Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, February 4th, 2007
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Ken Freudigman, cello
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: I will sing of mercy and justice.People: For mercy and justice are praises befitting God.
Leader: I will follow the way of mercy and justice, for it is the way to peace.
Congregation: And on the seventh day peace was created; this is our Sabbath, the
day of peace, the aim of creation.
All: Thanks be to God!
--Keith A. Schuette
OPENING HYMN* No. 557 God of Grace and God of Glory ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
O God, whose heart weeps at the disobedience and the suffering of any of your creatures, look with justice and mercy on the prominent trouble spots of your globe. You be the champion of those who suffer poverty, dislocation, hunger, and disease. You be the chastisement of those who abuse innocent victims. Unerring judge of us all, forgive us our involvement in the sins of your people, whether it be by action direct or indirect. Renew in us the will to make peace and do justice that we may bring you delight, not tears. Amen
--Ruth C. Duck
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE Rev. Karen Vannoy
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Blest Are They
Text: Matthew 5:3-16; Music: David Haas
Sanctuary Choir; Lana Cartlidge Potts, accompanist
For the text please see No. 2155 in The Faith We Sing
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lana Cartlidge Potts
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 2241 The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Ken Freudigman, cello
Monday, January 22, 2007
1/28/07 11:00 Service
This service will be fun. Our youth choir is going to serve as one of the choirs and will sing with the band, which is going to be really cool!
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
You are Good
C-Band Medley
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
Sanctuary
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: Clarence or Ernie
MESSAGE Rev. John Flowers
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Soon and Very Soon
POSTLUDE: Sent Out In Jesus Name
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
You are Good
C-Band Medley
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
Sanctuary
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: Clarence or Ernie
MESSAGE Rev. John Flowers
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Soon and Very Soon
POSTLUDE: Sent Out In Jesus Name
1/28/07 9:00 Liturgy
Whew! I can't believe...the Monday before the service!
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Allemande BWV 1007 J.S. Bach
Rebekah Ward, viola
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: The God of New Beginnings has called us to this place.People: We come celebrating the new life that is ours as God’s faithful people.Leader: Let your joy ring through the universe, and let your vision see to the depths of every soul.
Congregation: We will be shouters of joy and seekers of God’s light wherever we go. Praise God for this day!
--Sandra E. Graham
OPENING HYMN* No. 2236 Gather Us In ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Eternal God,. You love us steadfastly, but we have trouble loving in return’ you call us, but we have wax-filled ears; you reveal yourself, but our eyelids are heavy; you lead us toward our neighbor, but we build walls around ourselves; you hate evil, injustice, and alienation, but we get used to it. O God, we pray, help us to see ourselves both as we are and as we might be before you, and draw us by your Spirit’s tether into your forgiving, renewing, and serviceable grace, through the mercies of Christ. Amen.
--David D. Bowman
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE Jeremiah 1:4-10 & I Corinthians 13:1-13 Rev. John Flowers
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: The Gift of Love
Text I Corinthians 13, Music Hal H. Hopson
Sanctuary Choir; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
Though I mad speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
and have not love;
My words are vain, as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be giv’n by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide ev’ry deed.
By this we worship and are freed.
Amen.
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Emily Watkins, viola
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 2228 Sacred the Body ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Courante BWV 1007 J.S. Bach
Rebekah Ward, viola
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Allemande BWV 1007 J.S. Bach
Rebekah Ward, viola
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: The God of New Beginnings has called us to this place.People: We come celebrating the new life that is ours as God’s faithful people.Leader: Let your joy ring through the universe, and let your vision see to the depths of every soul.
Congregation: We will be shouters of joy and seekers of God’s light wherever we go. Praise God for this day!
--Sandra E. Graham
OPENING HYMN* No. 2236 Gather Us In ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Eternal God,. You love us steadfastly, but we have trouble loving in return’ you call us, but we have wax-filled ears; you reveal yourself, but our eyelids are heavy; you lead us toward our neighbor, but we build walls around ourselves; you hate evil, injustice, and alienation, but we get used to it. O God, we pray, help us to see ourselves both as we are and as we might be before you, and draw us by your Spirit’s tether into your forgiving, renewing, and serviceable grace, through the mercies of Christ. Amen.
--David D. Bowman
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE Jeremiah 1:4-10 & I Corinthians 13:1-13 Rev. John Flowers
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: The Gift of Love
Text I Corinthians 13, Music Hal H. Hopson
Sanctuary Choir; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
Though I mad speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
and have not love;
My words are vain, as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be giv’n by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide ev’ry deed.
By this we worship and are freed.
Amen.
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Emily Watkins, viola
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 2228 Sacred the Body ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Courante BWV 1007 J.S. Bach
Rebekah Ward, viola
Thursday, January 18, 2007
1/21/07 11:00 Liturgy
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
Woke Up This Morning
Victory Chant
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
More Like You
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: Thy Word Emmaus Youth Choir
MESSAGE Luke 4:14-21 Rev. Karen Vannoy
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Can You Believe?
POSTLUDE: Can You Believe? (reprise)
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
Woke Up This Morning
Victory Chant
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
More Like You
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: Thy Word Emmaus Youth Choir
MESSAGE Luke 4:14-21 Rev. Karen Vannoy
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Can You Believe?
POSTLUDE: Can You Believe? (reprise)
1/21/07 9:00 Worship
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Camerata San Antonio
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: God said: let there be light; and there was light. Congregation: And God saw that the light was good.Leader: This very day our God has acted! Let us rejoice!
Congregation: Alleluia! God’s name be praised!
--from The Worship Book: Services and Hymns
OPENING HYMN* No. 89 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Jesus, revealer of all that we can know of the Divine, your words in the Scripture we are about to hear so plainly reveal your life’s work and thereby our own work as well. We are to follow your example and by God’s grace and sustaining power, we are to bring good news to the poor. We are to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Help us God! In our brokenness we have often not done what you have asked of us. Forgive us, Creator, and transform us into all that you would have us to be. We ask this in your worthy Son’s name, Jesus. Amen.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
ANTHEM Thy Word Emmaus Youth Choir
Words: Amy Grant (Ps. 119:105) Music by Michael W. Smith, arr. Jack Schrader
Patty Riggle Bonner, accompanist
MESSAGE Luke 4:14-21 Rev. Karen Vannoy
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: The Journey is Our Home
Sanctuary Choir; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Camerata San Antonio
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 2182 When God Restored Our Common Life ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Camerata San Antonio
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Camerata San Antonio
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: God said: let there be light; and there was light. Congregation: And God saw that the light was good.Leader: This very day our God has acted! Let us rejoice!
Congregation: Alleluia! God’s name be praised!
--from The Worship Book: Services and Hymns
OPENING HYMN* No. 89 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Jesus, revealer of all that we can know of the Divine, your words in the Scripture we are about to hear so plainly reveal your life’s work and thereby our own work as well. We are to follow your example and by God’s grace and sustaining power, we are to bring good news to the poor. We are to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Help us God! In our brokenness we have often not done what you have asked of us. Forgive us, Creator, and transform us into all that you would have us to be. We ask this in your worthy Son’s name, Jesus. Amen.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
ANTHEM Thy Word Emmaus Youth Choir
Words: Amy Grant (Ps. 119:105) Music by Michael W. Smith, arr. Jack Schrader
Patty Riggle Bonner, accompanist
MESSAGE Luke 4:14-21 Rev. Karen Vannoy
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: The Journey is Our Home
Sanctuary Choir; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Camerata San Antonio
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 2182 When God Restored Our Common Life ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Camerata San Antonio
Monday, January 15, 2007
Books!
I'm reading some good books at the moment! (Life's too short to read bad ones, I suppose.)
I'm finally nearing the end of The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg, which has been very informative.
I have also begun Borg's Jesus and am finishing Diana Butler Bass' Christianity for the Rest of Us. I'm re-reading Walter Wink's The Powers that Be and am about to start Parker Palmer's Let Your Life Speak.
My first encounter with Palmer came from the wonderful, life change, absolutly amazing The Musician's Soul by James Jordan. If you are a musician or a teacher, you must read this book! I cannot begin to tell you how much it has changed my life and work. Check it out, today!!!! It should be required reading for all musicians!
I'm finally nearing the end of The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg, which has been very informative.
I have also begun Borg's Jesus and am finishing Diana Butler Bass' Christianity for the Rest of Us. I'm re-reading Walter Wink's The Powers that Be and am about to start Parker Palmer's Let Your Life Speak.
My first encounter with Palmer came from the wonderful, life change, absolutly amazing The Musician's Soul by James Jordan. If you are a musician or a teacher, you must read this book! I cannot begin to tell you how much it has changed my life and work. Check it out, today!!!! It should be required reading for all musicians!
