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The Worship of God Glendale Baptist Church: a caring community of equality and grace

Sunday, June 28, 2020

By the Rivers of Babylon: A Summer Considering Exile

Exile [ˈeɡˌzīl, ˈekˌsīl] NOUN -the state of being barred from one's

native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

"They knew now that they would die in exile."

synonyms: banishment · expulsion · expatriation · deportation ·

eviction · uprooting · separation · extradition · ostracism

The Life of the Community April Baker

May God be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to God.

Glendale’s worship continues to provide the community of faith and

our guests a way to enter into Holy Presence with blessing,

authenticity, and joy. The tone and method of our worship is a shift

from our usual style, but the care with which we plan and the

reverence with which we enter into worship remains consistent with

our values. Liturgy—the work of the people—takes many different

forms. We are blessed to have a summertime season of

strengthening and stretching our liturgical muscles together as we

examine ideas of home, exile, and what it means to be strangers. As

the bell chimes, take a moment to breathe deeply, settle into Holy

Presence, offer a prayer for those whose faces you see, and prepare

yourself for worship.

ENTERING WORSHIP

Lighting Our Candles and Chiming the Hour

Pausing for Silence

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Introit “Come, Join Us as We Journey” Brian Koho

& Don Schlosser

Come, join us as we journey beyond what we have known.

All seeking hearts are welcome. No need to go alone.

For there are shadowed valleys and mountains, high and steep,

And many river crossings with currents swift and deep

Call to Worship Kelly Moreland Jones

Throughout the ages, churches have gathered each week to

worship God together.

We gather to sing, to pray and, to listen, to rejoice.

We gather to experience healing in the broken places of our lives.

We gather to help each other through hard times and celebrate in

the good times.

We gather to learn and think and feel and rest together.

We gather as a witness to our community that Love guides us,

prompts us, compels us.

We gather together to bless and to receive.

Reminded of our purpose in this hour, let us worship together.

Hymn 24 “The God of Abraham Praise” LEONI

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PRAYING

Morning Prayer Summer Hyche

Congregational Response

Praying the Psalms from Psalm 60 Kelly Moreland Jones

Come to my aid, O Beloved! For my fears threaten to drown me. I

sink in the mire of confusion where there is no foothold.

I have entered deep waters and the flood sweeps over me.

I am exhausted from weeping; I thirst as in a desert.

I no longer see the path while waiting for your return.

Come to my aid, Gentle Healer, for my prayer is to You.

In perfect timing, Beloved, in the abundance of your Love, answer

my cry.

With your strength, O Rock, lift me up; let me not sink in the mire.

Let me be delivered from my fears as from deep waters.

Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or

the abyss overwhelm me.

Let me come once again to your Table, Beloved, that I might be

made whole.

Contemplative Experience Lectio Divina Mandy England Cole

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from Isaiah 43

Marjorie Thompson says that in Western Christianity, Lectio

Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic

practice of reading, meditation, and prayer intended to

promote communion with the Sacred and to increase one’s

experience with Sacred text. Lectio Divina does not treat

scripture as texts to be studied, but as a living experience of

the Sacred.

PROCLAIMING

Godly Play A Time for Glendale Kids Amy Mears

Hymn 565 WER NUR DEN LIBEN GOTT

“If You Will Trust in God to Guide You”

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Homily How to Spot Toxic Amy Mears

Genesis 46:1-7

Music “Landslide” Alex Daugherty

Stevie Nicks

RESPONDING

Offering Prayer Lauren Plummer

Paying our Tithes and Giving Our Offerings Jake Schaub, pianist

"Legend," from Ten pieces, op. 12, by Sergei Prokofiev

Dedicating Our Gifts in Service of the World

Declaring Our Thanks Together

God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we give thanks for those

whose worship informs ours, whose love for singing their doubt and

faith inspires ours, whose generosity with their resources

encourages ours. May our worship prompt curiosity; may our

singing connect joy and challenge; and may our giving improve

our lives and bless the earth and the people you love. Amen.

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PREPARING FOR THIS WEEK

Hymn 542 “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” ABERYSTWYTH

Benediction

Congregational Response

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Pausing for Silence

In the quiet, all are invited to consider how Spirit has been revealed

in this hour. Please remain in reverent expectation during the music

as you discover ways to transition from this hour of worship into your

own life of service in the world, seeking where God is at work and

how you might continue your worship by joining in.

Music for Closing Jake Schaub, pianist

Prelude, op. 15, no. 1, by Alexander Scriabin

Glendale Happy Hour with Summer

Glentern Summer Hyche invites you to stay connected in the zoom room

right now for a 15-minute conversation about things that are comforting,

sustaining, pleasing, or exciting you during this season. You can

participate in the chat thread (click on the little conversation bubble

icon at the bottom of the screen) or unmute yourself and speak. Bring

your happies and give other Glendalers more reasons to smile as they

connect with the faith community.

