Bulletin

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Sunday, May 13th, 2012

We Gather in God's Name

Opening Reflection

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416).

Born during a tumultuous period of England's history, Julian witnessed tremendous suffering in her lifetime. At age thirty, when she was seriously ill, Julian received the first of sixteen visions that centered on the crucified Christ. She interpreted her visions to mean that God loves us unconditionally, and she likened Christ to a mother who suffers when a child is hurt. Julian became an anchorite, voluntarily restricting herself to a tiny cell in the church building at Norwich. She lived the rest of her days in almost total isolation so that she could pray for the community and offer spiritual counsel. Her Showings has been praised as being among the most important spiritual writing in the English language.

[silent reflection]

Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord

People: Let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

Opening Song

Glorious Day (Casting Crowns)

Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord

People: Let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

We Hear God's Word

Psalm 67:1-4

May God be merciful to us and bless us
    show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
Let your ways be known upon earth
    your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God
    Let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy
    for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations upon earth.

Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord

People: Let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

Luke 6:39-49

He quoted a proverb: "'Can a blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.

"It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

"You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

"Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."

Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord

People: Let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

We Respond in Prayer

Julian of Norwich prayed, "God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me. I may ask nothing less that is fully to your worship, and if I do ask anything less, ever shall I be in want. Only in you I have all."

Prayers for One Another

(Please stand when offering a prayer, so others will know you have the floor.)

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

God, you are present in our joys and in our sorrows. Help us expect to live lives that mirror the suffering and joy of Christ our Savior. No disciple is above her master. Amen.

We Go in Peace

Passing the Peace of Christ

(Each person says a line of the blessing, adding the name of someone present at the end of the line. If there are more than 8 people present, two or more names may be added at the end of a line).

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, [name]

wherever he may send you, [name]

may he guide you through the wilderness, [name]

protect you through the storm, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

at the wonders he has shown you, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

once again into our doors, [name].