Light

Light is come
Into this world of ours,
Who will come with me
And follow where it goes?
Love is here
For everyone,
Who will celebrate
This with me?

Peace?

A new year is  coming, are we ready for it? Are we ready to do this work that will help others find their way peacefully? Will we help them find their own place to peace? How do we help without insulting them?

What Happened

What has happened
To love your neighbor
Wherever they are?
What has happened
To seeing all people
As precious children of God?
With wars all around,
What has happened
To peace on earth?

Remember

Remember the people you meet along the way. They may need more help than you are aware of. They may not be willing to tell you what they need, but if you are careful and observant, you will find what they really need.

Remember Me

Remember Me

Remember me?
I’m the person
You just passed
On the street,
I am human
And alive,
Remember me!

Remember me?
I may be your neighbor,
Living near you,
See me
And get to know me
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is poorly dressed,
I don’t have  much money
And I may be homeless.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am that person
Who is so very different
From those around me,
But I’m still human.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I’m gay or asexual
And other people
Don’t approve,
But I am
As God created me.
Remember me!

Remember me?
I am Yahweh,
Your Creator.
All people are mine,
And I love them
As they are right now.
See them all
As beloved children
Of mine.
Remember me!

Two Birth Announcements

Two birth announcements:

From:  Mary and Joseph
Born: a son
Name: Jesus;  Hebrew: Yeshua
Place: Bethlehem, a stable
         Every place was taken.  At least it was private.
Date:  not known, no calendar
Weight: not sure, no scales available, but he
         appears to be normal.



From: Yahweh
Born: a Son
Name: Yeshua
Place: Bethlehem; a stable
Date: no calendar - does it matter?
Weight: normal
Note to all:  this is the One destined.
He will save all those who will believe and
follow, living the way He will teach.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Light and love were born into the world so many years ago. Let us remember by loving all people we meet.

The Star

Star

Who knows when
A star brightened
The night sky?
It was there
To lead magi
To the place
Where Jesus was.

The Shepherds

The Shepherds

Who knows when
The shepherds came
To see a new-born child?
But to a stable
They went
To see the child
The angels told.

Angels

Who knows when
The angels’ song
Came out of the sky?
But they were there
To tell the shepherds
About the birth
Of a special Child.

Birth

Who knows when
The baby  Jesus
Was born
Into our world?
The only truth
Is that our lives
Were forever changed
By that one birth.

Who Is My Neighbor?

Who is My Neighbor?
Leviticus 19:18 ,33, 34; Mark 12:28-33

Love your neighbor
As you love yourself.
           Who is my neighbor?
            The person next door
             Who is like me.
Love your neighbor
As you love yourself.
              Who is my neighbor?
              The person far away
               Who is different
                In so many ways.

We so often  ask
Who is my neighbor?
And for get to look
Around to see
Who God I loving now.

Dear  God, forgive me,
For I so often
Ignore those around me
Or turn my back
On those in need.
I often fear to see
That those who are
Different than me
Are my neighbors,
And deserve what help
That I can give them.
Help me to learn
That they all
Are loved by you,
And are my neighbors.

God is here,
Among us
And loving us all;
And for giving us
When we forget
Who our neighbors are.

We have come together
To learn who
Our neighbors are.
Let us now go out
And pass the love
That is of God
To all people
Who are our neighbors.

Go in peace
And walk in love
With all people
Always,
Remembering
That all people
Are God’s children
And are loved.
         

More

      

More than the baby

Laid in the manger,

He grew up

And we cannot

Keep Him there.

More than the teacher

Or the healer

Of the sick,

He moved on,

And we cannot

Find Him there.

More than anything

We can think of;

Lord and Savour

Of the world,

Loving all people,

Look and find Him

Everywhere.

God dwells

God dwells among us
And will not leave us alone, ..
Watch and be aware ,
For God is always near
To help us all to find
Our way along
The path we are on.

So come, let us celebrate
The time
When God came
To dwell among us
To show us all
How to live in love.

Advent

Into the darkness
Comes an explosion
Of bright light,
Lighting up the world.

And the light stays
Showing all the way
That will lead
To the place
Of peace and love.

Come all people,
Celebrate the light
That has come
Into our lives!a

Sing and dance
And celebrate
The coming of God
Into our lives
To show us all
The way
To peace and love.

For love has become flesh
And dwells with us,
Bringing light
Into our darkened world.

Can We

Can we ever learn to love as God does,, fully and completely without conditions? Or will we continue to hate any person who is different because of fear of the differences? Will we ever learn the way to really love?

Gifts for the World

Gifts for the World

We should give gifts:

Freedom from hunger
Freedom from being homeless
Freedom from fear
Freedom from hatred
Freedom from war
Freedom to live




More gifts:

Freedom to be
Freedom to love
Freedom to worship
Freedom!




Freedom from hunger:
Can we learn to make sure everybody has enough to eat?  We have the ability to do this, will we ever do it?





Freedom from being homeless:

There are ways to make sure that all people have a safe and secure place to live.  Will we ever start to make sure that all have a dwelling of their own that they want and like?




Freedom from fear:

All people should be able to live without being afraid of being attacked just because they are “different” from others.




Freedom from hatred:

Freedom to see that all people are beloved children of God.  Will we ever learn this truth?  Will we ever learn to treat each other in God’s love?




Freedom from war:

Freedom to live without the fear of bullets or bombs coming in and destroying all that has been built and destroying many lives.  Can we ever learn to live together in peace and love?





Freedom to live:

Freedom to live where we want and with whom we want to be with and no one to tell us we are wrong.  How long will it take for us to learn how to live this way?




Freedom to be:

Freedom to be who we are without question or other people condemning us.  How long will it take for this to happen?




Freedom to love:

Freedom to love who we are truly attracted to without someone telling us how wrong we are to love that person.  Can we ever learn to let others love whoever is best for them?




Freedom to worship:

In the way that is best for who you are.  No one has the right to tell anybody how they are to worship or pray.




Freedom: 

Freedom just to be who you are. 
And let nobody tell you that you can’t be your authentic self because that is a lie!  You and all people were created as you are right now.

Christmas

service 31 - Christmas

Look and see
Here is the word
Made flesh.
Let us praise God,
For in this baby boy
Love has come
To dwell among us.

Here is the Word of God,
There from the beginning.
Come and know the love
Sleeping in this place.

Loving God,
Your Word
Is here with us.
Forgive us
When we do not hear
What you are saying.
Forgive us
When we hear
But turn away
And go another way.
Help us now
To hear your Word
So that we will
Always go your way.

The Word is here
Among us,
And forgiveness
Is always ours.

Come now
And see the gift
That our God
Has given for all,
The Word in flesh
And laying
In a manger.