Concerning Worship

In our worship, Glendale recognizes the theological importance of ways

language is used. We do not attempt to change every historical reading,

anthem, and hymn in each service; we do try, over time, to balance

cultural and gender references to include all persons in the worship of

God. Please feel free to use inclusive language during worship. The Introit

and Congregational Responses are from “Come Join Us as We Journey”

2002, written by Thomas H. Troeger, Oxford University Press, used by

permission. The Psalm reading is adapted from Nan Merrill’s Psalms for

Praying, The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc: New York,

1996. Used by permission. We are grateful for the worship leadership of

Rev. Mandy England Cole this morning. Mandy is a pastoral minister in

Richmond, Virginia, and is known by a generation of Glendale Baptist

Youth Camp folks.

Congregational Leadership

Our community is committed to a church structure and leadership

dedicated to equality and grace as well as anti-hierarchical practice.

The service of these individuals is largely unseen but vastly important. Our

next church year begins on July 1. Here is a list of those who are serving in

various capacities:

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Church Clerk: Anne-Leslie Owens; Church Moderator: Thomas Conner;

Church Steward: Jim Hiett; Church Treasurers: Jon Neergaard, Kris Elsberry

(receipts), and Elizabeth Manning (disbursements)

Leadership Council: April Baker, Eileen Campbell-Reed, Frenchie

Fortenberry, Alvin Jeffery, Selena McCoy Carpenter, Amy Mears, Jon

Neergaard

Ordination Committee: Khette Cox, Adam Garner, Mark McEntire,

Annette Sisson, Jill Zimmer, Pastor(s)

Where Are We Now?

If anybody has been praying that as a congregation, Glendale would

learn how to be more creative and expansive in the ways that we

partner with God and follow Jesus on the Way of Love, you’ve done a

fine, fine job! We continue to find ways to be a vibrant, effective,

community of faith working diligently and consistently toward our

purpose. We’re certainly experiencing church in unprecedented ways!

The Glendale building remains closed with only necessary entries. We are

using the church grounds in select ways, with appropriate distancing and

masks. The Leadership Council’s plan continues to be to decide on a

month-by-month basis when and how we will regather in classrooms and

the sanctuary. At this point, the building will remain closed at least

through the month of July. In the last part of July, we will make a decision

about August. The ways that you have offered care and maintained

connection with one another, the ways that you have continued to live

into your commitment to this community during this time is encouraging,

inspiring, vibrant, and compassionate. As Glendale has shown in other

times of difficulty and crisis, we will get through this together sustained by

the Holy and our companionship with one another.

#peacefulhomeprotest

As part of the #peacefulhomeprotest action, we will gather each

Thursday in June and July—physically distanced, of course—at the

bottom of the hill along Glendale Lane. 5pm-6pm. Please wear your

mask! If you need one, contact one of the pastors. You are welcome to

bring a chair if standing is difficult. The. church house remains closed, so

bathroom facilities will not be available.

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COVID-19 & Homelessness in Nashville – How To Help Alleviate Food

Insecurity

Community partners* are coordinating outreach efforts to support

people living in encampments. As a direct result of COVID-19, food

insecurity has become a big issue for people experiencing homelessness.

We need about 150 more food boxes per week. With that, our partners

will be able to serve about 400-500 people who currently have no other

options than to stay outdoors (following CDC guidance on COVID-19).

We are asking for your help. Here are two options:

1. Make a monetary donation directly to the outreach food operations.

You can donate online to Open Table Nashville or to The Bridge Ministry.

Make sure you designate the donation to "Food for Encampments."

2. Donate food items directly. Items can be dropped off at Glencliff

United Methodist Church, 2901 Glencliff Road, Monday through Thursday

from 9am to noon. Please include trash bags and if possible some

hygiene items including disinfectant wipes.

*Our Street 2 Home encampment coordination effort includes the Metro

Homeless Impact Division, The Village at Glencliff, The Bridge Ministry,

Open Table Nashville, Mental Health Cooperative, Park Center, The

Salvation Army, Neighborhood Health, Shower Up, People Loving

Nashville, Second Harvest, The Food Project, Southern Alliance for People

and Animal Welfare, and more (if you are not mentioned here, please

email judith.tackett@nashville.gov - we'd like to list all the partners that

keep joining this effort).

Storytime for Kids and Families

Glendaler Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis, who works for Nashville Public

Library, will hold a weekly zoom story hour for young and formerly young

folks. Alan Green will send the link on Wednesday mornings; the story

time will begin at 11:00am each Wednesday. Gather around the screen

to watch, read, and listen as Klem-Marí brings us stories from around the

world.

