Those in the Crowd Who Would Listen
MCC RE and Reflection MCC Joint Hybrid Service – February 20, 2022
The Crowd Who Desires to Hear
Order of Service
Introduction………………………………………………Rev. Sharon Henry
Announcements
Reflection MCC…………………………………. Rev. Sharon Henry
MCC of the Redwood Empire…………………….Micheal McRae
Welcome to Visitors,
Opening Prayer and Candle Lighting…………….Rev. Sharon Henry
Centering Song …………………………. The Kin-dom of God (RMCC)
Oh that I could see your face
How I’m longing for the day
Brighter sun of holy grace
Make my heart a holy place
Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own
Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone
Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go
For their hearts have a road to the kin-dom of God
And their souls are the songs of the kin-dom of God
And they will find a refuge for theirs in the kin-dom of God
Beauty shining from your face
Always longed to see this place
Is there somewhere I can stay?
Even just a couple days?
Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own
Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone
Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go
For their hearts have a road to the kin-dom of God
And their souls are the songs of the kin-dom of God
And they will find a refuge for theirs in the kin-dom of God
The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want
In valley or pasture, we shall not want
Our cup runneth over and over
For now and forever; For now and forever
(repeat)
For now and forever; For now and forever
[Our world is crowded today, have you felt it? There are the protesting crowds waving signs and hopes of change. Some have brought us hope and motivated us to move, others have brought us fear and tempted us to hide. The unmasked crowds have made us question. Both the crowds of the sick lining the chairs of the medical buildings and the crowds of the unhoused, lining the now tented sidewalks remind us of our vulnerability. And even when we stay indoors, there are the crowds of social media, news commentators, and cultural icons pushing in with their personal opinions and talking points. Sometimes it is overwhelming.
Jesus faced crowds daily. From the crowd that sat in expectation at his baptism, to the crowd hailing for his death. Some were crowds of need, others crowds of danger. Perhaps when we look closely, we can find a source of hope as we face our crowds knowing that God is present in each crowd, if only we, as Jesus did, determine to find God in it.]
Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own
Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone
Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go
For their hearts have a road to the kin-dom of God
And their souls are the songs of the kin-dom of God
And they will find a refuge for theirs in the kin-dom of God
Oh that I could see your face
How I’m longing for the day
Transition to Worship Songs……………………… Rev. Sharon Henry
Worship………………………………….River of Praise Band (MCC RE)
We Lift Our Voices
We lift our voices
We lift our lives up to You
We are an offering
Lord use our voices
Lord use our hands
Lord use our lives
They are Yours
We are an offering
All that we have
All the we are
All that we hope to be
We give to You
We give to You
We lift our voices
It Will Be Me
If you hear a voice in the middle of the night
Sayin’ it’ll be alright
It will be me
If you feel a hand guiding you along
When the path seems wrong
It will be me
There is no mountain that I can’t climb
For you, I’d swim through the rivers of time
As you go your way and I go mine
A light will shine
And it will be me
If there is a key that goes to your heart
that special part
It will be me
If you need a friend
Call out to the wind
To hold you again
It will be me
Oh, how the world seems so unfair
Creating a love that can not be shared
As you go your way and I go mine
A light will shine
And it will be me
Past the ever after, there’s a place for two
In your tears and laughter
I’ll be there for you
In the sun and the moon
In the land and the sea
Look all around you
It will be me
There is no mountain that I can’t climb
For you I’d swim through the rivers of time
As you go your way and I go mine
A light will shine
And it will be me
It will be me
It will be me
1st Reading ………………………………………. Christine Henry (RMCC)
From A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
We are a species that has lost its way. Everything natural, every flower or tree, and every animal have important lessons to teach us if we would only stop, look, and listen. Our duck’s lesson is this: Flap your wings—which translates as “let go of the story”—and return to the only place of power: the present moment.
2nd Reading…………………………………………..Rob Gulling (MCC RE)
Luke 6:27-38 (NRSV)
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Sermon: …………… Rev. Sharon Henry
Discussion Questions:
- Where have you been hearing the noise, but know that it is time to listen deeply to the song?
- Are there areas in your life where you can emerge as the Christ in the Crowd?
Sermon Response Song ……………. Reflection MCC Praise Team
I Know (by Kim Walker Smith)
In the presence of my enemies
When the storm is crashing down on me
I will trust in what I cannot see
I wait for You, I wait for You
You can part the violent sea
You can reach the depths of me
I know nothing is impossible
I know every chain is breakable
I know on Christ the solid rock I stand
I am waiting at the water’s edge
Holding steadfast to Your promises
Even though I’m not there yet
I trust in You, I trust in You
You can part the violent sea
You can reach the depths of me
I know nothing is impossible
I know every chain is breakable
I know on Christ the solid rock I stand
My fear is conquered by Christ’s perfect love
My life is purposed in God’s holy call
I know on Christ the solid rock I stand
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ love and righteousness
When turmoil seems to hide God’s face
I rest on Christ’s unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I know nothing is impossible
I know every chain is breakable
I know on Christ the solid rock I stand
My fear is conquered by Christ’s perfect love
My life is purposed in God’s holy call
I know on Christ the solid rock I stand
Prayers of the People
(Praises, then Prayer Requests) ……….. Debbie McIrvin Gulling (MCC RE)
Offering..……………………………………………..Rev. Sharon Henry
Celebration of Communion……………….Micheal McRae (MCC RE)
Thank Yous/Wrap Up
Celebrations…………………………………………… Rev. Sharon Henry
Benediction ……………………………………………. Rev. Sharon Henry