A cold, cold night in SA
Finally, it's gotten cold in San Antonio. (At least by San Antonio standards.) In our neck of the woods it's 29 degrees and the wind is blowing hard and constantly! They are expecting 1/4 inch of ice by the morning. We'll see...should be interesting.
I marched this morning along with 70 of my closest friends from Traivs Park UMC in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March this morning. Normally, San Antonio's march is the largest march of its kind in the country. Last year there were over 100,000 participants. This year, it was more like 4,000. The weather drove many people away, which, while understandable, is also sad to me. Certainly King would have marched for us!
I marched this morning along with 70 of my closest friends from Traivs Park UMC in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March this morning. Normally, San Antonio's march is the largest march of its kind in the country. Last year there were over 100,000 participants. This year, it was more like 4,000. The weather drove many people away, which, while understandable, is also sad to me. Certainly King would have marched for us!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
9:00 12/31/06
Wow...I've totally lost the liturgy to our 9:00 12/31/06 service, where we did a full liturgy of the Wesley Covenant Renewal Service...the saddest part is, I preached it! And I can't find my text either! Unbelievable! I'll look for it at home.
Catching up! 12/31/06 11:00 Liturgy
We did a contemporary "Wesley Covenant Renewal Service" on this Sunday.
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, December 31st, 2006
OPENING MUSIC:
C-Band Medley
Can You Believe
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions) Rev. Joe Stobaugh
More Like You
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS Rev. Willie Glaster
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
MESSAGE Rev. Taylor Boone
COVENANT SERVICE (Covenant Prayer on Screen—Use Last Years)
CALL FOR THE OFFERING Rev. Dena Kirby
OFFERTORY God’s Got a Blessing
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Guide My Feet
POSTLUDE: God’s Got a Blessing (Reprise)
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, December 31st, 2006
OPENING MUSIC:
C-Band Medley
Can You Believe
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions) Rev. Joe Stobaugh
More Like You
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS Rev. Willie Glaster
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
MESSAGE Rev. Taylor Boone
COVENANT SERVICE (Covenant Prayer on Screen—Use Last Years)
CALL FOR THE OFFERING Rev. Dena Kirby
OFFERTORY God’s Got a Blessing
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: Guide My Feet
POSTLUDE: God’s Got a Blessing (Reprise)
11:00 MLK Service
This one is going to be sweet too! U2, James Taylor, and a host of other excellent pieces. During MLK we are going to have the video of Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech playing on two screens in the church. Powerful!
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 14th, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
In the Sanctuary
Shed a Little Light
Lift Every Voice and Sing
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: MLK
MESSAGE Amos 5:24 Rev. John Flowers
BAPTISM
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: We Shall Overcome
POSTLUDE: Victory Chant
Travis Park UMC
Celebration Worship Service
Sunday, January 14th, 2007
OPENING MUSIC:
In the Sanctuary
Shed a Little Light
Lift Every Voice and Sing
WELCOME (Registration Pads, Questions)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
PRAYER OVER THE PRAYER CARDS
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY: MLK
MESSAGE Amos 5:24 Rev. John Flowers
BAPTISM
INVITATION TO DISCPLESHIP: We Shall Overcome
POSTLUDE: Victory Chant
Martin Luther King Sunday 9:00 Liturgy
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a huge hero of mine and I always look forward to Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday. This service is going to be amazing! If you haven't heard U2's MLK you are missing out! It's worth the download on iTunes. Also, if you're a choral nut, check out Imaginings by the UNT A Cappella Choir for the arrangment we are doing by Bob Chilcott: beautiful!
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, January 14th, 2007
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: Let us speak of mercy and justice.Congregation: For these are the things suitable for our God.Leader: Let us follow the ways of mercy and justice, for they are the ways of peace and community.Congregation: Let us lift up our hearts in conviction and our voices in commitment and praise to the Lord of peace and the God of justice; the hope and healing of humanity.
--Rev. Brett Strobel, pastor of the Newman United Methodist Church
OPENING HYMN* No. 519 Lift Every Voice and Sing ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Just as our brother in Christ, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream for God’s children, so you God have a dream for your creation. Forgive us, God, where we have stood in opposition to your dreams. Help us to search our souls, to examine our lives, to see where we have blocked your way, where we have trampled upon your Spirit, and where we have been neglectful of your will. Help us to bring our dreams and our stories inline with yours. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE Amos 5:24 Rev. John Flowers
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: MLK
Words & Music by U2, arr. Bob Chilcott
Sanctuary Choir; Jeff Aitken, soloist
Sleep, sleep tonight,
and may your dreams be realized.
If the thunder cloud passes rain
so let it rain, rain down on him.
So let it be. So let it be.
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lana Cartlidge Potts
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 474 Precious Lord, Take My Hand ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, January 14th, 2007
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
CALL TO WORSHIP*
Leader: Let us speak of mercy and justice.Congregation: For these are the things suitable for our God.Leader: Let us follow the ways of mercy and justice, for they are the ways of peace and community.Congregation: Let us lift up our hearts in conviction and our voices in commitment and praise to the Lord of peace and the God of justice; the hope and healing of humanity.
--Rev. Brett Strobel, pastor of the Newman United Methodist Church
OPENING HYMN* No. 519 Lift Every Voice and Sing ALL
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Just as our brother in Christ, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream for God’s children, so you God have a dream for your creation. Forgive us, God, where we have stood in opposition to your dreams. Help us to search our souls, to examine our lives, to see where we have blocked your way, where we have trampled upon your Spirit, and where we have been neglectful of your will. Help us to bring our dreams and our stories inline with yours. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
SILENT PRAYERS
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
MESSAGE Amos 5:24 Rev. John Flowers
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: MLK
Words & Music by U2, arr. Bob Chilcott
Sanctuary Choir; Jeff Aitken, soloist
Sleep, sleep tonight,
and may your dreams be realized.
If the thunder cloud passes rain
so let it rain, rain down on him.
So let it be. So let it be.
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: The Spirit of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts to heaven
People: where Christ in glory reigns.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyous prayer, always and everywhere to give you thanks. For
in the beginning, Creator God, You made the earth; round, rich, and fertile, the mother of all life, the seedbed of all growth.
People: You bent low and gently gathered up a handful of clay and shaped and
wonderfully and intricately made man and woman.
Leader: You breathed wind and spirit into flesh and bone.
People: We became like you, formed in your image carrying the stars in our eyes,
the moon in our hearts and the cosmos in every breath.
Leader: And, so with all the saints who have gone before, all the creatures of the earth, and all the
faithful touched by the Spirit, we praise your name and join the unending hymn of praise:
--from Water Words by Larry Peacock
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lana Cartlidge Potts
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 474 Precious Lord, Take My Hand ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
Happy New Year!
2007!!!! Amazing! What a blessing it is to start over with a new year, a fresh start! (It should be this easy to feel a fresh start everyday, shouldn't it?)
Christmas Eve went well, though I had contaced a terrible virus that caused me to lose 6 pounds in twelve hours! Not much fun. The virus has been running through San Antonio like wildfire. I got it from my amazing daughter (who is now 1!!!!!!) and then my poor wife got if from me on Christmas Day! What a beating!
In spite of all that, 2006 finished well and I'm really stoked about 2007!
Christmas Eve went well, though I had contaced a terrible virus that caused me to lose 6 pounds in twelve hours! Not much fun. The virus has been running through San Antonio like wildfire. I got it from my amazing daughter (who is now 1!!!!!!) and then my poor wife got if from me on Christmas Day! What a beating!
In spite of all that, 2006 finished well and I'm really stoked about 2007!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Christmas Eve 2006
I cannot wait for Christmas Eve! This year we are going to have a wonderful service with lots of great music, great preaching a bit of drama, etc. It's going to be nice!
Travis Park UMC-Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, December 24th, 2006
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP: Lost in the Night
Text: Finnish Song, tr. Olav Lee; Music: arr. Kyle Haugen
Emmaus Youth Choir; Sanctuary Choir
Sarah Homer, soprano soloist
Lost in the night do the people yet languish,
Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish,
Plaintively heaving a sigh full of anguish.
Will not day come soon?
Will not day come soon?
Must we be vainly awaiting the morrow?
Shall those who have light no light let us borrow,
Giving no heed to our burden of sorrow?
Will you help us soon?
Will you help us soon?
Sorrowing wand’ers, in darkness yet dwelling,
Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling,
Death’s dreaded darkness forever dispelling.
Christ is coming soon, Christ is coming soon!
Will not day come soon?
Come and save us soon!
Christ is coming soon!
*OPENING PRAYER
God of starlight and holy nights, surprise us again with the miracle of birth, the glorious birth of Jesus. Help us see the wonder and delight of it all as the children enact the story.
