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Celtic Evensong & Communion

October 18 2015 5:30 p.m.

Community of Faith United Methodist Church

Welcome. In order to prepare for worship and allow for private prayer, we ask that silence be observed upon entering and that you turn off cell phones. We are aware that persons here come from several faith traditions and are delighted for your presence. The mixture of faith traditions

that makes up this community are cherished. We are glad you are here.

Prelude

Opening Celebration of Creation

God of wind and storm, God of trees and flowers, God of birds and beasts, God of men and women

God of all creation Come down, come in, come amongst us.

God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love God we see you in the wind and calm We see you in the sun and the moon

God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love God we hear you in the song birds and bees,

We hear you in the crash of waves and waterfalls, God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love

God we feel you in warmth of sun and cold of ice

We feel you in the richness of soil and softness of fur God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love

God we smell you in the perfume of rose and jasmine We smell you in a fresh cut apple and peach

God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love God we see you in the rich abundance of the harvest

God we hear you in the voices of those who enjoy its bounty God we feel you in the care of those with whom we share its generosity

God all of life reflects your creative presence and sustaining love

Hymn This Day God Give Me

St Patrick’s Breastplate – adapted by James Quinn, SJ, Trad. Gaelic melody*

Reading of Scripture: Psalm 8

O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? 5Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. 6You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, 7all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Gospel Lesson John 15:1-17

”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you.15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Silence is observed after the reading

Reflection

Music for Meditation

During the instrumental and hymn and at any time hereafter, you are welcome to come forward to light a votive candle as a symbol of your prayer. Tapers and votive candles are in front of the chancel step as well as behind the chairs. Please free to go to any of these places to light a candle.

Hymn My Life Flows On TFWS #2212

My life flows on in endless song, above earth's lamentation. I hear the clear, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

2. Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.

It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing? No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

3. What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth. What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

4. The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing! All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Prayers for Ourselves and Others John Phillip Newell

You are above me, O God You are beneath

You are in air You are in earth

You are beside me You are within.

O God of heaven, you have made you home on earth in the broken body of Creation… Kindle within me a love for you in all things…”

God has promised to hear the prayers of those who ask in faith; therefore, let us pray for the Church and the world. (After each petition the people may add their own prayers either silently or aloud.)

God of love hear the cry of those who yearn for love, fractured families, broken homes, neglected, unwanted, alone… God of love,

ALL: hear our prayer

God of justice hear the cry of those who yearn for justice, persecuted and oppressed, exploited, ill-treated, broken… God of justice,

ALL: hear our prayer

God of peace, hear the cry of those who yearn for peace In battle zones and broken states, frightened, fearful, anxious … God of peace,

ALL: hear our prayer

God of healing, hear the cry of those who yearn for healing, physical and spiritual Hurting, weakened, depressed… God of healing

ALL: hear our prayer.

Prayer of Confession:

Love has its source in you, Creator God, flows from you like an ocean into a world as unyielding as any shoreline cliff. And like the ocean which batters, erodes, and wears away even the hardest stone, your love persists - finds cracks and inlets in hardened hearts -flows inside and works a miracle. Who would think that water was more powerful than granite, love mightier than the hardest heart. Thank you, Creator God, for the power of your love.

You have given us a world of beauty, and we have spoiled it. A world to feed us, and so many go hungry. A world of riches, and we are unwilling to share. A world to care for, and we think only of ourselves. Forgive us, gracious God, for those times your heart is saddened by our selfishness. For those times we have no thought for others, no cares but ours. Enable us to see this world anew, as a gift from you, to be shared and nurtured, and those who live upon it to be loved and cared for. We ask this that your name may be glorified, through the beauty of this world, and the service of our lives. Amen.

A Response of Assurance

Faithful God, creator of all times and seasons, We so easily forget that hidden within the night’s dark embrace are the seeds of life. Remind us loving God that when all seems dark and empty, You are still at work strengthening our roots, healing our wounds, anchoring our lives. Remind us generous God that when morning dawns, It is the night’s long rest that has sustained and nurtured our souls. Keep us faithful God through the dark journey of life, So that when the new dawn breaks our roots may be deep and strong. Amen.

