Community United Church An Open and Affirming Congregation

Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Church of

the Brethren

Sunday RESONATE:

Sunday, May 16th, 2021

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GATHERING PRAYER

ONE: Holy God, the one who hears out prayers, you have said that when two or three are

gathered

in your name, You would be present,

ALL: We welcome Your presence and grace in our lives.

ONE: We ask that you shine Your light on us,

ALL: and that through that light, may we illuminate and serve the lives around us. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN The Lord is in His Holy Temple #387

The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord is in his holy temple:

Let all the earth keep silence, let all the earth keep silence before him --

Keep silence, keep silence before him.

OPENING PRAYER

ONE: Lord Jesus, our friend and our strength, you visited the apostles as they labored with

fishing and granted them success. Come and visit us in this meeting so that our work

will be fruitful.

ALL: Untangle all the knots, smooth out the rough ways, as we, with confidence, continue

our spiritual work of service. In the sign of Your cross, in the name of the Father, the

Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING HYMN 577

Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity

gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity.

Refrain: Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,

sing a new Church into being, one in faith and love and praise.

Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light, male and female in God’s image, male and female, God’s delight. (Refrain)

Trust the goodness of creation; trust the Spirit strong within. Dare to dream the vision promised, sprung from seed of what has been. (Refrain)

Bring the hopes of every nation; bring the art of every race. Weave a song of peace and justice; let it sound through time and space. (Refrain)

Draw together at one table, all the human family; shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free.

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RESPONSIVE PRAYER ONE: Father allow me to serve others with a joyful heart, never keeping score, always giving; never expecting to receive. ALL: Allow me to give of myself, to give of my talents and goods. To give of my time And if my energy, to give of my heart and soul. ONE: Help me understand the needs of others, never criticizing, never demeaning, never scolding and never condemning. ALL: You have been so gracious to me, Lord. Always loving, always forgiving, always restoring ; never gloating over my defeats even when I have been so wrong, ONE: Father, keep a condemning spirit far from my thoughts and even farther from

my lips. ALL: Allow me to serve others as You serve, with gentleness, compassion and

tenderness. Never diminishing the worth of another, choosing to extend mercy to the brokenhearted, like you have repeatedly shown to me. Amen.

Sunday RESONATE |

SONG OF MEDITATION Make Me a Servant #576 (2X)

Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord let me lift up those who are weak;

And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant, make me a servant,

Make me a servant today A READING Isaiah 42:1-4

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

SONG OF REFLECTION The Servant King Shelly Conrad

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RESPONSIVE READING ONE: My people hunger for living signs of my love for them. Whom shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. ONE: My people are weary, and long for encouragement as they labor at tasks with few

stopping to thank them. Whom shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. ONE: My people yearn to have my giftedness called forth in the service of love. Whom

shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. ONE: My people live in an age which prizes individualism, and starves their need to

contribute to something bigger than themselves. Whom shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. ONE: My people thirst for leaders who reveal me as a God of hope who accompanies

them in their struggles and pain. Whom shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. One: My people long for leaders who have tasted their brokenness, and have; earned

to serve with humility and joy. Whom shall I send? ALL: Here am I, send me. ONE: My people’s eyes and hearts search for role models who honor my presence in

the poor, the hungry, the grieving, the peacemakers and those who wrongly persecuted for my sake. Whom shall I send?

ALL: Here am I, send me.

SONG OF RESPONSE Here I am Lord #559 I the lord of sea and sky. I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save I have made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain: Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me

I will hold Your people in my heart.

I the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them, they turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my Word to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

I the lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them, my hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

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FIRST READING Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. RESPONSORIAL Psalm 1 ONE: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that

sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; ALL: But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. ONE: They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and

their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. ALL: The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. ONE: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of

the righteous; ALL: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will

perish. *GLORIA “Glory Be to God, Creator” #145

Glory be to God, Creator, glory be to God the Son, Glory be to God the Spirit, known as Three, yet God the One.