Centering Prayer Fridays at Noon

Each Friday at noon during our spatial distancing from one another,

Glendaler Johnny Sears, Director of the Upper Room’s Academies of

Spiritual Formation, will be leading a zoom session of Centering Prayer. He

will offer some helps at the beginning of each session for those who are

newer to the practice, then hold 10 minutes of Centering Prayer, and

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close with a benediction. If you’re a rookie or a novice to Centering

Prayer, here is a helpful primer: https://www.lindsayboyer.com/centering-

prayer It offers a nice overview of the practice so that we can become

familiar with it before the session.

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER

CONCERNS IN THE CHURCH FAMILY Kristina Brown

Betty Clifton

Stewart Clifton

Elaine Dickson

Hayley Elliott

Rachel Kirk

Deb Krueger

Susan Moore

Joe O’Cain

Billie Pate

Richard Smith

CONCERNS IN THE EXTENDED FAMILY Terry Edgerton, Cecelia Caldwell’s cousin

Josiah Evans, Joy Smith’s friend

Mark Gooch, Joy Gooch & David Gooch’s brother

Hazel Halford, MATrotter’s sister

Stuart Harris’s mother

Steve Hawkes, Cecelia Caldwell’s brother-in-law

Tom Hulette, Joy Smith's brother

Alvin Jeffery’s grandmother

Jason Laster, Suzanne Wilson’s son-in-law

Kathleen McCracken, Poli Polidoro’s friend

Bud Moon, Jim and Sharon Hiett’s friend

Sandy Moyich, Mary Wright’s mother

Sammy O’Cain, Joe O’Cain’s son

Joy and Richard Smith’s friends, Jene and Jan Robinson

Joy Smith’s sister Becky

Kim Vaday, Brian Koho’s sister

Bob Veach, Myrte Veach's brother

Joseph Whaley, Brian Whaley’s father

Don Wheless, Lee Wheless’ brother

Lee Wheless’ father

Sarah Wilbanks, Lynn & Eileen Campbell-Reed's niece

Joan Yarborough and John Laney, former Glendalers

CARE FOR OUR PARTNERS IN MINISTRY Our friends in Cuba

Other Sheep

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CHURCH CALENDAR

Sunday, June 28

10:15 AM Zoom Room open

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Happy Hour with Summer Hyche

1:00 PM Youth Zoom

Wednesday, July 1

11:00 AM Zoom Room open

Storytime for Kids and Families with Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis

6:30 PM Zoom Room open

Sharing and prayer concerns

Thursday, July 2

5:00 PM Peaceful Home Protest

Friday, July 3

12:00 PM Zoom Room open

Centering Prayer with Johnny Sears

Sunday, July 5

10:15 AM Zoom Room open

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Happy Hour with Summer

1:00 PM Youth Zoom—Baptist Youth Camp

Wednesday, July 8

11:00 AM Zoom Room open

Storytime for Kids and Families with Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis

1:00 PM Youth Zoom--Baptist Youth Camp

6:30 PM Zoom Room open

Sharing and prayer concerns

Thursday, July 9

5:00 PM Peaceful Home Protest

1:00PM Youth Zoom--Baptist Youth Camp

Friday, July 10

12:00 PM Zoom Room open

Centering Prayer with Johnny Sears

BIRTHDAYS

June 29 – Summer Hyche

July 1 – Richard Smith

July 3 – Hank Clifton

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GLENDALE BAPTIST CHURCH

A Caring Community of Equality and Grace

We strive

to partner with God and follow Jesus on the Way of Love

to create sanctuary for one another with special concern

for those who are marginalized

to work intentionally for mercy and justice

to sustain a creative and compassionate theological voice

to gather resources joyfully and share them generously

to love our neighbors and care for all of creation.

As part of the Body of Christ in the world, Glendale Baptist Church values

diversity and inclusivity in our relationships. We maintain close

relationships with our ecumenical partners locally. Our distinctly Baptist

affiliations include the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist

Fellowship. Being a Partner Congregation of the Baptist Peace Fellowship

of North America provides us with a network of fellow peacemakers with

whom to work for justice and peace in God’s world. Because we value

the place of all people in the church without regard to their sexual

orientation or gender identity, we are a member congregation of the

Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

GLENDALE BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF

Minister of Music: Rev. Don Schlosser

Office Administrator: Alan Green

Pastor: Rev. April Baker

Pastor: Rev. Amy Mears, Ph.D.

Pastoral Intern: Summer Hyche

Pastoral Intern: Kelly Moreland Jones

Pastoral Intern: Lauren Plummer

Pianist: Jake Schaub

1021 Glendale Lane, Nashville TN 37204

Website: www.glendalebaptist.org

E-mail: gbc@glendalebaptist.org

Office Phone: 615-269-0926

April Baker: aprilbaker@glendalebaptist.org

Amy Mears: amymears@glendalebaptist.org

June 28, 2020 Vol. 61, No. 26