Soften our hearts, touch our souls and fill us with love, for the birth of Jesus changed our world, changed our lives. Open us to receiving once again your love so that we may share your love with those in need. Amen
--Larry J. Peacock
*OPENING HYMN No. 234 O Come, All Ye Faithful st.1-4 All
CHILDREDN’S CHRISTMAS PAGENT Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:9-11
Scripture Passages read by Rev. Karen Vannoy and Rev. John Flowers
What Child is This? vs. 1
The First Noel, vs. 1
We Three Kings, vs. 1
Away in a Manger, vs. 1
Joy to the World, vs. 1
ANTHEM: Fum, Fum, Fum arr. S. Childs
Sacred Melodies; Jackie Shepherd, conductor; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES
Rev. Joe Stobaugh and Mrs. Sarah Stobaugh and Eleanor Grace Stobaugh
Leader: Now we are all collected in the stable, where all people are gathered, each in their own dress of habits and flaws.
People: Here, we find the pain of Mary; the endurance of Joseph; the economics of the innkeeper; the not knowing of the shepherds.
Leader: Around our lonely hours and the crush of crowds, there still shines the manger presence.
People: What can we do, but kneel? And when we rise, straw dust on our knees, cobwebs in our hair, stars in our eyes, you have invaded our hearts, armed with love.
--Rev. Karen Vannoy
MESSAGE Christmas at the Manger Rev. John Flowers
MUSICAL RESPONSE: I Pray on Christmas
Text and Music by Harry Connick, Jr.
Celebration Singers; Clark Stevens, soloist; Mark Rubinstein, pianist
I pray on Christmas that the Lord will see my through.
I pray on Christmas He’ll show me what to do.
I pray on Christmas He’ll help me understand.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll take me by the hand.
I pray on Christmas that the sick will soon be strong.
I pray on Christmas the Lord will hear my song.
I pray on Christmas that God will lead the way.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll get me through another day.
I pray on Christmas all our problems gonna be worked out.
I pray on Christmas God’ll show us what love’s about.
I pray on Christmas to do your will each day.
And I pray on Christmas that I’ll be with you in heaven some day.
A WITNESS TO TRANSFORMATION ?????
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Maria Wiegenlied Max Reger
Camerata San Antonio
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Leader: Thank you, God, for giving yourself to the world, not in the powerful and
extraordinary,
People: but in weakness and the familiar: in a baby; in bread and
wine.
Leader: Than you for offering, at journey’s end, a new beginning;
People: for setting, in the poverty of a stable, the richest jewel of your
love;
Leader: for revealing, in a particular place, your light for all nations.
People: Thank you for bringing us to Bethlehem, House of Bread,
where the empty are filled, and the filled are emptied; and all join their voices together singing:
--Kate Compston, England, 1990; Matthew 2:1-12
SANCTUS No. 238 Angels We Have Heard on High All
(please ring your bells during the Gloria)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Holy God, we praise you for this holy season of hints and whispers, when
you sent your best gift to us. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Music by Johannes Brahms; Performed by Camerata San Antonio
ANTHEM Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Text: Wzlobie Lezy, trans. Edith M.G. Reed (1885-1933)
Music: Polish Carol, arr. Mack Wilberg
Sanctuary Choir;
Lana Cartlidge Potts, organist; Camerata San Antonio
Infant Holy, Infant lowly, For his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swifly winging angels singing, Nowells ringing,
Tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
Christ the Babe was born, for you.
Christ was born for you.
*LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES No. 239 Silent Night ALL
BENEDICTION—text from Brian Wren
Travis Park UMC-Christmas Eve Worship
Sunday, December 24th, 2006
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP: Lost in the Night
Text: Finnish Song, tr. Olav Lee; Music: arr. Kyle Haugen
Emmaus Youth Choir; Sanctuary Choir
Sarah Homer, soprano soloist
Lost in the night do the people yet languish,
Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish,
Plaintively heaving a sigh full of anguish.
Will not day come soon?
Will not day come soon?
Must we be vainly awaiting the morrow?
Shall those who have light no light let us borrow,
Giving no heed to our burden of sorrow?
Will you help us soon?
Will you help us soon?
Sorrowing wand’ers, in darkness yet dwelling,
Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling,
Death’s dreaded darkness forever dispelling.
Christ is coming soon, Christ is coming soon!
Will not day come soon?
Come and save us soon!
Christ is coming soon!
*OPENING PRAYER
God of starlight and holy nights, surprise us again with the miracle of birth, the glorious birth of Jesus. Help us see the wonder and delight of it all as the children enact the story.
Soften our hearts, touch our souls and fill us with love, for the birth of Jesus changed our world, changed our lives. Open us to receiving once again your love so that we may share your love with those in need. Amen
--Larry J. Peacock
*OPENING HYMN No. 234 O Come, All Ye Faithful st.1-4 All
CHILDREDN’S CHRISTMAS PAGENT Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:9-11
Scripture Passages read by Rev. Karen Vannoy and Rev. John Flowers
What Child is This? vs. 1
The First Noel, vs. 1
We Three Kings, vs. 1
Away in a Manger, vs. 1
Joy to the World, vs. 1
ANTHEM: Fum, Fum, Fum arr. S. Childs
Sacred Melodies; Jackie Shepherd, conductor; Mark Rubinstein, accompanist
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT AND CHRIST CANDLES
Rev. Joe Stobaugh and Mrs. Sarah Stobaugh and Eleanor Grace Stobaugh
Leader: Now we are all collected in the stable, where all people are gathered, each in their own dress of habits and flaws.
People: Here, we find the pain of Mary; the endurance of Joseph; the economics of the innkeeper; the not knowing of the shepherds.
Leader: Around our lonely hours and the crush of crowds, there still shines the manger presence.
People: What can we do, but kneel? And when we rise, straw dust on our knees, cobwebs in our hair, stars in our eyes, you have invaded our hearts, armed with love.
--Rev. Karen Vannoy
MESSAGE Christmas at the Manger Rev. John Flowers
MUSICAL RESPONSE: I Pray on Christmas
Text and Music by Harry Connick, Jr.
Celebration Singers; Clark Stevens, soloist; Mark Rubinstein, pianist
I pray on Christmas that the Lord will see my through.
I pray on Christmas He’ll show me what to do.
I pray on Christmas He’ll help me understand.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll take me by the hand.
I pray on Christmas that the sick will soon be strong.
I pray on Christmas the Lord will hear my song.
I pray on Christmas that God will lead the way.
And I pray on Christmas He’ll get me through another day.
I pray on Christmas all our problems gonna be worked out.
I pray on Christmas God’ll show us what love’s about.
I pray on Christmas to do your will each day.
And I pray on Christmas that I’ll be with you in heaven some day.
A WITNESS TO TRANSFORMATION ?????
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Maria Wiegenlied Max Reger
Camerata San Antonio
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Leader: Thank you, God, for giving yourself to the world, not in the powerful and
extraordinary,
People: but in weakness and the familiar: in a baby; in bread and
wine.
Leader: Than you for offering, at journey’s end, a new beginning;
People: for setting, in the poverty of a stable, the richest jewel of your
love;
Leader: for revealing, in a particular place, your light for all nations.
People: Thank you for bringing us to Bethlehem, House of Bread,
where the empty are filled, and the filled are emptied; and all join their voices together singing:
--Kate Compston, England, 1990; Matthew 2:1-12
SANCTUS No. 238 Angels We Have Heard on High All
(please ring your bells during the Gloria)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
Leader: Holy God, we praise you for this holy season of hints and whispers, when
you sent your best gift to us. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them become for us the presence of Christ, so that we may be signs of new life for our searching world. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with all creation and one in service to all the world until Christ comes in radiant glory and seats all at the heavenly table.
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Music by Johannes Brahms; Performed by Camerata San Antonio
ANTHEM Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Text: Wzlobie Lezy, trans. Edith M.G. Reed (1885-1933)
Music: Polish Carol, arr. Mack Wilberg
Sanctuary Choir;
Lana Cartlidge Potts, organist; Camerata San Antonio
Infant Holy, Infant lowly, For his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swifly winging angels singing, Nowells ringing,
Tidings bringing: Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
Christ the Babe was born, for you.
Christ was born for you.
*LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS CANDLES No. 239 Silent Night ALL
BENEDICTION—text from Brian Wren
Advent 4 Liturgy
Tis' the season for pastoral musician chaos!!!!!!! Here's what we've got for this week, good stuff!
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, December 24th, 2006
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
CALL TO WORSHIP*
We are waiting
We are searching
Looking for the way home
Staying alert to signs
Listening carefully for directions
On our journey home to God
--Alison Boone
OPENING HYMN* No. 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ALL
OPENING PRAYER
Mysterious God, you are both journey and destination, our companion and our goal. We thank you that you are as close as our very breath, always ready to guide, to nudge, to encourage. We thank you that you go before us, always leading, calling us onward. We thank you that you await us, standing with open arms, running to greet us as we make our way to you.
