seems rough.
May the waters of our God renew us in our times of exhaustion.
Let us Co-Create with one another and God to build the Church of Love here on earth. Amen.

Blessing of the Building

24 Sunday Apr 2022

Posted by mictori in Church Life, Prayers, Religion

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Blessing, Blessing of the Building, Building, Church, Prayer, Prayers, Sanctuary

Holy God, Divine Architect of All-

This beautiful space today reminds us that we co-create with you. Each brick reminds us of our strength through you. Each window reminds us of your light that shines through us.

God of Love and Light: Bless the space today. Bless each brick, each panel of wood, each nail which has assembled this building. Bless all of the hands and hearts which have built and restored this place as we give much gratitude for their gifts. Bless all who have given their treasures in making this day possible.

Each time two or more are gathered in this space, may they see your presence surrounding them. In gatherings of joy, fill their hearts with happiness, and may this room be filled with laughter. As groups congregate for solemn occasions, surround them with your peace, and may their souls experience your comfort.

We give thanks for the saints whose gifts continue to echo in this sanctuary. May their memories continue to bless current and future generations who congregate in this place.

May this space be one which builds community, believing that your love will strengthen our ties and create your realm on this earth.

Amen.

*****

This was written for the Celebration of the Restoration of Heritage Hall at St. Paul United Church of Christ, April 2022.

Zeitgeist and the Church: The Lessons Learned from the “Blow-Off” Class I Took in College

05 Saturday Dec 2020

Posted by mictori in Current Events, Pop, Pop Culture

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Church, COVID-19, Grey's Anatomy, progressive Christianity, Video Killed the Radio Star, zeitgeist

I took one class in college that one may classify as a “blow-off” class: Television and Society.

Now, my intentions for taking it were not because it appeared easy. Along with my two concentrations of public relations and professional writing under my degree in English, I was hoping that the stars would align, the classes would be available, and I could fulfill the requirements for a minor in Communications. (I was one class shy.) This class was an elective for the minor. (Admittedly, taking a class such as this helped out when I had to leave school for a week when my grandmother was dying. But that’s another story for another time.)

In any case, this class featured television from various eras and styles, taking account the time period in which the show was featured. As we looked back on the 1950’s, television was drastically different than in the 1990’s.

And today, over 25 years after taking the class, television is drastically different.

No longer do we need to catch a television show when it airs or set our VCRs to catch the show. Now, everything is On Demand. If my DVR doesn’t record a program, it will be on Hulu the next day. Furthermore, this gives the viewer the opportunity to binge watch television shows – from just one episode to a whole season in one night.

Needing to stay inside this year has given people the opportunity to watch shows at their own convenience, enjoying an evening’s worth of programming based upon the time and audience. I’ve had the chance to watch shows that had just fully completed their run (Schitt’s Creek) and new seasons of other programs (The Crown and others).

Not only has our style of watching shows changed, but the content itself. Just recently, I read an NPR article on why Grey’s Anatomy decided to include the Covid-19 pandemic into the show.

One of the medical consultants, Dr. Nasar Alazari said this:

“We were kind of, like, returning into this fog. It was thick fog. We did not know what’s happening. I felt like definitely we have to say that, like, you know – tell stories about this because this disease is our zeitgeist.”

“The disease is our zeitgeist” is a very important point every industry and corner of our society needs to embrace. We will never be the same because of this time. Television needs to reflect it.

And so does the church.

Television and Society class taught me that as times change, the content of television and our viewing habits change. This year has taught me that as times change, the content of church and our participation habits change. I would say that this is another “Video Killed the Radio Star” moment; nothing stays the same, and we are called to adapt.

Covid-19 is our zeitgeist, which the Oxford Languages defines zeitgeist as “the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.” Just as WWII was the major backdrop of the early 1940’s, this virus is the backdrop for 2020. The tension of the Babylonian Exile was a major zeitgeist of the writings in the Hebrew Bible. We can’t escape this backdrop.

Of course, this means content of services, including sermons, reflect this tension in a way that is real but hopeful. It’s a part of our landscape. A medical show can’t escape storylines on the virus because it’s a major part of medicine now. Likewise, we can’t disregard this because it’s part of who we are now.

Furthermore, the structure of faith communities have changed forever. Do people need to watch church at 9:30am on Sunday mornings? No. Church is becoming On Demand. We can watch it whenever it is convenient. I now think this will be a permanent part of church life. What we must do is pair that with the commitment to stay connected with our congregants. To our faith community, the work of connecting to people has transformed, and I think this level of working to connect has changed the way we do church. This has brought us closer together at a time when we feel physically distant.