The Peace

Christ the Good Shepherd, binds us with a bond of love that cannot be broken. My sisters and brothers, the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.

The ministers and people greet one another in the name of the Lord. After exchanging the Peace, please be seated.

Holy Communion

Offering plates are not passed through the congregation at this service. Offering plates are located at the entrances to the church and the offering will benefit the Food Distribution Ministry.

The Prayer of Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

O God of mystery and promise, you invite us to discover you in the intimate places of ourselves and our lives. You invite us to discover you within the complexities of our humanity, in passionate and tender loving, in struggle and pain, in confusion and unknowing, in flashes of insight and wisdom.

You also call us beyond ourselves to places of imagination, beyond the silent stars, in the deep rhythms of the ocean, in the unending cycles of day and night, seasons of life and death.

With saints and ancestors, with the seas and earth and sky, with animals and birds, with our friends and those unknown to us, with all creation we join in the song of your unending glory:

We praise you that in Jesus you make known to us the wonder and richness of our humanity. We give thanks for his life-giving love, for his healing touch, for his vulnerability and for his gentleness. Before he gave up his life, he shared his humanity, his flesh and blood with his friends. He took bread, save thanks for it, broke it and gave it to them saying: “This is my own body given for you. Do this to remember me.” So too after they had eaten, he took wine, gave thanks for it and gave it to them saying: “This is my blood, poured out in love for you. Do this to remember me.” So we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Come now, Spirit of God, and as we eat and drink these bodily things, make us one body, food for the world, one blood to be poured out for the life of all. Touch us with your gentle creativity and fire us with longing for the new age of justice and peace. We ask this through Jesus who gave his body that we might be one and his blood that we might find new life. With him, and through him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be to you, O God, all honor and glory forever. Amen.

THE LORDS 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Invitation The table of bread and wine is now to be made ready. It is the table of company with Jesus, and all who love him. It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world, with whom Jesus identified himself. It is the table of communion with the earth, in which Christ became incarnate.

So come to this table, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more; You who have been here often and you who have not been here for a long time; You who have tried to follow Jesus and you who have failed. Come. It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.

The Giving of Bread & Cup

All are welcome to come forward to receive Communion. Gluten free bread is available by asking the celebrants.

Prayer after Communion:

Lord Jesus Christ, you have put your life into our hands; now we put our lives into yours. Take us, renew us and remake us. What we have been is past; what we shall be, through you, still awaits us. Lead us on. Take us with you. Amen.

Hymn Now Let us from this Table Rise Tune: O Waly, Waly

Blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you Deep peace of the flowing air to you Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you Deep peace of the Son of peace to you forever

Deep peace of the God of life to you Deep peace of the Christ of love to you Deep peace of the Spirit of truth to you Deep peace of the God of Gods to you

The peace of all peace be yours this night and forevermore. Amen.

Postlude

Please feel free to depart during the Postlude and feel free to join one another for a reception in the narthex following the service.

Welcome to this Time of Worship

Celebrants: The Reverends Beth LaBella-Foster & Rob Vaughn

Musicians: Mary Ann East; Alexandra Baldwin, harpist

Acknowledgements: *This Day God Gives Me from The Upper Room Worshipbook. Reprinted under OneLicense #A710911; Opening is taken from a liturgy for the Celebration of Creation at http://godspace-msa.com/2006/11/08/liturgical-gardening; Prayer is from http://godspace-msa.com/2010/04/15/earth-day-liturgy/; Prayers for Ourselves and Others is from Celtic Prayers from Iona, John Phillip Newell, page 44.

Ministers - The Entire Congregation Lay Leaders – Rory Maynard, Sandra Baron, Chuck Timanus

Music Director: Mary Ann East; Music Accompanist: Faith Zúñiga Children’s Coordinator – Kelli Timanus; Youth Coordinator – Josh McCauley

Nursery Care – Miyo Shimoda; Office Manager – Di Hannum District Superintendent – Cathy Abbott; Bishop – Young Jin Cho

Community of Faith United Methodist Church 13224 Franklin Farm Rd. Herndon, VA 20171-4034 Phone: 703-620-1977

E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.cofumc.org Rev. Rob Vaughn, Cell 703-283-2153

Rev. Beth LaBella-Foster, Cell 214-704-0567