And let God's Word
Fill your life
So that you
Will always know
That you are loved.

Come Christmas

Come Christmas!  Come here to us and live within us all!  Come Christmas, and show us what you really are, and teach us how to live in that love shown so many years ago!  Come Christmas, and help us all to see that all people are children of God, and loved.  For we do forget that when trouble comes.  Come Christmas and show us what love really is!

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming soon, are you prepared?  Are you ready for the celebration?   It is the time we have chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus,  are you  ready for the party,  a special party for He who came to set us free from hate and division and to show us what love really is and how to love others without conditions.   Are we all ready for the unexpected from God?   Who knows,  God might just turn up as a woman this time.   We must be prepared for the unexpected from God both in who is accepted and loved and who is not.  

So,  are we ready for the unexpected from God?   Will we be able to know God in human form this time?   How many will turn away if God appears to us in a way that doesn't meet our approval?   And will we be able to tell who the person really is?  Are we listening for the voice of God inside of each of us?  Will we be able to hear that voice if the person is not who we expect?  Christmas is coming, are we really prepared?

Christmas 2008

Christmas

Christmas >is coming,

I have heard.

Guess it is true,

Because it seems

The frantic shopping

For the perfect gift

Has now started.

I  wonder now,

What has happened

To this time

We call Christmas?

Christmas

Should be a time

For celebration

Of families and friends.

Love and peace

Should be able

To dwell together.

Christmas is coming,

Have you heard?

Light 7

Come, know
That the light
Once became flesh
And dwelt among us
To show us all
How to live
Together
In God's love.

Light] 6

And the light
Was bright
In the night sky,
Showing Magi
The place
Where the baby
Could be found.

Light 5

The light was bright
As Angels sang
And told shepherds
About the birth
And where the baby
Would be found.

Light 4

The light shown out
Marking the place
Where the baby lay,
Showing the people
Where to go
To find that special
Baby boy.

Light 3

It's a baby born
In a stable
Who brings light
Into the world.
And all people
Around the world
Will hear
Of that birth.

Light 2

And light has come
Into our world
To banish the dark
That surrounded us.
Sing and celebrate
The love shown
In that light.

Light 1

Come and see
The Word of God
Made flesh
And dwelling with us.
Know that here
You now see
God's love for all
In human form.

Darkness

Darkness is around me
And threatens
To overwhelm my life.
Where is that someone
Who can help me
And show me the way
Back to the right path?
And I wish I could
Wake up from
This nightmare!

It's another day
The nightmare
Is not as strong
And I'm dealing with life
Better than yesterday.
Things brighten a bit
News of moving
To an apartment
That better fits my needs.
Depression still rules!

Some Questions

How often do we turn away outsiders just because they are not going our way?
Are we trying to please people or God?
Are we reaching out to the outsiders of our society?  Or are we just trying to fill the seats?
Will we really learn to be faithful to what Jesus taught?

God Among Us

servic3
God among us

Watch it  -
For God
Has broken loose
And is out
Among the people!


Awake!
For God is here,
Among us!
Beware!
For He walks
And dwells with us!

Oh God
Of the unexpected,
Forgive us
That we do not see
Your hand
In all things.
Forgive us
When we try
To cage you
And pull you down
To our size.
Forgive us
That we do not see
That you are bigger,
And more active
In our world
Than what we expect.

And God speaks to us all:
"I am with you
At all times
And will not leave
Those of you
Who will come to me."


God is always here,
Among us all,
Working where
We are not looking.
God is always here,
Working among us
Where we do not expect.

But then,
Who expected a baby
In a manger?


Watch it!
Be careful!
For God is out
In the world
And is always doing
The unexpected!
Look around you to see
Where God is doing
The unexpected
In your part of the world.

Go forth from this place
In love and in peace.

On the Hill

On the hill He stood
And taught the way of life.
“Blessed are you…” He said.
And then He taught,
Speaking of God’s love
For all His children.
And then He taught them how to live,
And that they should
Be as perfect as God.
Then He called loud and clear;
“Come unto me all you who labor…
And I will give you rest.”
And still that call rings out
Drawing people unto Him;
The Christ, the Lamb of God.

[

God With Me

God with Me       

Psalm 139:1-18

Oh my God,

You are always with me.

Wherever I go,

You are there.

Your hand always

Upholds me.

Awake or asleep,

You are near me.

Psalm 139:19-24

You are so much

With me

That I hate any

Who say they hate you.

Help me, my God,

And lead me home

To where you are.

I awake and look,

You are near me.

Isaiah 43

And God speaks

To me and says:

"I created you

And I am always

With you.

I will call you

By your name

And keep you safe.

All my children

I will bring back

From where they are.

I am God,

And I love them all."

Luke 18:18-25

"Even when the world

Pulls you away,

I am still there,

Waiting for you

To realize

How much I love you."

Romans 8:31-39

And with God near,

There is no one

Who can come between.

God is always

There for me,

Wherever I might go,

And that love

Is always mine,

Whatever I might do.

Give Praise

Give praise
And thanks
To our God
Who has given
To us all
Everything
We need,

Stop

Stop and listen
For the music
That God
is playing for you.
It is there
For you to hear
If you will
Listen carefully.

God Loves

God loves me as I am, right now.  Also, God loves each of those who are around me at any
time.  There is no one who is left out of that love.  Such a surprise and a delight!  God leaves no one out of that all encompassing love.  All creation is God's and none can be said to be outside of that love.  Spread the Good News abroad - God loves us all!!

Different

Comes the cry,
God doesn't love me ,
How can that be?
I am too different !
But comes back
An answer from God ,
It does not matter
How different you are,
I love you always.

Hey God

Hey God, I am here, and I want to talk to you.  I don't mind being
here in this life, and most of the time, I don't mind being who I am.
But dear God, I am so oppressed!  Why did you make me to be so
different from everybody else?  Differences are just not accepted
here.  Once people know that a person is different, they turn away or
make it hard for that different one to live.  Some have even been
beaten or killed!  Why God?  Why can't people accept me as I am? 
Why must they continually be trying to change me?  Why did you
make me as I am?

Can You Hear Me, Lord by Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord?  How did I come to be?
Can you hear me, Lord? Is this your love I see?
Seems the world you made has turned its back on me.
If you hear me, Lord, I'm longing to be free.

Do you love me, Lord? I feel inside you do.
Do you love me, Lord?  My heart cries out to you.
In the darkest night let me see your love shine through.
If you love me, Lord, let me walk with you.

Can you tell me, Lord, all the reasons I am here?
Can you tell me, Lord, what is it others fear?
Why is hate so strong and love so rare and dear?
Will you tell me, Lord, for I feel you standing near.