O God, may we remember that you do not call us only as individuals, but also as members of your family. Empower us to love and serve all members of your family – of our family – so that the hungry are filled and the lowly are lifted up and all are welcome. We pray in the name of the One who comes to show us the way. Amen.
--Alison Boone
CANDLE LIGHTING
Leader: God is light!
People: In whom there is no darkness at all.
Leader: Each of us shares in the divine light shining forth. We are called to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to release the captive, to bring about the dream of God.
People: For nothing will be impossible with God.
Candle Lighters: The Laborde/Steubing Family
CAROL MEDLEY No. 240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
No. 230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
No. 221 In the Bleak Midwinter
No. 220 Angels from the Realms of Glory
MESSAGE Luke 1:39-45 Rev. Karen Vannoy
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Gabriel’s Message
Words by S. Baring-Gould; Music: Basque Carol, arr. Sir David Willcocks
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
‘For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers fore-told,’
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said,
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.’
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lana Cartlidge Potts
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
O God, we thank you for this homecoming feast, prepared for all to share. Send us out to proclaim the good news of our home with you, a home filled with mercy and justice and love. We pray in the name of Jesus, who came to show us the way. Amen.
--Alison Boone
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 246 Joy to the World ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
Travis Park UMC-Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, December 24th, 2006
9:00 a.m.
PRELUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
CALL TO WORSHIP*
We are waiting
We are searching
Looking for the way home
Staying alert to signs
Listening carefully for directions
On our journey home to God
--Alison Boone
OPENING HYMN* No. 211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel ALL
OPENING PRAYER
Mysterious God, you are both journey and destination, our companion and our goal. We thank you that you are as close as our very breath, always ready to guide, to nudge, to encourage. We thank you that you go before us, always leading, calling us onward. We thank you that you await us, standing with open arms, running to greet us as we make our way to you.
O God, may we remember that you do not call us only as individuals, but also as members of your family. Empower us to love and serve all members of your family – of our family – so that the hungry are filled and the lowly are lifted up and all are welcome. We pray in the name of the One who comes to show us the way. Amen.
--Alison Boone
CANDLE LIGHTING
Leader: God is light!
People: In whom there is no darkness at all.
Leader: Each of us shares in the divine light shining forth. We are called to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to release the captive, to bring about the dream of God.
People: For nothing will be impossible with God.
Candle Lighters: The Laborde/Steubing Family
CAROL MEDLEY No. 240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
No. 230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
No. 221 In the Bleak Midwinter
No. 220 Angels from the Realms of Glory
MESSAGE Luke 1:39-45 Rev. Karen Vannoy
TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Gabriel’s Message
Words by S. Baring-Gould; Music: Basque Carol, arr. Sir David Willcocks
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
‘For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers fore-told,’
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said,
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.’
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
Most highly favour’d lady, Gloria!
(Please register your attendance in the red registration books.)
*DOXOLOGY
(This morning’s doxology is found in the back of The Faith We Sing found in your pew rack.)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
SANCTUS #2257-b in The Faith We Sing ALL
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION
All: Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, living God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the people of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
--from A New Zealand Prayer Book
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION MUSIC: Lana Cartlidge Potts
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
O God, we thank you for this homecoming feast, prepared for all to share. Send us out to proclaim the good news of our home with you, a home filled with mercy and justice and love. We pray in the name of Jesus, who came to show us the way. Amen.
--Alison Boone
HYMN OF INVITATION* No. 246 Joy to the World ALL
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: Angela Caporale, violin
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Been a while....
Whew...tis' the season for lots of work! I know it's been a while since I last posted. Advent this year has been surprisingly full. Once I got done with my ordination paperwork and World AIDS Day I thought I'd have more time but, as usual, it was less than I wanted. I think that's a trick of the mind, we're always looking forward to breaks, vacations, etc. so that we can hold on and finish the work we have in front of us. (If one is lucky enough to have those luxuries.)
Right now I'm reading several interesting books...
I'm working through Marcus Borg's The Heart of Christianity, Diana Butler Bass's Christianity for the Rest of Us, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf by Design, and a devotional collection on Advent and Christmas music by an Anglican Priest. The Borg and Butler Bass books are proving to be the most interesting of the four. I'll post more if anything incredibly revelatory occurs in these works!
Right now I'm reading several interesting books...
I'm working through Marcus Borg's The Heart of Christianity, Diana Butler Bass's Christianity for the Rest of Us, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Golf by Design, and a devotional collection on Advent and Christmas music by an Anglican Priest. The Borg and Butler Bass books are proving to be the most interesting of the four. I'll post more if anything incredibly revelatory occurs in these works!
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Now What? A Homily for World AIDS Day
Here's the homily that I preached last Friday. I used the manuscript as a jumping off place and riffed a bit more in the actual spoken homily.
Now What?
A Homily for World AIDS Day 2006
Tonight, friends, we are here together. That is important! Tonight, even if only for an hour or two, we are in community. Tonight we have sung songs, prayed prayers, and we’ve listened to beautiful music. We have raised our voices against injustice. And all day long we’ve been exposed to horrible, mind-numbing statistics. Statistics that remind us that there are 39.5 million people living with AIDS and that 2.9 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses this year. We have heard that there have been 4.3 million new infections this year. But beyond that, we remember the faces that those statistics represent. Those numbers, and the faces we remember, can cause us to feel the heaviness that all too often engulfs the world. Tonight, we might be caught in the darkness that shrouds our planet.
But the good in this is, for tonight, at least, we are together! And our togetherness should give us hope. Because it is in our togetherness that we remember our dead, we mourn our friends, and we miss our family. But we don’t grieve alone, because tonight we are together. This is a good thing because God never wants us to be alone.
I want to get local with you for just a moment. This church has not always been a place that was about compassion, and dignity and respect for all. This church had a bit of a reputation for exuding jugement when it should have been exuding love, compassion, and working for justice. But now, it is doing those good things, as are many churches across the world.
In churches and in religious communities across the world where just ten to fifteen years ago HIV/AIDS was a horrible stigma for anyone to have, many of those same communities are now working to be in solidarity with those who have AIDS and to be in community with them. The church is working on treating everyone with dignity and respect.
As the sun rose in Washington D.C. this morning there was a live feed on CNN from Foundry UMC in Washington D.C. where their prayer vigil for World AIDS Day was beginning. As the sun passes from the east to the middle of our country, we have had events, prayers, and remembrance here at this church. As the sun continues its journey to the west, churches and religious communities from Texas to New Mexico, to Arizona, to Nevada, to California, and to Hawaii are having services to mark World AIDS Day and to remember those who have left us. Truly, the church and religious traditions of all kinds from all over the world are raising their voices to the heavens this day: this should give us hope as well!
But, if you are at all like me, you find yourself asking the question, now what? Some of you have been in this struggle since the beginning, over twenty-five years ago, and some of us are here for the first time.
All I can tell you is this: what we are doing tonight makes a difference and we need to continue this work. We must continue to lift our voices with our friends from around the world. Certainly we do this in remembrance of those who we have lost, but we also raise our voices to say that HIV/AIDS is the greatest pandemic humanity has ever faced. We raise our voices to remind the world that it is not o.k. to compartmentalize AIDS as just a “health” issue for “those people” because it is truly a “human” issue! We raise our voices to say that AIDS, along with global poverty, are the defining issues of our generation. We must remind the world that the global AIDS pandemic will not and cannot be solved without solving global poverty. It is a tragedy of the first order that thousands of children, women and men will die today because the world refuses to give them medicine! Together we have to remind the world that it cannot ignore these issues!
Let us remind the world, not only with our voices, but with our hearts, with our minds, with our hands and our feet as we leave this place. Let us show the world what it means to love unconditionally and to work for justice. Let us shine light into a world that is all too often filled with darkness.
We need to continue to open people’s eyes, so that they may truly see the cost of this horrible disease. The world needs to be reminded constantly that we are about to lose a generation of people in Africa, that AIDS is a very real pandemic in the United States and around the world. Not only do we need to educate, to teach, and to prevent this terrible disease but we must also remind the world of the intrinsic goodness of God’s creation.
We must remember that, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, that God, who is good, created us, all of us, that God has formed us, and that God loves us and redeems us. When we pass through the waters, when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us. God has made you, and you are precious in God’s sight. Let us take this word into the world to love our friends and those who would oppose us. Let us shine light into the world, because God is with us!
Let all of God’s children say: Amen!
Now What?