As it was in the beginning, it is now and so shall be, In a world without an ending, glory through eternity. Holy, holy God Almighty! Holy, holy Prince of Peace! Holy, holy Wind of Presence! Holy, holy, holy! Amen!

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*GOSPEL John 17:6-19 ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. SONG OF PREPERATION The Summons #350

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,

will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,

and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world

around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.

Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

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JESUS CALLS US TO SERVANTHOOD O God we remember Your servant, Jesus. Human like us, Jesus allowed Your creative Spirit to move in his life, his searching and questioning, his hopes and dreams, his understanding of where the sacred is found.

Human like us, Jesus opened himself up to Your transforming Spirit. Your spirit inspired him to free people from religious images and ideas that kept them captive, dependent and fearful of You. He freed people to transcend social and religious barriers, challenge religious leaders to move beyond legalism and to call religious institutions to authentically change.

Human like us, Jesus lived and died for what he believed: that You are love, that love is stronger than fear and death: that you are present even in bleakness and chaos; that Your desire for the cosmos can be trusted; that living in love and service is living in you. That dying in love and service is dying to You; that resurrection and new life follow death.

Servant to all, Jesus reveals our true identity as earthen vessels holding a treasure and temples of Your Spirit. Jesus calls us to continue his service to all creation as members of the body of Christ. In his life and death, we experience Your presence and action in the world. That You are always with us, especially when we live in compassion and loving service to others.

Servant to all, Jesus challenges us to embrace his story as our story, to Share his convictions, to be his servant body in the world. Through him we become people set free, a people dedicated to service. In our freedom we are called to rejoice. We are called to share this Good News with all who seek You, source of life, sustainer of our being and inspiration of our ways.

ALL: Through Christ the Servant, may all creation be renewed. Through Christ the Servant, may we serve all in need. Through Christ the Servant, may Your vision of peace and justice flourish. In unity with Your sacred Spirit may all glory and honor be Yours, forever and ever.

PROFESSION OF FAITH Sister Joan Chittister

ALL: We believe in God who made us all, and whose divinity infuses life with the

sacred. We believe in the multiple revelations of God, alive in every human

heart, expressed in every culture, found in all the wisdoms of the world

We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who leads us to the fullness of humanity, to

what we are meant to become. Through Christ, we become new people, called

beyond the consequences of our brokenness, lifted to the fullness of life.

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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God on earth, who keeps the Christ vision

present to souls yet in darkness, gives light to hearts now blind, infuses energy into

spirits yet weary, isolated, searching and confused. We believe in God who is life.

Amen to courage , to hope, to spirit of truth, to nature, to happiness, to wholeness, to

the partnership of women and men in God’s plan, to the Christ who calls us beyond

the boundaries of ourselves, to forgiveness and to everything that stretches our hearts

o the dimensions of God. In all of this, we can surely believe, as God does.

SERVING EACH OTHER AT CHRIST”S TABLE: A spiritual Communion We gather together this day with confidence that we receive mercy and find grace when we

need help. As we come nearer to the cross with Jesus, we once again turn to the events of

Christ’s final days on earth. As we approach the cross, let us approach each other in our minds

and hearts and consider the spiritual needs of our friends and neighbors. Take a moment and

turn to look at your neighbor as a sign of caring for each other

When Jesus met with his disciples on the night before he died, they gathered around a table

wearing the burden of Discipleship. Just as Jesus shared our humanity with us, he also shared

the burden of discipleship. On that night he invited the disciples to “come and sit down for

dinner.” Take a moment to think about what it looks like to sit together at the table.

It was here that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Later breaking the bread and giving

thanks to God who provides. He broke it as a symbol of how his body would be broken.

Likewise he took the cup and gave thanks again- even though it represented his blood that

would be shed.

As they shared the bread and cup, Jesus reminded them to do this in remembrance of him. As

we continue to do so today, we ask the ever present Holy Spirit to bring us into communion

with our Lord who came to serve, and not be served, and with the disciples of every age who

took up the mantle of Christ to do the same. How can we be servants to each other as Christ

was to his disciples?