Will you take me, Lord? I'm longing to be free.
Will you take me, Lord? My heart cries out out to Thee.
For the only love I know you placed in me.
If you won't take me, Lord, why did I come to be?

Too Great

God is too great for me,
Too big and too full
For me to understand.
I cannot hold the idea
Of so much love within.
So I back away,
Afraid of what
I might find out about
Who this God is.
And I turn away
To the things around me.
God is too great for me,
I cannot see Him,
Or is it Her?
I cannot tell
Which it is.
Oh, it does not matter,
For I find that this
God is too great for me.

Stop

Stop and think
Before you do
For God has plans
That hay not be
What you dream.
For God will always
Do the unexpcted
In our lives.
For God has
Greater plans
For our lives
If we will stop
And let God do
What is needed.

Watch

Stand backk
And let God work
And be prepared
To be surprised
At what God will do!

Stand back
And watch carefully
For God
Will always do
The unexpected!

Questions

How can we become one in Christ if we push all others away?
How can we teach trust if  we don't have much about trust ourselves?
How do we teach to trust God fully?

Come

Come and see,
Come and know,
God is here,
Among us.
Celebrate now,
For our God
Dwells always
With us all
And loves us all.

Praise God

Praise God!
Dance and sing,
Be joyful!
Go among
All the people
And help them
Find the joy
From being with God!
sermon by Rev Troy Perry

Prayer 3

Lord , I need your help;
Come to me I pray.
For I am blind
And cannot see
Whither I am going.
So come to me
And take my hand
And take me home with you
That I might live forever
In heaven above with you.

Fools

Oh Lord, what fools we be!
We go along life’s highway
Believing our own strength
Sufficient to any task
That might confront us,
When only you can give
To each of us the strength
To bear the load
That has been given us

Oh Lord, what fools we be!
We try to make ourselves
The highest and best
Of our little worlds
When only service, lowly service
To our fellow beings and you
Can make us better
Than what we are.

Oh Lord, what fools we be!
We deny to others the right
To live as we do,
Forcing them to live
Where we would not,
When they are our brethren,
Your children,
Whoever they may be.

Oh Lord, what fools we be!
For we put ourselves
Ahead of you and your kingdom.
We try to pretend
That you do not exist,
And measure ourselves by our own standards
When you are there, before us,
Measuring us and weighing our faults.

Keep us, Lord, from the foolishness
That says, “I am god
Of this little bit of world.”
And forgets that ALL people
Are your children
And as such
Have the same rights as we.
Keep us, Lord, from being fools.

So Fine by Jerry Browning

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzo9stp3CiVAVjlPWW9PV0hURlE/view?usp=drivesdk

Help, Oh God

Help, Oh God
        for Joe Mackey

Psalm 39:1
Help me, oh God,
That I might
Learn to watch
What I say.
Help me to control
My tongue and my brain
That what I say
Will not hurt another.

Romans 7:21
You, oh God,
Are my help
To keep me
From the wrong
That I would do
Or from saying
Anything that would
Hurt another.
I want to say and do
Only the good,
But without you near,
I have no strength
To walk in the right.

Ephesians 2:8-9
It is you, oh God,
Who has come to me
And by your grace,
Saved me.
You have shown me
The way to go,
That is not of anything
That I might do
But only
Through faith in you.

Titus 3:5
Oh my God,
I often do or say
The wrong things.
But through your mercy,
I am saved
And your spirit dwells
Always with me.

Hebrews 4:14-16
And now I can
Approach your throne
With confidence,
Because Jesus has come
And shown me the way.
Always grace
And mercy are mine,
Because I believe
That Jesus is your Son,
And He shows me the way
That is best,
And your help and love
Always is mine.

The The Love of God

The love of God; how shall I describe it?  It is immutable, unchanging, but to what can it be compared?  That love is more than mere words can tell.  It is deeper, fuller than can ever be told.  We try to tell of it, and thus put human limits on something that has no limits at all.  And thus, we come to the final joy that knows no bounds, God loves me!  Without conditions, God loves me!  As I am, with all my sins, God loves me!  And there is no one who can take that love from me: that love is too complete, too fully there for anyone to be able to tell me anything else.
And because of that, I know, I am sure that God loves ALL other people just as completely and fully as I am loved.  No one can take that from us.  The love of God is there for us whether we turn around to take it or not.  And isn’t it marvelous!  It does not matter what the differences are between us, we are all equally loved, for we are all God’s children.  We were created by God and each created differently, but still loved.

A Praise

I will praise God
All {of my life,
For God is always
There for me
In good times
And in the bad.
I am loved
And comforted
And I find peace
For my weary soul.

On the Hill

On the hill He stood
And taught the way of life.
“Blessed are you…” He said.
And then He taught,
Speaking of God’s love
For all His children.
And then He taught them how to live,
And that they should
Be as perfect as God.
Then He called loud and clear;
“Come unto me all you who labor…
And I will give you rest.”
And still that call rings out
Drawing people unto Him;
The Christ, the Lamb of God.

1964

Anx God Sighed... by Rdv Micah G Hartung

...and God Sighed
by Rev Micah G Hartung

I created a world with infinite colors divine, textures and temperatures flowed in a line.
I created the egg holding the tadpole of kind, and watched as a family matured as mine.
I created birds and watched them soar long, up into the heavens singing their cheerful song.
I created the mammals pressed to their mom, that  would remain for a period ere long.
I put  speed in the hooves of running deer, and stood in awe when they would appear.
I created the human who knew no fear and knew that all wonder soon would be near.

And God sighed...

My glaciers cut shapes in the land, forming ridges and valleys with a sweep of My hand.
Then rain for rivers upon the dry land, and oceans and seas moving in and out on the sand.
I created the flora and fauna that rooted abound, to hold the earth solid and create the ground.
I created the sun, moon and stars all around, so creation would know that rest could be found.
I married the creatures with the earth and sea, then I rested  to see what would come to be.
I saw creatures move and natures first bee, study  the ground and all that they could see.

And God sighed.....

The sun rose brightly on creations first day, and its brilliant light was what it displayed.
The colors of this creation illumined this day and were a bit of everything I brought into play.
I gazed at this creation as they looked to the sky, and waited to hear joy being sung in the reply
It was diversity I made and  bound with a tie, and their soul I saw, shining through their eye.
There was no song of praise in harmony or words of reverence about  the mystery of Me.
Instead they began to fight as it would be, power, property and creation you see.

And God sighed....

Some would say that in this confusion we flee, or its my Creation I should leave.
But how could I leave the very essence of me, a world I created and gave no reprieve.
Instead I gave to My children created above, a gift of value known as unconditional love.
Wisdom and knowledge sent by a dove, and a covenant in the rainbow reaching from above.
Some of Creation stand firm  in the light, illuminating peace and  kindness until it takes flight.
I am the God of  hope brought right, I am the light always present in the darkest of night.