A Homily for World AIDS Day 2006
Tonight, friends, we are here together. That is important! Tonight, even if only for an hour or two, we are in community. Tonight we have sung songs, prayed prayers, and we’ve listened to beautiful music. We have raised our voices against injustice. And all day long we’ve been exposed to horrible, mind-numbing statistics. Statistics that remind us that there are 39.5 million people living with AIDS and that 2.9 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses this year. We have heard that there have been 4.3 million new infections this year. But beyond that, we remember the faces that those statistics represent. Those numbers, and the faces we remember, can cause us to feel the heaviness that all too often engulfs the world. Tonight, we might be caught in the darkness that shrouds our planet.
But the good in this is, for tonight, at least, we are together! And our togetherness should give us hope. Because it is in our togetherness that we remember our dead, we mourn our friends, and we miss our family. But we don’t grieve alone, because tonight we are together. This is a good thing because God never wants us to be alone.
I want to get local with you for just a moment. This church has not always been a place that was about compassion, and dignity and respect for all. This church had a bit of a reputation for exuding jugement when it should have been exuding love, compassion, and working for justice. But now, it is doing those good things, as are many churches across the world.
In churches and in religious communities across the world where just ten to fifteen years ago HIV/AIDS was a horrible stigma for anyone to have, many of those same communities are now working to be in solidarity with those who have AIDS and to be in community with them. The church is working on treating everyone with dignity and respect.
As the sun rose in Washington D.C. this morning there was a live feed on CNN from Foundry UMC in Washington D.C. where their prayer vigil for World AIDS Day was beginning. As the sun passes from the east to the middle of our country, we have had events, prayers, and remembrance here at this church. As the sun continues its journey to the west, churches and religious communities from Texas to New Mexico, to Arizona, to Nevada, to California, and to Hawaii are having services to mark World AIDS Day and to remember those who have left us. Truly, the church and religious traditions of all kinds from all over the world are raising their voices to the heavens this day: this should give us hope as well!
But, if you are at all like me, you find yourself asking the question, now what? Some of you have been in this struggle since the beginning, over twenty-five years ago, and some of us are here for the first time.
All I can tell you is this: what we are doing tonight makes a difference and we need to continue this work. We must continue to lift our voices with our friends from around the world. Certainly we do this in remembrance of those who we have lost, but we also raise our voices to say that HIV/AIDS is the greatest pandemic humanity has ever faced. We raise our voices to remind the world that it is not o.k. to compartmentalize AIDS as just a “health” issue for “those people” because it is truly a “human” issue! We raise our voices to say that AIDS, along with global poverty, are the defining issues of our generation. We must remind the world that the global AIDS pandemic will not and cannot be solved without solving global poverty. It is a tragedy of the first order that thousands of children, women and men will die today because the world refuses to give them medicine! Together we have to remind the world that it cannot ignore these issues!
Let us remind the world, not only with our voices, but with our hearts, with our minds, with our hands and our feet as we leave this place. Let us show the world what it means to love unconditionally and to work for justice. Let us shine light into a world that is all too often filled with darkness.
We need to continue to open people’s eyes, so that they may truly see the cost of this horrible disease. The world needs to be reminded constantly that we are about to lose a generation of people in Africa, that AIDS is a very real pandemic in the United States and around the world. Not only do we need to educate, to teach, and to prevent this terrible disease but we must also remind the world of the intrinsic goodness of God’s creation.
We must remember that, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, that God, who is good, created us, all of us, that God has formed us, and that God loves us and redeems us. When we pass through the waters, when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us. God has made you, and you are precious in God’s sight. Let us take this word into the world to love our friends and those who would oppose us. Let us shine light into the world, because God is with us!
Let all of God’s children say: Amen!
World AIDS Day Liturgy
Here's the liturgy from last week's World AIDS Day service.
WORLD AIDS DAY 2006
December 1st, 2006
7:00 p.m.
GATHERING
Prelude Psalm Prelude (Psalm 40:1-3) Craig Phillips Dr. David Heller, organist
I waited patiently upon the Lord;
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the desolate pit,
out of the mire and clay;
he set my feet upon a high cliff
and he made my footing sure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God;
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Invocation of the Spirit Come Holy Spirit Thornburg/Potts
Come, Holy Spirit,come, Holy Spirit;break the chains our fears create;teach us love and stifle hate;help us rest, but not escape.Come, Holy Spirit.
Soloist verses by Alison Boone
On a road in the wilderness Phillip saw the eunuch
who was searching for the wisdom of God,
and Phillip offered him understanding, good news and acceptance,
acceptance as a child of God.
To the house of the Roman guard
Peter went with a vision full of animals reptiles and birds,
and God said “Peter, don’t call anything unclean that I have made,
for I have made all things clean.”
To the outcast and alien seeking God’s communion,
God says, “I respect no distinctions or walls,
and I will gather up all who seek me into my holy mountain,
for all shall be welcome there.”
*Call to Worship
The One: Gracious God, tonight, we have gathered from across this city, from many
places, and for many reasons. We gather to remember:
The Many: May we never forget those who have been lost to us because of
HIV/AIDS, God, we commend our brothers and sisters to you.
The One: Loving God, we gather because of love:
The Many: Show us a glimpse of your love, O God, so that we can be empowered to
love one another.
The One: Eternal God, we are here to worship and to ask for justice!
The Many: Yahweh, you are our Creator, and we worship you! You desire your
creation to be made whole: send forth your justice to our hurting world.
The One: Source of all Light, we are here for hope!
The Many: Send us your light, Lord, for we live in an all too often dark world.
All: God, may we worship you tonight and always by being fully human, by
becoming what you would have us to be, and by loving you and our neighbors with the fullness of our being.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
*Hymn Be Tender with the Ones You Know Thornburg/Hawn
Solo: Be tender with the ones you knowwho hold their sadness deep inside;be reconciled for any meanness,insult, ridicule, or pride.
All: Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face.
Welcome & Introductions: Rev. Karen Vannoy & Rev. John Flowers
SONGS OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
Siyahamba
Freedom is Coming
WORDS OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
Homily: Dr. C. Michael Hawn
Sung Refrain:
Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face
A Time of Meditation
“The Peace may be exchanged” from Rubrics Dan Locklair Dr. David Heller, organist
Homily: Michelle Durham, Director of BEATAIDS
Sung Refrain:
Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face
Musical Presentation: Bridge Over Troubled Waters arr. Kirby Shaw
The Alamo City Men’s Chorale; under the direction of Jennifer Whatley
Homily: “Now What?” Rev. Joe Stobaugh
I Have Called You, You Are Mine Sanctuary Choir
Text: Isaiah 43:1-7; Music: Lana Cartlidge Potts
Benediction Evan Jones
Lighting of the Candles
Come, Holy Spirit & Be Tender with the Ones You Know © John Thornburg, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net #A-712713
Worship Leaders:
The Rev. Karen Vannoy, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev. Dr. John Flowers, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev Dr. C. Michael Hawn, Perkins School of Theology
Dr. David Heller, Trinity University
Lana Cartlidge Potts, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Sanctuary Choir of Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Alamo City Men’s Chorale
Michelle Durham, BEATAIDS
Evan Jones, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev. Joseph Stobaugh, Travis Park United Methodist Church
WORLD AIDS DAY 2006
December 1st, 2006
7:00 p.m.
GATHERING
Prelude Psalm Prelude (Psalm 40:1-3) Craig Phillips Dr. David Heller, organist
I waited patiently upon the Lord;
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the desolate pit,
out of the mire and clay;
he set my feet upon a high cliff
and he made my footing sure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God;
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Invocation of the Spirit Come Holy Spirit Thornburg/Potts
Come, Holy Spirit,come, Holy Spirit;break the chains our fears create;teach us love and stifle hate;help us rest, but not escape.Come, Holy Spirit.
Soloist verses by Alison Boone
On a road in the wilderness Phillip saw the eunuch
who was searching for the wisdom of God,
and Phillip offered him understanding, good news and acceptance,
acceptance as a child of God.
To the house of the Roman guard
Peter went with a vision full of animals reptiles and birds,
and God said “Peter, don’t call anything unclean that I have made,
for I have made all things clean.”
To the outcast and alien seeking God’s communion,
God says, “I respect no distinctions or walls,
and I will gather up all who seek me into my holy mountain,
for all shall be welcome there.”
*Call to Worship
The One: Gracious God, tonight, we have gathered from across this city, from many
places, and for many reasons. We gather to remember:
The Many: May we never forget those who have been lost to us because of
HIV/AIDS, God, we commend our brothers and sisters to you.
The One: Loving God, we gather because of love:
The Many: Show us a glimpse of your love, O God, so that we can be empowered to
love one another.
The One: Eternal God, we are here to worship and to ask for justice!
The Many: Yahweh, you are our Creator, and we worship you! You desire your
creation to be made whole: send forth your justice to our hurting world.