Like with television, this time has permanently changed all of us – and every corner of society. The Church is permanently changed. And that one sort of “blow off” class I took in 1994 helped me see that whatever the zeitgeist, we will keep surviving and keep adapting.

Tears, Songs, and Hearing His Voice

26 Sunday May 2019

Posted by mictori in grief, Life, Pop

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Church, grief, grief and music, hymns, Let There Be Peace on Earth, loss of father, loss of loved one, loss of parent, Music

5756029D-993A-46E3-BFE7-239C94F0B7B7

This morning, I supercried at church – weeping like a small child.

The song was “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Beyond the voices of the choir, I could hear the sound of my dad’s voice…

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me…

My dad would sing the song with every fiber of his being. His (probably) tenor voice would sing each syllable with intent. As a civics teacher, a Genocide survivor’s son, and a person who believed Christianity was an active faith, the song was probably the best representation of what he believed.

Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now…

And so, when this song is sung as it was today with the choir, every piece of my being remembered him. I remembered his articulation of faith, of his voice singing a song that was a prayer in his heart. I remembered our time sitting next to one another in church as my faith grew next to his more matured, more articulated faith.

Songs connect us with people and the past. Of moments of joy and of losses. We know what we no longer have, but we know that we’ve been given the gift of something spectacular – the holiness of song, of love, of spirit.

To take each moment, and live each moment, in peace eternally-

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

A Liturgy and Blessing for Church Vocations Sunday

22 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by mictori in Church Life, Epiphany Liturgy/Prayers, Liturgy, Pop

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blessing of church staff, Church, church vocations, church vocations Sunday, Liturgy, progressive Christianity, United Church of Christ

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: God calls us here – no matter who we are.

Many: Knowing we are messy and magnificent, God calls us here.

One: God summons us to boldly serve our world.

Many: God cultivates our gifts to nurture creation.

One: God sanctifies our voices as we uphold justice.

Many: God warms our souls as we foster kindness.

One: May strength be the foundation of our growing souls.

Many: May courage be the base of our strengthening hearts.

One: For such a time is this, we are here.

Many: For such a time as this we worship and serve our Creator.

INVOCATION

Divine Nourisher of Gifts, you paint a photo of the ideal world. In our messiness and our magnificence, you call us to co-create your realm. May we see ourselves as you see us. May we respond to your call in our lives with a joyous “Amen!” May we encourage our neighbors in their pursuits to embrace their most authentic lives. Amen.

CALL TO RECONCILIATION

One: Have we nurtured the call of our neighbors? Have we encouraged their gifts? Have there been times when we’ve crushed dreams rather than lifted spirits?

PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION

One: Gracious Nurturer, Holy Spirit, in the highlights of our lives, we’ve seen your presence. In the shadow-filled valleys, we’ve neglected your call. Self-fulfilling prophecy has melted our hopes. Negative remarks have washed away others’ dreams.

Many: May collaboration become our road and encouragement our compass. Let us work together to nudge our neighbors to live into your call. Let us shed negativity from our own voices and the voices of others to create room for fulfilled visions. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GRACE

One: Loving God, our Gracious Nurturer, will continue to hope with us throughout our entire lives – – and beyond! God will infuse joy in our journeys and mercy in our discernment. Let us tap into God’s grace, and let us extend this grace to others.

All: Amen! Thanks be to God!

CALL TO OFFERING

One: Spirit of God, Gracious Nurturer, throughout our lives, you have tended to our talents. You have celebrated the times they have flourished and showered your mercy when we needed to attend to our gifts. In this time and space, let us reflect on the ways we have cultivated our talents together, God. In this space and time, let us give as we can with the hope that our contributions will expand our world.

DEDICATION PRAYER

Gracious Nurturer, for the gifts in our hands, we give our gratitude. For the gifts in our hearts, we sing with joy. For the gifts in our souls, we share with our world. Loving God, may our co-nurturing strengthen our communities and encourage our neighbors to share their talents with the world. Amen.

BENEDICTION

Let us exit this space with hope.

Let us move into the world with joy.

May the God who shares visions,

the Christ who dreams,

and the Spirit who sustains our souls

nurture our sense of call today and always. Amen!

All: Amen!

Optional LITANY OF BLESSINGS FOR PEOPLE IN CHURCH VOCATIONS

One: Spirit of God who stirs our souls and inspires us to build a just and peace-filled world:

With gratitude we celebrate our siblings in faith who dedicate their time, talents, and treasures in the church. With appreciation and joy, we pray for them this day and bless the work of their hands and hearts.

One: For those who are sensing a nudge by God’s Spirit to enter ministry: may they attend to the seeds in their souls to see what God may be cultivating.