HYMN OF PRAISE O Come to the Altar Shelly and Kelly

OFFERING:

Our offerings are first and foremost what we give to the world through justice, kindness, and mercy—and these we can do every day.

Our offerings can also take the form of financial contributions to the church to support our ministries.

Financial offerings are now accepted online at: www.communityunited.church/giving/ or,

If you prefer to mail in a check, that can be addressed to the church at: 1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508

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SONG OF RESPONSE Change My Heart O, God #373

Change my heart oh God make it ever true.

Change my heart oh God, may I be like You.

You are the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart oh God, make it ever true.

Change my heart oh God, may I be like You.

MORNING PRAYER

ONE: Let us be at peace with each other.

ALL: Let us accept that we are profoundly loved and need never to be afraid.

ONE: Let us be aware of the source of our being that is common to us all and to all

living creatures.

ALL: Let us be filled with the presence of the great compassion towards ourselves

and towards all living beings.

ONE: Realizing that we are all nourished from the same source of life. May we live so

that others be not deprived of air, food, water, shelter or the chance to live.

ALL: Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be the cause of suffering to one another.

ONE: With humility, let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on

earth.

ALL: May God kindle in us the fire of love to bring us life and bring warmth to the

world.

ALL: Lead me from death to life from falsehood to truth lead me from despair to

hope. From Fear to trust. Lead me from hate to love, war to peace. Let Peace fill

our heart, the world and the universe.

BLESSING

ONE: Lord God, you know the hidden parts of our hearts, come now and fill us with the

sincerity as we dedicate ourselves to You and to serve Your kingdom.

ALL: Lord we desire to serve You and others, with a totality of heart, soul and

strength. We strive to live within the simplicity of the Gospels. Open and

obedient to Your voice And whole in our loving.

ONE: Lord and Divine Friend, we dedicate ourselves anew to the vows of baptism to a

life of prayer and worship to you.

ALL: We re-commit ourselves to being servants to the needs of those around us and

to the needs of the world. May we all find holiness and salvation here, in this

pace at this time, Where Your, Lord have placed us. Amen.

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DEPARTING SONG He is Exalted 122 2x

He is exalted the King is exalted on High I will praise Him

He is exalted forever exalted And I will praise His name

He is the Lord Forever His truth shall reign

Heaven and Earth Rejoice in His holy name

He is exalted the King is exalted on high

BENEDICTION Eternal God and Father by whose hands we are created and by whose love we are

redeemed, guide and strengthen us to your service, and live each day in love to one another and to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Technology Drive! We will continue to collect

donations for the next several weeks. If you haven’t yet and would like to you may either send a check to the church at

1011 West 38th Street, Erie PA 16508 or online at https://communityunited.church/giving/ Please notate your donation for “Tech”

To reserve your seat for a worship service please call the church office at 814-864-4429, email

Tracy at tracydavis.cuc@yahoo.com or message through Facebook messenger.

2021 Council Members

Debbie Anderson – President Ginnie Burger- Treasurer Robert Martin Dina Johnson- Vice President Mike Pruzinsky Carol Rodgers Tim Trambley- Secretary April Knapp Dave Wooledge

WE REMEMBER THOSE IN OUR ARMED FORCES: Nick Duncan (Army), Chris Duncan (Marines), Matt Duncan (Army) Brandon Langill, Kathy Narrette (Army), Meagan Dawson (Army), Jacob Snyder (Army), Jeremy Celline (Army National Guard), Mathew Anderson (Army)

PRAYERS FOR: Andy Via, Rod & Dew Johnson, Julie Celeski, Dan Wingerter, Jim Trambley, Lydia Rhodes, Gloria Renshaw, Ray Wallace, Ronnie Celeski, Corinne Haglund, Randy Koziol, Guy Greenough, The Vadzemnieks Family, Gary Maas, Caleb, Kathy Bort, three year old Julie, Jill, Justine, Brenda Lichtinter, Lorre Rapp, Wade, Jeanne and Charlie, Yvette, unspoken, Greg Mays, Judy Koehler, Phillip Harris.