The One: Source of all Light, we are here for hope!
The Many: Send us your light, Lord, for we live in an all too often dark world.
All: God, may we worship you tonight and always by being fully human, by
becoming what you would have us to be, and by loving you and our neighbors with the fullness of our being.
--Rev. Joe Stobaugh
*Hymn Be Tender with the Ones You Know Thornburg/Hawn
Solo: Be tender with the ones you knowwho hold their sadness deep inside;be reconciled for any meanness,insult, ridicule, or pride.
All: Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face.
Welcome & Introductions: Rev. Karen Vannoy & Rev. John Flowers
SONGS OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
Siyahamba
Freedom is Coming
WORDS OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
Homily: Dr. C. Michael Hawn
Sung Refrain:
Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face
A Time of Meditation
“The Peace may be exchanged” from Rubrics Dan Locklair Dr. David Heller, organist
Homily: Michelle Durham, Director of BEATAIDS
Sung Refrain:
Say and do the things that strengthen;be the carriers of grace.Let us be the onesin whom our neighbors see God’s face
Musical Presentation: Bridge Over Troubled Waters arr. Kirby Shaw
The Alamo City Men’s Chorale; under the direction of Jennifer Whatley
Homily: “Now What?” Rev. Joe Stobaugh
I Have Called You, You Are Mine Sanctuary Choir
Text: Isaiah 43:1-7; Music: Lana Cartlidge Potts
Benediction Evan Jones
Lighting of the Candles
Come, Holy Spirit & Be Tender with the Ones You Know © John Thornburg, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net #A-712713
Worship Leaders:
The Rev. Karen Vannoy, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev. Dr. John Flowers, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev Dr. C. Michael Hawn, Perkins School of Theology
Dr. David Heller, Trinity University
Lana Cartlidge Potts, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Sanctuary Choir of Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Alamo City Men’s Chorale
Michelle Durham, BEATAIDS
Evan Jones, Travis Park United Methodist Church
The Rev. Joseph Stobaugh, Travis Park United Methodist Church
Monday, December 4, 2006
World AIDS Day
I was very fortunate this past week to lead in and participate in TPUMC's first annual World AIDS Day Service. One my esteemed colleagues, Evan Jones and I put it together. It was quite a learning expereince as we attempted to gather various agencies in the community together to host this service. What we had originally planned was to host an evening service and go from there.
Once we got on board with some of the San Antonio HIV/AIDS agencies things got a lot more complicated. Long story short, we ended up hosting the majority of the World AIDS Day events in San Antonio!
The schedule looked like this:
11:30: Die-in at Traivs Park/Press Conference (we were able to get three different news stations to cover the press conference)
12:30-6:45: Reading of the names of those who had died of AIDS in San Antonio
7:00-8:10: Service at Travis Park
8:10-9:00: Candelight vigil and procession to the Alamo.
I could spend a lot of time writing about this event, because it took a lot of time to plan but my primary interest was the service, so I'll stick to that.
For the service we enlisted the help of Dr. C. Michael Hawn, chair of the sacred music department at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (yes, my old professor!); Dr. David Heller, the organist at Trinity University, among many other things!; the Alamo City Men's Chorale, the Travis Park UMC Sanctuary choir, the director of BeatAIDS, our senior pastors, and Evan and myself. We also used some beautiful text by the wonderful John Thornburg.
The service began with a lovely prelude on the TPUMC organ by Dr. Heller and was followed by an Invocation to the Holy Spirit, with a congregational refrain provided by John Thornburg and a tremendous set of verses written by Alison Boone and concivied by Betty Curry. Tim Watt sang the solo verses and was incredible!
After that we had a call to worship written in haste by yours truly and then a welcome and introductions by the Revs Karen Vannoy and John Flowers.
Next, Dr. Hawn taught us an opening hymn (text also by John Thornburg) that he had put music to. (We used the refrain of that hymn as a reflection piece between each of the forthcoming homilies.) After teaching us the hymn, Dr. Hawn led us in singing pieces from South Africa, which was spectacular. Then he gave what I thought was a brilliant homily, interspersing kyrie's from around the world with reflections about HIV/AIDS in a global context. You'll see the rest when I post the order tomorrow...
Brief commentary: Michelle Durham, the director of BEATAIDS gave a very nice homily that involved her story as well as the affects of HIV/AIDS on the San Antonio community.
The Alamo City Men's Chorale sang Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters, arr. Kirby Shaw and David Heller played a really interesting piece. (I want to hear the rest of it!)
Following all of this, I preached a homily and then the choir sang a truly inspiring piece by Lana Cartlidge Potts, our awesome organist and composer-in-residence.
All in all, we had over 150 people in attendance, lots of good press covereage and so-so attendance from the church, which is to say, not bad for the first year! We'll see what happens next year!
Once we got on board with some of the San Antonio HIV/AIDS agencies things got a lot more complicated. Long story short, we ended up hosting the majority of the World AIDS Day events in San Antonio!
The schedule looked like this:
11:30: Die-in at Traivs Park/Press Conference (we were able to get three different news stations to cover the press conference)
12:30-6:45: Reading of the names of those who had died of AIDS in San Antonio
7:00-8:10: Service at Travis Park
8:10-9:00: Candelight vigil and procession to the Alamo.
I could spend a lot of time writing about this event, because it took a lot of time to plan but my primary interest was the service, so I'll stick to that.
For the service we enlisted the help of Dr. C. Michael Hawn, chair of the sacred music department at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (yes, my old professor!); Dr. David Heller, the organist at Trinity University, among many other things!; the Alamo City Men's Chorale, the Travis Park UMC Sanctuary choir, the director of BeatAIDS, our senior pastors, and Evan and myself. We also used some beautiful text by the wonderful John Thornburg.
The service began with a lovely prelude on the TPUMC organ by Dr. Heller and was followed by an Invocation to the Holy Spirit, with a congregational refrain provided by John Thornburg and a tremendous set of verses written by Alison Boone and concivied by Betty Curry. Tim Watt sang the solo verses and was incredible!
After that we had a call to worship written in haste by yours truly and then a welcome and introductions by the Revs Karen Vannoy and John Flowers.
Next, Dr. Hawn taught us an opening hymn (text also by John Thornburg) that he had put music to. (We used the refrain of that hymn as a reflection piece between each of the forthcoming homilies.) After teaching us the hymn, Dr. Hawn led us in singing pieces from South Africa, which was spectacular. Then he gave what I thought was a brilliant homily, interspersing kyrie's from around the world with reflections about HIV/AIDS in a global context. You'll see the rest when I post the order tomorrow...
Brief commentary: Michelle Durham, the director of BEATAIDS gave a very nice homily that involved her story as well as the affects of HIV/AIDS on the San Antonio community.
The Alamo City Men's Chorale sang Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters, arr. Kirby Shaw and David Heller played a really interesting piece. (I want to hear the rest of it!)
Following all of this, I preached a homily and then the choir sang a truly inspiring piece by Lana Cartlidge Potts, our awesome organist and composer-in-residence.
All in all, we had over 150 people in attendance, lots of good press covereage and so-so attendance from the church, which is to say, not bad for the first year! We'll see what happens next year!
It's been a while
Whew....it's December! What a crazy week last week was. I finished up all of my ordination paperwork flew it up to Dallas, had a meeting, dropped it off and then came home for two rehearsals and a huge service Friday night! It is good to be at home with the family!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
"Melody and Countermelody" John 1:1-18, a sermon by Joe
Ah! It is such a nice feeling to have a sermon ready and to feel good about it! I am preaching tomorrow at the 11:00 service at TPUMC over the John 1:1-18 passage. I am looking forward to it! Below you will find the sermon manuscript.
Melody and Countermelody: John 1:1-18
Let us pray: Gracious God, Lord of all Creation and author of all good things, open our hearts, our ears, and our minds to your Word this morning. I ask that your Spirit might run amongst your people so that we might be able to see your love for us in new ways and so that we might be about taking your Light into a dark world, as we leave this church a changed people. Oh God, may the words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart be pleasing to you. If they be your words, let them be long remembered, if they are not, please let them be quickly forgotten. Let all of God’s children say: Amen!
This morning I want to share with you the most famous of all Christian poems, the prologue to the Gospel of John. Normally, I would ask you to open your Bibles and read along with me but our passage for this morning was originally a hymn! It’s meant to be sung first and read second. So I pray that you will open your ears, your hearts, and your minds to hear what God has to say to you this morning, because, make no mistake about it, God has a word in this passage of Scripture for you!
Read John 1:1-18
I love those words, don’t you? Parts of the passage are really stunning poetry. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Beautiful, hopeful words. These words are poetic and confessional, but more than that, they draw me, and I hope you, into mystery, awe, contemplation, and worship. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not overcome it.