And God Smiled and  Sighed...

Help Comes

I labor
     And am heavy laden
     With the cares
     Of the world.
     I grow weaker
     And cannot
     Stand up under
     The load I hold

Then  comes God
       And gives me strength
      To walk the road.
      The load is lifted
      My cares evaporate
      For God
      Is my strength
      And stay.

Friends

       People
Are more important
       Than things!

Thanks be to God
For such friends
As those around me
Who accept me
As I am!

Thanks be to God
For friends
That are so caring
And loving.
Thanks be to God!

Jesus - Following Him??

Are we really following Jesus? Do we really know what was in His mind through all the layers of history?   Do we know who Jesus was in that time?   Questions with no real answers.   Yet how  can we know much about the real Jesus  after all this time?   And would Jesus accept the religion that has grown up  in His name? What would He say about all of us?   Would He accept the religion and worship that has grown up around His name?

I am not trying to be a rebel or a heretic here,  these are just questions that have occurred to me recently.   What I am doing is seeking a deeper understanding of and relationship with God and the man we know as Jesus. What did He really know  and think about Himself?  I   wonder what He would think of  our priests and preachers and our tendency to be follow those people who preach division instead of unity.  What would He think of all our religions?   And would  He even approve of what we do in His name?   It strikes me that there is too little love in some of the denominations of what we call Christianity.  Are we really following Jesus if we do not love all people?   And what does the personality we call God have to say about the way we treat others in our world?  I  find myself wondering about such things.

Where do we go from here?   Can anyone find the answers to these and other questions people have about religion and Christianity?   I wait and wonder if our questions will ever be  answered.   And yet these questions need an answer.   The problem is, where do we find those  answers?  Can any answers even be found?   It has been too many years since  Jesus lived, so any answers will be suspect.

Yet we live in faith, trusting that what we have been told over the years is the truth.   Faith is the only thing we have to rely on.    What else is there when we can't question the source, Jesus?  We can never be sure if we rely on our own thoughts,  even if we say the idea is an answer to a prayer.   There have been  too many cults set up  because someone said they had the answers are  to everything.   Too many people believe what the person says without thinking it over and doing a lot of research.  So where do we go  from here?   How do we find the answers to our questions?  If we  really want to follow Jesus, how do we get to know the man and what He believed? Are we ready for the answers to our questions?

Are we following Jesus when we don't stop to help those we meet along the way?   What about not helping those who are different?   Do we know what Jesus wants of each of us?   Do we even follow the right path?  Does love rule our lives or are we selective about who we love?    Could any of us leave everything behind if that was our call?   Everything means family, friends and material goods.  Would we even hear that kind of call or  would we think it a false call?   Following Jesus does cost,  especially if the people we know and trust believe a different way and tell us we are crazy and will go to hell because we have come to believe different than they do.

Come and learn with me who this Jesus is.   Let us study what we have and see if we can find the  truth about Him.   For example did Jesus intend to start another religion?   Or did  He just intend to  reform the religion He knew?   By the time Jesus was born,  there was much wrong with Judaism, and the religious leaders of that time didn't  seem to be going the way their own books taught.  Or at least that's what I read in our part of the Bible.

Something else that has occurred to me, what if we are  all worshipping the same God in different ways,  ways that go with our culture? After all,  the basic principles of each of the major religions are very similar.  We are not as different from each other as we might think.  God is the creator of all,  why can't God be revealed to different people in different ways?   And if this is true,  we shouldn't be fighting each other.   Instead,  we should be gathering together, learning who each person is and how to live together in peace and love.

Jesus

Jesus:
Come, let's go fishing together.  I will help you.  We are fishing for people, those turned away or oppressed by others.  Talk to them and bring them to me, tell them that God's love is theirs to have, always.
Come, let's go fishing  - for people.

God is Near

God is Near
for Carol Houston

Psalm 139 :1 -6
Oh my God,
You are always near.
You know completely.
Who I am,
And always
Dwell with me.
I do not understand
Such a love
As that.

Psalm139:7 -10
There is nowhere
That I can go
That you are not
With me.
You are always near
To show  me
Which way to go
And you will never
Let me go on alone.

Psalm 139:11-16
Even the darkest
Of the nights
Cannot hide me
From you.
And it is you
Who created me,
And made me
Who I am today.

Psalm139:17-18
Awake or asleep ,
You, oh God,
Are with me.
I cannot comprehend
Such a love as that





And what the number
Of your ideas are.

Matt 22:37-40
And I come to this,
Loving you with all
That I am.
And because you
Made all that its,
Loving my neighbors
As I love myself.
And in this ,
I fulfill
All your laws ,
And you will
Stay always near me.

Service 1 2

Servic12
God is Good

God is good,
   All the time!
God is here for us
   Every day!
We need not fear
At any time
For all the time,
   God is good!


You have given us
Such beauty
That we often
Can not see it all;
And we do not see
Al the good
That is there for us.

We turn away
From all the good
That you put
In our lives.
We often refuse to see
That you mean
Only good for us
And just see the bad
That is there.
We too often
Let fear rule us
And will not see
That your hand
Is there for us.
Help us to see
That the beauty around us
Is a reminder for us
That you are always there.


God is near us, always
Ready to forgive us all
When we turn around again
And take that hand
There for us all.


Go out from here
And show all people
That God is always there
Wanting to love them all.

Go in peace and love
And always remember
That all the time
   God is good!

A Praise

Oh my God, my love,
You are always near.
Even when I turn away,
You stay with me,
Ready to help me
When I finally
Turn back to you.
Your strong arms
Of a Father
Keep me safe
And the gentle arms
Of a Mother comfort me
When I am sad.
God is my greatest love
And will never
Leave me alone.

The Winds of Time

The Winds of time
Blow across the years
And everything does change.
The times go by,
Too swiftly now
The years do fly,
And everyone grows too fast.
For yesterday, it seems,
That I was but a child
With no responsibility
And little to worry me.
While today an older version
Of that child lives,
Lives and worries every day
About everything around.
Slow down, ob years,
Blow not so hard, oh winds.
For I need time
To catch my breath
And to look down
The corridor of time
To try to see what the future brings.

Forgiveness

Let go of the hurt
And forgive
Those who have
Hurt you in any way.

Let go of the pain,
Move on along
And walk the path
In peace and love.

Let go go of the anger
And let God lead
In the way
That you should go.

Forgive

Forgive others
In big and small things
That in your heart
Love might grow.

Forgive others
Each and every day
That your soul
Might stronger -grow.

Forgive other
And learn the lessons
Kf what true love
Really is.