The great preacher and author, Fredrick Buechner, along with many Johannine scholars (that is, those who study The Gospel of John for a living) have pointed out that, in essence, there are two voices speaking in this passage. I hope you’ll forgive the musician in me but to put it in musical terms, there is a melody and a counter-melody here. One voice speaks with beautiful poetry, singing for us lines of stunning theological beauty, while the other voice tends to interrupt that poetry with commentary. This morning we are going to look at these two voices and what they might be singing to us today.
At the very beginning of the Gospel, the voice of the poet is asking his community to sing some amazing claims! John the Evangelist, the one for whom the Gospel of John is named, is telling us who Jesus is and asking us to sing it! He asks us to affirm with our voices that the Word, before the universe was formed, was with God. More than that, he asks us to proclaim that Jesus is the incarnation of God and that not one thing came into being without the Word! He asks us to sing that Jesus brought not only light into the world in his human form but that he also brought true life, eternal life, with him, for all of the people of the world. Jesus is God’s Word! John is telling us something about Jesus that is very significant: Jesus is more than just a good guy, more than just an excellent moralist, more than just a person who was born, lived his beliefs to the fullest and was killed because of them, Jesus is the incarnation of God! Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King! Without the Word none of us comes into being, according to John. I find this to be beautiful, amazing, and, in my darker hours, a hard thing to sing! But sing them I do, because I believe them and I have experienced it. Have you?
In the original Greek, the term used for the Word is Logos. The poetic voice from John claims that Jesus was the Logos. In Greek thought, the Logos was the divine principle of reason that gives order to the universe and links the human mind to the mind of God. So this claim, that Jesus was the Logos, would be an incredible, almost incomprehensible statement in the fluid Hellenistic worldview. Many of you may struggle to believe this as well.
For many of us, this is where wrestling with faith, tradition, Scripture, and reason come in. I can tell you that I believe this because I have had a great many experiences in my life where I have known God is a personal, vibrant way. I grew up in and have studied the traditions of the church, that is the incarnated body of Christ, that show me that, throughout the course of human history, I am not alone in my experience of God. The Scriptures tell me many stories of God and of what God is like. I reason that all of this together has allowed me to accept and proclaim what John is asking of us here.
The amazing piece of all of this is that God chose to condescend, that is to say God chose to take on human form so that God could be in relationship with us, so that God could love us in a more complete way, and so that God could show us how to live so that the Reign of God could come about on earth. Jesus is the bringer of LIFE, something more than just life. He is our shining example of God, because he is God. Jesus shows us what God is like, what God is about, how God loves us and what God desires for us and of us. Can you imagine it? Have you experienced the state of knowing that God loves you so much, that God would take human form out of love for you and for God’s creation?
Because God desires us to be in relationship with God, and to be reconciled with our Creator, God became human so that God could reveal Godself fully to us. It is amazing, isn’t it?
The second voice jumps in next, the voice of one who seeks to clarify. Here, in verse 6, we hear a voice that is far less poetic and much more practical. This voice tells us that John the Baptist came “as a witness to testify to the light.” Clearly, there must have been some controversy in the latter part of the first century between those who followed John and those who followed Jesus. The controversy must have been such that John the Evangelist needed to address who was who and what was what. The author is telling us that John the Baptist was not the light. He tells us that Jesus was and is the light, and there should be no mistaking the two!
Certainly, in our lives we experience similar challenges, don’t we? There are so many good things in life to believe in, so many wonderful places to put our faith, our trust, our lives, and the lives of others. The most immediate example I can think of for me is The ONE Campaign. I’ve even got my ONE Campaign wrist band on. I contribute to their work and try to participate however I can. They are advocates for what I believe are the two biggest challenges facing humanity today: extreme global poverty and HIV/AIDS. The ONE Campaign is trying to unite Americans with one voice against global poverty and AIDS with the hope of eradicating both in our lifetimes. The campaign brings together people from across barriers that are usually insurmountable. Both George Clooney and Pat Robertson are members, if you can believe that! The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church supports The ONE Campaign. I love not only what they are doing but how they are doing it, and it would be easy for me to pour my life, my faith, and my resources into it, because it is a good thing!
The ONE Campaign is not, however, the greatest thing. It is merely good. It is an organization that is trying to improve life for the least of these and to spread a little light into the world. Jesus, on the other hand, the Logos, the Word of God, is the greatest! Jesus is not just trying to spread the light, Jesus is the LIGHT!!!! As a progressive church we live in the shadow of the danger that we might lose ourselves in the just causes that we are advocating. If and when we do this we lose not only Jesus but we lose our best selves! Have you ever done that?
I have to be honest with you, on my best days; I do what I do because I love Jesus. I live in this Christian Community because I love Jesus. My wife Sarah and I give money to the church because we love Jesus and we are commanded by the Scripture that Jesus loved to do that. I know many of you get up on Sunday morning’s and head to church for that exact reason. I know many of you work with Corazon ministries, or teach Sunday School, or sing in the choir because you love Jesus. I know many of you do what you do out of love for Jesus.
On my worst days, however, I try to do the right things for the wrong reasons. On my worst days I try to do the right things out of a sense of duty, or out of a sense of, “it’s just the right thing to do.” Here’s the problem with that: people are not transformed when you do something because it’s just the right thing to do. People are transformed because of an encounter with the living God! People are transformed because of the experience of the love of God given to them through others, so intentions matter! It’s important to do the right things for the right reasons! We must be vigilant and prayerful for it is easy to lose the Logos in the everyday things of the world.
In verse twelve the poetic voice jumps back in here with the pronouncement that to all who receive Jesus, to all who believe in his name, they are granted the power to become children of God, who are born of God. In essence, all who believe in Jesus Christ are given the gift of eternal life. This eternal life, though, doesn’t begin when you die; it begins now, in this life! It is the difference between life and LIFE!!!!
The passage concludes with our melody and countermelody bouncing off of one another. The poetic voice tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us and that we have seen the glory of God’s only Son, full of grace and truth while the pragmatic voice reminds us that the Word is Jesus and not John. The poetic voice ends by telling us that, from Jesus, we have received grace upon grace. The earthy voice reminds us that the law came through Moses while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and that no one has seen God but that it is through Jesus that God is fully revealed.
John gives us the basic essence of Jesus’ life and mission on earth in these 18 verses. Do you see what this mission is predicated upon? All of this, all that we are about to remember in the Advent and Christmas Seasons, and then in Lent and Holy Week and finally Easter, as we trace the life of Jesus Christ, all of this came about because of love!
Only love would make a deity do this! Only the desire to be in relationship with us would make a deity come to earth! Instead of wiping us out and starting over (something God had been rumored to do in the past) God chose to sacrifice, to come to us, to love us, to teach us a better way to live, and to begin to reclaim God’s creation through Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, and through us, one person, one system, one creature at a time. Jesus, God, did all of this out of love!!!!
Can you fathom that kind of love that you would give up everything for a relationship?
I pray that we all can recognize the light, that we can be with the light, and that we will not let the darkness overcome us! With Jesus, we can fight back the darkness!
Many of you have lived through darkness, you’ve walked through the shadow of the valley of death, many of you have dwelled in that valley for years. But Jesus, Jesus has been there to! Jesus cannot be overcome by the darkness, for Jesus is the light of the world! The Light of the Universe cannot be overcome by darkness, no matter how dark it gets!!!!!!! See the light, love the light, work with the light, and do not let the darkness overcome you!!!!!
I have prayers for you and I pray for you! I pray that you will look for the light in your life and in the lives of others. I pray that you will merge your life with the LIFE that only Jesus can offer you. I pray that you, with the help of God, will fight back the darkness in your light and that together, you and I can fight the darkness in this world and seek to spread the light of Christ to a world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus made visible in us! Friends, we have light to offer the world! We have grace to extend to God’s creation. It is our responsibility to do this! Moreover, it is our honor and pleasure to send grace and love out into the world. People of Travis Park, children of God, please don’t hide your light under a bushel basket! Let us join together to bring more light, more peace, and more of God’s grace to the world! Let us be the hands and feet of Christ, restored and redeemed and ever seeking to be partners in helping bring about the Reign of God in the world!
Let all of God’s children say, Amen!
Let us pray: Gracious God, Lord of all Creation and author of all good things, open our hearts, our ears, and our minds to your Word this morning. I ask that your Spirit might run amongst your people so that we might be able to see your love for us in new ways and so that we might be about taking your Light into a dark world, as we leave this church a changed people. Oh God, may the words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart be pleasing to you. If they be your words, let them be long remembered, if they are not, please let them be quickly forgotten. Let all of God’s children say: Amen!