The Lonely

Ah - see them there, the lonely.
See her sitting there,
Among the crowd, with the people
Yet alone and lonely
See him walking
Along the shadowed path,
With people on all sides,
Yet alone and lonely.
They walk alone,
Lonely for companionship,
For a true friend,
Yet they are scared,
Scared lest anyone
See their loneliness
And take pity on them.
So they hide their loneliness
Behind a facade of happiness
Pretending they are not
Alone and unhappy.
Yet they cry, though not aloud,
To be noticed and liked
If only for a time.
To be liked for who they are
And not for who they seem to be.
See them there - the lonely ;
See them and notice - the lonely.

I Love

Oh how I love God!
God has been
My protector
And the strength
I have needed
When things go wrong.
God is always there,
Helping me
Stay on the path.
Oh how I love God!

Darkness

Darkness lies around me,
But I shall fear not,
For the sun
Will rise again
And give me light
Tha I might see
The path
That is before me.
The darkness is thick about me
And like a blanket
Shuts out all light.
But I shall fear not,
For my God,,
The light of my life,
Shall not leave me alone
In the darkness.
He comes,
And the night is as day,
And I shine in His glory
As the moon shines
In the light and glory
Of the sun.
Then the darkness
Is no more,
For my God
Is  my sun.

Connected

Rejoice and sing for we are all connected to each other in God's love!  It does not matter if you can vet to your church or choice, you are still connected to the greater church, wherever it may be.  So come celebrate with me God's great love for all of us!!!

God Is too Great

God is too great for me,
Too big and too full
For me to understand.
I cannot hold the idea
Of so much love within.
So I back away,
Afraid of what
I might find out about
Who this God is.
And I turn away
To the things around me.
God is too great for me,
I cannot see Him,
Or is it Her?
I cannot tell
Which it is.
Oh, it does not matter,
For I find that this
God is too great for me.

Love of God

I am consumed
By my love of God.
I cannot hold it within me,
For it flows out
In a never-ending stream.
And yet I know not
How to express my love,
What to say,
That can tell it
What can say
That can tell the depth
Of the love
I hold for God.
The words burn within
Seeking for release
And come slowly flowing out
From deep within.
Yet all the words
The world could ever use
Could not express my love,
My feeling for my God.

Expect A Miracle

Expect a miracle,
Look for something good
To happen.

Expect a miracle.
Turn away from logic
Towards faith.

Expect a miracle,
Look for something unexpected
In your life.

Celebrate the Day

Celebrate the new day
God has given us!
Sing songs of praise
To the Creator
And let all the world
Hear your song!
Come with me
And celebrate
A loving God!

God Loves

Come and celebrate
For I have found
God loves me!

Look around you
And know that always
God loves you!

Stop and know
That each and every day
God loves them!

What If

What if we did
What we said
That we believed?

What if all people
Were accepted
As children of God?

What if we let
All people
See Chrisr in us?

God Loves

God loves us all
In spite of who we are!

God loves us all
Even though we do not deserve it!

God loves us all
Because we are His children!

God loves us all
Just because...

A Child

A child is precious
A jewel created by God,
The master workman.
A child is wonderful
And warms the heart
Of everyone 'round about.
A child is glorious,
Always seeming to have
A little bit of heaven.
A child is a dynamo
Of energy and oep
That never seems to tire.
A child is a miracle,
At once an angel
And a devil in disguise.

The Ministers

They are God's messagers
To folks here on earth.
They give to all the people
The meaning of God's word.

They only work for -God
But yet are only human
And make the same mistakes
As others of us do.

They only [try their best
To tell to all who listen
What God would have us do
While we are here on earth.

The Light

It was dark, oh so dark,
No light could there be seen..
Then like magic, a light,
A glimmering,  as a candle smell
Glowed there in the dark.
And grew each passing day.
The dark did try to put it out
But could not do it
For it was the light of the world
That shone there.
Still itand stronger grows
As more and more
The people come to it
And worship God as the source,
The source of light and life.

Celebrate

Celebrate,
Celebrate the life given
To all of us
By a loving God
Who loves us all
Right now as we are.

Celebrate,
Celebrate the love
That is ours always,
No matter who we are
For our God
Created us this way.

Celebrate,
Celebrate our God
Who always has love,
Love enough to embrace
The whole world.

3 PRAYERS

Loving God, thank you for reminding me every day that you do
love me.  But you also remind me that you love all other people,
too.  You have told me that it does not matter what people
look like, who they are or what they believe.  You told me
that you still claim them as your children, and you love all
of them.  You have said again and again that there is no one
who is outside of your love.  Please keep reminding me until
it is so much a part of me that there is no one who I can hate, 
for I do not want to ever do anything that is outside of what
you want. AMEN

Dear God, I'm sorry, but I'm not doing as well as I should. I
there are still some people who I would like to
hate, or at least think that you do not love them. These people
think too differently than I do, and I cannot handle that.
Remind me again that those who are different in any way are
still your children, created by you. Help me always to remember
that your love cannot be restricted to just some people, but
is inclusive of all. Stay always near me, and help me to learn
your love. AMEN

Oh God, immerse me so much in your love that there is no one
who I can hate or think can be outside of your love.  Fill me
so full of your love that no matter who the others are or what
they believe, I will remember that your love is theirs, also,
even when they disagree with me.  Help me to love others, for
it is so much easier to love family and friends than to love
others who are so much different.AMEN

God Among Us

servic3
God among us

Watch it  -
For God
Has broken loose
And is out
Among the people!


Awake!
For God is here,
Among us!
Beware!
For He walks
And dwells with us!

Oh God
Of the unexpected,
Forgive us
That we do not see
Your hand
In all things.
Forgive us
When we try
To cage you
And pull you down
To our size.
Forgive us
That we do not see
That you are bigger,
And more active
In our world
Than what we expect.

And God speaks to us all:
"I am with you
At all times
And will not leave
Those of you
Who will come to me."


God is always here,
Among us all,
Working where
We are not looking.
God is always here,
Working among us
Where we do not expect.

But then,
Who expected a baby
In a manger?


Watch it!
Be careful!
For God is out
In the world
And is always doing
The unexpected!
Look around you to see
Where God is doing
The unexpected
In your part of the world.

Go forth from this place
In love and in peace.

Sing

For Paul
Translation used: The Inclusive Bible

Psalms 67:5-7
Let all the people
Come together
And sing praises
To God,
Who has blessed us all.

Psalms 92:1-5
Let us come together
And sing our praises
Of Yahweh, our God.
Let the music soar
And let your joy
Be heard
That all will know
How great
Are the works
Of our God!

Isaiah 52:7-9
And welcome
The one who
Brings the good news
Of deliverance
With songs of joy
And praise.

Ephesians 5:18-20
Let yourself
Be filled with the spirit,
Meditating and singing
Songs and hymns
Of praise to our God
For everything
Given to us all.

James 5:13
And when
Trouble comes, pray,
Then sing your songs
Of praise to God
Who is always there
For us all.

Can You See Me

Can you see me
Sitting here?
Will you turn
And see me?

Can you hear me
Calling you?
When will you
Listen to me?

I feel invisible
And think
Nobody cares
When nobody sees.

I’m not invisible,
Stop, look,
See, I’m here
Behind you.

In Memory of Festus Paul

Sing, sing for joy ;
Sing skj others
Will hear
And understand
That you are
Praising God.
Let your voices
Be heard clearly
So all will know
About a loving God.

Believe?

What do you believe?
Do you know that God
Is always near you?
Do you realize
That you are always loved?
Turn around and see,
And know that always
You are loved.

Before Me, Behind Me by Terry Lee Ousley

God, You know everything about me;
You know every thought of my day.
You know where I stand
And You know when I stop and rest -
Every moment You know where I am!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

When I've climbed my highest mountain You are there.
And when I'm in my deepest pit, You're even there!
It is so precious, Lord, to realize You are with me constantly!
When I call out Your name, Your thoughts turn toward me!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

BASED on Psalm 139

God Loves Me?!

I was wandering alone
With no one to guide me
And it seemed
No one cared
Who or where I was.
But then there came
A man who told me
About a love
That was mine
To have.
It was then I found
To my surprise...
God loves ME!!!

I Am Love

I Am Love

I Am here.
Before the world was,
I Am there,
And I created all.
Yahweh, Elohim,
Call me what you will,
I Am always near.
Out of love
I created you.

John 1:1-5
I am the word
That created all,
And I became
One with you
To show you all
The way to live
With each other
In love.

John 3:16
I came in love
To teach all
How to live together
In peace and love.
Can you learn
To follow me
And love
All that you meet?

I John 3:1
In this know
How much you are loved,
You are my children!
You are all
Precious to me
And I would
Hold you close
If you will only
Come near.

I John 3:11
And being all
Children of mine,
Learn to love
One another,
For you all are
Brothers and sisters.
Come together
And see
Who you really are.

I John 4:7-10
I came
That you might
Know what love is,
And how much
I really love you.
Come and see
And find forgiveness
And love
For yourself.

I John 4:11-16
You will come
To live in union
With me
If you will only
Love one another.
And in this union
Is my love shown,
That though you have
Never seen my face,
You still live in union
With each other.

I John 4:17-18
You need not
Fear anything,
For my love
Is always there
To protect you.
Come to me
And see
How great my love
For you is.


I John 4:19-21
I created you
And I loved you
Before you knew me.
I came that you
Might know love
And not hate,
For there is no room
For hate near me.
If you love me,
You love others!
Come to me and know
My great love
For you!

A Challenge

A Challenge

Answer this question : What does Jesus mean to you?

My answer

Jesus is
Love,light, a guide along the path, strength for the  day, Someone always there for me, a helper in times of trouble and the One I love.

Love

Love               for Joel Maderer

Ruth 1:16-17
There is love
Between us.
Don't ask me
To leave this place,
For where you are
Is where
I want to be.

I Corinthians 13
Come in love,
Come and see
What love is.
Let us all learn
About love
And learn to share
That love abroad.

I Corinthians 13:1-3
I am a person,
A child of God,
But even if
I can speak
Many languages
Or become
The best preacher,
And there is no love,
It is all for nothing.

I Corinthians 13:4-7
If I have love,
I have learned
To be patient
With those around me.
Kindness and gentleness
Are a part of my life,
And I treat other people
With such care
That they know
That God is
Always with me.

I Corinthians 13:8-10
Love is always
A part of my life.
All other gifts
Such as speaking
Or knowledge
Are temporary,
And will pass away,
But love is
Always there for me.

I Corinthians 13:11-12
I once was a child,
And had childish ways,
But now I have
Given that up.
I see now
As through a mirror,
But one day
I will meet God,
And see completely
All that is,
And know completely
What love is.

I Corinthians 13:13
Faith is here with me,
And I do believe.
I hope for all
That is to come,
A better life for all.
But Love abides forever
And is the greatest of all.

 

Praisesong

                                                             
                                                  Praisesong

With what name
Shall I call Him?
Elohim or Adonai –
Neither says enough,
Neither is full enough.
What is the word
For Best Beloved,
For Lover of my soul?
How shall I pronounce
The words that mean
Parent and Savior?
No words are there
That are strong enough,
That have enough meaning,
For Lord of all is He
And also
Lord of my life.

Praisesong

With what name
Shall I call Him?
Elohim or Adonai –
Neither says enough,
Neither is full enough.
What is the word
For Best Beloved,
For Lover of my soul?
How shall I pronounce
The words that mean
Parent and Savior?
No words are there
That are strong enough,
That have enough meaning,
For Lord of all is He
And also
Lord of my life.

God Is

God is made manifest to me as malo, not because of what I want, but because of what I need.  I need that male presence in my life to learn there are men I can trust.  There are things that happened to me when I was in grade school and I learned there were men who could not be trusted to behave.  I have finally forgiven the man, but the body doesn't forget.  So God is near me, reminding me there are those men who can be trusted.

Because God was always there in my life, I AM a survivor!!   What strength I have to get through this life is because God is near, helping me.

God Keeps Me Safe

God Keeps me safe                 for Rick Peterson

Psalm 23
My God
Is my protector,
And is always near
Through good times
And the bad,
Ready to help
And strengthen,
And keep me safe.

Psalm 27
At all times
Of my life,
God is near me
To give me light.
I need not fear,
For my God
Is always with me
Even when my enemies
Are all around me.
I am always safe
In those arms.

Psalm 84
And I will live safely
In the house of God.
There is beauty there
That is greater
Than any other place
That I know,
And I long
To dwell there,
For my true home
Is there.

Psalm 121
God is always near,
And watches over me,
Keeping me safe.
At all times
And in all places,
God is there
And does not sleep,
That I will be
Kept always safe.

John 1:1-5
God has always
Been there
And brings light
To my life
And all others
Who will believe.
And in that light
Is life,
And the dark
Can never
Overwhelm me.

Romans 8:28
And God is there,
Loving all people,
And working for good
For all of us.
And again,
I find safety,
For God's love
Keeps me secure.
And I am called
To walk in those paths
That will lead me
Onward to where God is.

Psalm 150
And I praise God!
With everything
That exists,
I will ever praise God,
Who keeps me safe.
Love is mine!
Let all the world know
That God loves me
And all other people!