This morning I want to share with you the most famous of all Christian poems, the prologue to the Gospel of John. Normally, I would ask you to open your Bibles and read along with me but our passage for this morning was originally a hymn! It’s meant to be sung first and read second. So I pray that you will open your ears, your hearts, and your minds to hear what God has to say to you this morning, because, make no mistake about it, God has a word in this passage of Scripture for you!
Read John 1:1-18
I love those words, don’t you? Parts of the passage are really stunning poetry. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Beautiful, hopeful words. These words are poetic and confessional, but more than that, they draw me, and I hope you, into mystery, awe, contemplation, and worship. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not overcome it.
The great preacher and author, Fredrick Buechner, along with many Johannine scholars (that is, those who study The Gospel of John for a living) have pointed out that, in essence, there are two voices speaking in this passage. I hope you’ll forgive the musician in me but to put it in musical terms, there is a melody and a counter-melody here. One voice speaks with beautiful poetry, singing for us lines of stunning theological beauty, while the other voice tends to interrupt that poetry with commentary. This morning we are going to look at these two voices and what they might be singing to us today.
At the very beginning of the Gospel, the voice of the poet is asking his community to sing some amazing claims! John the Evangelist, the one for whom the Gospel of John is named, is telling us who Jesus is and asking us to sing it! He asks us to affirm with our voices that the Word, before the universe was formed, was with God. More than that, he asks us to proclaim that Jesus is the incarnation of God and that not one thing came into being without the Word! He asks us to sing that Jesus brought not only light into the world in his human form but that he also brought true life, eternal life, with him, for all of the people of the world. Jesus is God’s Word! John is telling us something about Jesus that is very significant: Jesus is more than just a good guy, more than just an excellent moralist, more than just a person who was born, lived his beliefs to the fullest and was killed because of them, Jesus is the incarnation of God! Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King! Without the Word none of us comes into being, according to John. I find this to be beautiful, amazing, and, in my darker hours, a hard thing to sing! But sing them I do, because I believe them and I have experienced it. Have you?
In the original Greek, the term used for the Word is Logos. The poetic voice from John claims that Jesus was the Logos. In Greek thought, the Logos was the divine principle of reason that gives order to the universe and links the human mind to the mind of God. So this claim, that Jesus was the Logos, would be an incredible, almost incomprehensible statement in the fluid Hellenistic worldview. Many of you may struggle to believe this as well.
For many of us, this is where wrestling with faith, tradition, Scripture, and reason come in. I can tell you that I believe this because I have had a great many experiences in my life where I have known God is a personal, vibrant way. I grew up in and have studied the traditions of the church, that is the incarnated body of Christ, that show me that, throughout the course of human history, I am not alone in my experience of God. The Scriptures tell me many stories of God and of what God is like. I reason that all of this together has allowed me to accept and proclaim what John is asking of us here.
The amazing piece of all of this is that God chose to condescend, that is to say God chose to take on human form so that God could be in relationship with us, so that God could love us in a more complete way, and so that God could show us how to live so that the Reign of God could come about on earth. Jesus is the bringer of LIFE, something more than just life. He is our shining example of God, because he is God. Jesus shows us what God is like, what God is about, how God loves us and what God desires for us and of us. Can you imagine it? Have you experienced the state of knowing that God loves you so much, that God would take human form out of love for you and for God’s creation?
Because God desires us to be in relationship with God, and to be reconciled with our Creator, God became human so that God could reveal Godself fully to us. It is amazing, isn’t it?
The second voice jumps in next, the voice of one who seeks to clarify. Here, in verse 6, we hear a voice that is far less poetic and much more practical. This voice tells us that John the Baptist came “as a witness to testify to the light.” Clearly, there must have been some controversy in the latter part of the first century between those who followed John and those who followed Jesus. The controversy must have been such that John the Evangelist needed to address who was who and what was what. The author is telling us that John the Baptist was not the light. He tells us that Jesus was and is the light, and there should be no mistaking the two!
Certainly, in our lives we experience similar challenges, don’t we? There are so many good things in life to believe in, so many wonderful places to put our faith, our trust, our lives, and the lives of others. The most immediate example I can think of for me is The ONE Campaign. I’ve even got my ONE Campaign wrist band on. I contribute to their work and try to participate however I can. They are advocates for what I believe are the two biggest challenges facing humanity today: extreme global poverty and HIV/AIDS. The ONE Campaign is trying to unite Americans with one voice against global poverty and AIDS with the hope of eradicating both in our lifetimes. The campaign brings together people from across barriers that are usually insurmountable. Both George Clooney and Pat Robertson are members, if you can believe that! The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church supports The ONE Campaign. I love not only what they are doing but how they are doing it, and it would be easy for me to pour my life, my faith, and my resources into it, because it is a good thing!
The ONE Campaign is not, however, the greatest thing. It is merely good. It is an organization that is trying to improve life for the least of these and to spread a little light into the world. Jesus, on the other hand, the Logos, the Word of God, is the greatest! Jesus is not just trying to spread the light, Jesus is the LIGHT!!!! As a progressive church we live in the shadow of the danger that we might lose ourselves in the just causes that we are advocating. If and when we do this we lose not only Jesus but we lose our best selves! Have you ever done that?
I have to be honest with you, on my best days; I do what I do because I love Jesus. I live in this Christian Community because I love Jesus. My wife Sarah and I give money to the church because we love Jesus and we are commanded by the Scripture that Jesus loved to do that. I know many of you get up on Sunday morning’s and head to church for that exact reason. I know many of you work with Corazon ministries, or teach Sunday School, or sing in the choir because you love Jesus. I know many of you do what you do out of love for Jesus.
On my worst days, however, I try to do the right things for the wrong reasons. On my worst days I try to do the right things out of a sense of duty, or out of a sense of, “it’s just the right thing to do.” Here’s the problem with that: people are not transformed when you do something because it’s just the right thing to do. People are transformed because of an encounter with the living God! People are transformed because of the experience of the love of God given to them through others, so intentions matter! It’s important to do the right things for the right reasons! We must be vigilant and prayerful for it is easy to lose the Logos in the everyday things of the world.
In verse twelve the poetic voice jumps back in here with the pronouncement that to all who receive Jesus, to all who believe in his name, they are granted the power to become children of God, who are born of God. In essence, all who believe in Jesus Christ are given the gift of eternal life. This eternal life, though, doesn’t begin when you die; it begins now, in this life! It is the difference between life and LIFE!!!!
The passage concludes with our melody and countermelody bouncing off of one another. The poetic voice tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us and that we have seen the glory of God’s only Son, full of grace and truth while the pragmatic voice reminds us that the Word is Jesus and not John. The poetic voice ends by telling us that, from Jesus, we have received grace upon grace. The earthy voice reminds us that the law came through Moses while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and that no one has seen God but that it is through Jesus that God is fully revealed.
John gives us the basic essence of Jesus’ life and mission on earth in these 18 verses. Do you see what this mission is predicated upon? All of this, all that we are about to remember in the Advent and Christmas Seasons, and then in Lent and Holy Week and finally Easter, as we trace the life of Jesus Christ, all of this came about because of love!
Only love would make a deity do this! Only the desire to be in relationship with us would make a deity come to earth! Instead of wiping us out and starting over (something God had been rumored to do in the past) God chose to sacrifice, to come to us, to love us, to teach us a better way to live, and to begin to reclaim God’s creation through Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, and through us, one person, one system, one creature at a time. Jesus, God, did all of this out of love!!!!
Can you fathom that kind of love that you would give up everything for a relationship?
I pray that we all can recognize the light, that we can be with the light, and that we will not let the darkness overcome us! With Jesus, we can fight back the darkness!
Many of you have lived through darkness, you’ve walked through the shadow of the valley of death, many of you have dwelled in that valley for years. But Jesus, Jesus has been there to! Jesus cannot be overcome by the darkness, for Jesus is the light of the world! The Light of the Universe cannot be overcome by darkness, no matter how dark it gets!!!!!!! See the light, love the light, work with the light, and do not let the darkness overcome you!!!!!
I have prayers for you and I pray for you! I pray that you will look for the light in your life and in the lives of others. I pray that you will merge your life with the LIFE that only Jesus can offer you. I pray that you, with the help of God, will fight back the darkness in your light and that together, you and I can fight the darkness in this world and seek to spread the light of Christ to a world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus made visible in us! Friends, we have light to offer the world! We have grace to extend to God’s creation. It is our responsibility to do this! Moreover, it is our honor and pleasure to send grace and love out into the world. People of Travis Park, children of God, please don’t hide your light under a bushel basket! Let us join together to bring more light, more peace, and more of God’s grace to the world! Let us be the hands and feet of Christ, restored and redeemed and ever seeking to be partners in helping bring about the Reign of God in the world!
Let all of God’s children say, Amen!
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