Trust God

Tony Thieman-Somora

Trust is an easy word to say, but not always an easy action in our
lives.  Maybe that is because trust involves all of who we are.  Trust
is  a movement of mind, heart and will....moving us to trust, even
when others might say it makes no sense.  Trust in God is the best
example of a movement of our minds, our hearts and our wills to trust
in someone we know deeply in our lives, even though we can't see God,
but yet are moved with all of who we are to trust in the Creator of
all creation and place our lives in God's hands.  May we trust in the
One who trusted us to continue the message of love, compassion and
mercy, for that is a true relationship of trust!

Let Us Dream

Let us dream
Of a day
When all people
Will be accepted
To be the children
Of a loving God.

Let us dream
Of a time
When there will
Be no more wars
And peace will reign .

Together,
Let us dream
Of a time
When all people
Will be united in peace.

Before Me, Behind Me by Terry Lee Ousley

God, You know everything about me;
You know every thought of my day.
You know where I stand
And You know when I stop and rest -
Every moment You know where I am!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

When I've climbed my highest mountain You are there.
And when I'm in my deepest pit, You're even there!
It is so precious, Lord, to realize You are with me constantly!
When I call out Your name, Your thoughts turn toward me!

You go before me to chart the path of Your plan.
You go behind me to guide me and keep me safe within Your hand.
This is too glorious, too marvelous for my mind to comprehend!
Before me, behind me: Your presence is all around me!
I can never be lost from Your love.

BASED on Psalm 139

Some Questions

God welcomes the wanderer in unexpected ways .
Are we willing and to let God welcome us ?
Will we sit at table and with the outsider ?
And will we treat them as God's precious children and our neighbors ?
Do we see that God and forgives everyone?

For the lonely seniors :

Don't forget me
Or leave me alone,
Be there for me
To help and show love.

Don't ignore me
And think I am happy.
You just may be
The The one that I need.

Don't turn away
Because I am not there.
Call or come by,
Let me know you care.

2 Shorts

I'm surrounded by love!
Everywhere I look,
There is God, loving me!

God :
I am with you,
I am always loving you,
I am near to help
Whenever you fall.

Riots-late 1960's

Come, you people, and see.
Come you rich
And all that have enough.
Come and see
Where the poor are.
Look at the breeding ground
Of anger and frustration.
Come and see
Poverty at its worst.
The people are crowded
Thousands in a small space.
The rats, huge and bold,
Walk across your feet
And sleep with the children.
No place to play,
No place to sleep,
Person piled on top of person
Up to the sky.
Impossible you say?
Where?  You ask.
Look at the cities -
Harlem, Watts, Chicago -
All the large cities -
New York, Los Angeles, Detroit.
This is where riots are born
In the slums of Cleveland and Newark
Where men and women
Have no chance to live,
No chance to work
And little happiness;
And anger boils out
And frustration takes its toll.
For many are unskilled
And jobs are hard to find.
Go down to the slums and see;
Be one of them for a day, a week,
And know what frustration is like,
And why all the angry people
Erupt in violence.
1967

Help, Oh God

Help, Oh God
        for Joe Mackey

Psalm 39:1
Help me, oh God,
That I might
Learn to watch
What I say.
Help me to control
My tongue and my brain
That what I say
Will not hurt another.

Romans 7:21
You, oh God,
Are my help
To keep me
From the wrong
That I would do
Or from saying
Anything that would
Hurt another.
I want to say and do
Only the good,
But without you near,
I have no strength
To walk in the right.

Ephesians 2:8-9
It is you, oh God,
Who has come to me
And by your grace,
Saved me.
You have shown me
The way to go,
That is not of anything
That I might do
But only
Through faith in you.

Titus 3:5
Oh my God,
I often do or say
The wrong things.
But through your mercy,
I am saved
And your spirit dwells
Always with me.

Hebrews 4:14-16
And now I can
Approach your throne
With confidence,
Because Jesus has come
And shown me the way.
Always grace
And mercy are mine,
Because I believe
That Jesus is your Son,
And He shows me the way
That is best,
And your help and love
Always is mine.

Jesus Is There

The care taken
For the person
Who needs help;
Jesus is there.

The hand held out
To help the one
With an unsteady step;
Jesus is there.

The love given
To the stranger
In your midst;
Jesus is there.

Sounds

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Women and girls
Beaten and raped
Many people killed;
Africa.

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Car bombs and gunfire
People wounded and killed
All for land;
The Middle East.

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Farmers losing crops,
Drug runners winning
Rebels fighting government;
Columbia.

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Planes crashing
Buildings falling down,
People killed;
America.

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Bombs and gunfire
In a far off land
A change of government;
Afghanistan.

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
Bombs exploding
And people dying,
In famous cities,
Paris and Brussels

Sounds of war,
Sounds of violence,
All over the world.
Oh God, when
Will all the people
Learn to live together
In peace and love?

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground

Be very careful
How you walk here,
There is danger near,
But also know
You walk on sacred ground.

There is death here
Amidst the shattered steel,
So step carefully
Because you see
You walk on sacred ground.

The concrete here
Has crumbled to dust
And rises with every step,
But stop and remember;
You walk on sacred ground

Sept 11, 2002
The shattered steel
Is gone now,
Ashes and dust left;
But still and always
This is sacred ground.

Come

Come

Psalm 34:1-3
Come with me
And let us together
Praise God,
Who answers us
And helps us all
To find our way.
Rejoice, for God
Is near us.

Psalm 69:30-32
Come, hear me
As I give thanks
To our God.
I will glorify
The One
Who is there
Through all my life.

Psalm 100:4-5
Come, celebrate,
For we are welcomed
To enter the gates
And be where God is.
Raise your voices
In praise
And give thanks
To God
Who loves all
And is always there
For all people.

Psalm 105:1-4
Come, give thanks,
And sing praises
To God,
Remembering
All that has
Been done for us.
Rejoice and be glad,
And know
That God
Is always near.

Psalm 106:1-3
Come, praise God,
And give thanks
For love is always there
For all people.
Proclaim
What God has done
For all the people
That they might
Know justice
And that love
Is theirs.

Psalm 107:1-3
Come and know
That you are
Redeemed
By God,
And are called
From all the parts
Of the world
Love is ours
Forever
And no person
Can take that
Away from us.
God has promised
That this is true.

Walk in the Light

Walk in the Light   

I John 1:5-7
Come with me,
Walk with me
In the light
Of God's love.
There is no darkness
When we walk
Always with God.

I John 2:9-11
Come and see,
There is no hate here
And the darkness
Has no place.
Here there is
Only light and love,
And any who hate
Have no place here.

I John 3:1-3
And if we are
Of the light,
We are called
Children of God.
Ah, such love
That is there
For us all
That God should
Come to us
And call us by name
And tell us
That we are
Children of God.

I John 4:11-12
Because we are
Children of God,
We should love
One another.
And in the light
Of that love
We will learn
Who God is,
For God will dwell
Always with us.

Hope

Hope        for Rev Micah Hartung

Isaiah 40:31
Come to me in hope,
For in me
You will find strength.
I will always
Be near you,
And with me
You will never
Be weary.

Matt 11:28
Bring all your burdens
Here to me,
For in me is rest.
I am always near
And will help all
Who come to me
In faith and trust.

Matt 11:29-30   
Hope in me,
For my burdens
Are much lighter.
With me your souls
Will find the rest
That they need,
For here you
Will find gentleness
And all the love
That you need.

John 14:27
Keep your hope in me,
For I will give you
Such complete peace
That can never
Be taken away from you.
I will always
Be near you
And my love
Always is yours.

God Keeps Me Safe

God Keeps me safe                 for Rick Peterson

Psalm 23
My God
Is my protector,
And is always near
Through good times
And the bad,
Ready to help
And strengthen,
And keep me safe.

Psalm 27
At all times
Of my life,
God is near me
To give me light.
I need not fear,
For my God
Is always with me
Even when my enemies
Are all around me.
I am always safe
In those arms.

Psalm 84
And I will live safely
In the house of God.
There is beauty there
That is greater
Than any other place
That I know,
And I long
To dwell there,
For my true home
Is there.

Psalm 121
God is always near,
And watches over me,
Keeping me safe.
At all times
And in all places,
God is there
And does not sleep,
That I will be
Kept always safe.

John 1:1-5
God has always
Been there
And brings light
To my life
And all others
Who will believe.
And in that light
Is life,
And the dark
Can never
Overwhelm me.

Romans 8:28
And God is there,
Loving all people,
And working for good
For all of us.
And again,
I find safety,
For God's love
Keeps me secure.
And I am called
To walk in those paths
That will lead me
Onward to where God is.

Psalm 150
And I praise God!
With everything
That exists,
I will ever praise God,
Who keeps me safe.
Love is mine!
Let all the world know
That God loves me
And all other people!

Walk With God

Walk with God   

Is 2:2-3   
God walks with us
And leads us all
Along the paths
That will lead us
To the house of God.
Let us walk in faith,
Knowing that God
Is always there.

Is 40:31
When God walks with us,
Our strength will be
All that we ever need,
And there will be
No weariness
If we stay in faith
On the paths
Where God leads us.

John 8:12
If we walk with God,
Jesus will always
Be with us.
And there will be
No darkness,
For there is light
Wherever Jesus is.

2 Cor 5:7
When we walk
In faith with God,
We will know
That there is always
Someone with us,
Even if we do not see.
Walk always in faith,
Knowing that God
Is always near,
Loving us all.

God Is There

God is There

Psalm 23
God is with me,
There to protect
And to show me
Which way to go.
In good times
Or in the bad,
God is there
And will not
Leave me alone.

Isaiah 56:1-8
God is there for me
And for all people
From all nations
Who come together
In love and fellowship,
Loving one another.
Many are called
From other places
To be here
Where God is,
Where love is.

Matt 28:18-20
As God is there for us,
We are called
To go out to the world
And tell all people
Of the love of God
Shown us in Jesus.

Acts 2:1-4
And God's Spirit
Descends on me,
Leading me to go
And tell the world
Of the love
That is there for them.

Acts 10:9-15
The message
That I was given
Is this:
God's Love
Is for all people
And no one
Will be turned away.
All people are loved
And all are God's!

God is speaking

Come my child, come walk with me.  Don't listen to those others who say I do not love y, they do not know me and don't speak for me.  You are my Beloved child, I created you. I love ALL my children and I will always be near to help and sustain.   So come now and walk through the world with me.

Miracle

It's a living, breathing miracle
That my heart forgot to see
It's always been inside of me
But I thought it could not be...
A miracle.

Now all of life's a miracle
And God's hand is there, you see,
No matter what you may believe
Still all that's come to be
Is a miracle!

It's God who. made the mistake,
The plants are,  the animals the BBC,
And creating your and me
So look around and see...
Life's a miracle!

I Wonder

I wonder if God cries
Over the way we treat
The world created for us
To use and enjoy?

I wonder if God cries
Over the way we treat
The folks around us
Oppressing and hurting each other?

I wonder if God cries
Over the hatred and wars
Seen upon this world
And the lack of love?

I wonder if God cries,
Are the raindrops tears?

Trust

Trust         For Judy Dale

Psalm 36:3-5
Look and see.
God is constant,
Always there for us,
Even if we turn away.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in God
And your needs
Will be supplied.
Trust that God
Is always near
To love you
And support you
As you go
Along the road.

John 3:16
Trust that God
Always loves you,
And wherever
You may go,
That love
Jesus showed us
Is always there
For you.

Philippians 1:6
If you turn to see,
God is always there,
Ready to help you
Find your way
Along the road
That will lead you
Onward to home
Where God dwells.

Philippians 3:13b-14
And if you trust God,
You will be shown
The proper road
To walk upon.
And God
Will always be there
To lead you home.

But Lord

  But Lord, they're black.
You don't mean to say
That I should care about
Such as they!

But Lord, they're gay.*
You couldn't have
Created these people
As they are!

But Lord, they're different.
You can't mean
That I should love them
Just as they are!
     *book by Rev Sylvia Pennington

added later:
But Lord, they're asexual.
You couldn't have
Made these people
As they say they are!

Who am I?

Who am I,
This person?
I am an individual,
A person
Who matters,
But who am I?
No one can tell me
Anything about me.
God's child
And a special person
Is who I am.

Special

YOU are special!  You are the only one like you that has
ever been or will be. There will never be another like
you, for God made you to be unique.  So let no one tell
you who or what you must be. Just be the best you that
you can be.

You ARE special!  You are the only one exactly like you,
so be the best of who you are.  Let no one try to tell
you who you are or dictate to you how you should act. 
Just be who you are.

You are SPECIAL!  There is only one like you, and God
loves you just the way you are.  For you are the only
one with your particular set of genetics and talents.

Beloved

Remember: there is Somebody who calls us ALL beloved!
Come now, all people
And meet the One
Who calls
All of us beloved.

2
Come my brothers
And my sisters,
Walk side by side
With me.
Come and talk
With me,
For you also
Are a child of God
Just like me.
So let us sit
Side by side
And eat together
And let the world know
God's love is
Within us all.

3
Come, all people,
Leave all your
Hurts and pain
Behind you
And walk
With the One
Who calls you
Beloved.

4
Come and know
That it does not matter
How different
You may be,
There is Somebody
Who calls you
Beloved.

5
Come, hear
The good news
That God
Is always near you
And calls you
Beloved.

The Walls

The Walls

Jerry Browning

Sometime way back in the dawn of my youth,
I learned how it was to survive.
I learned how to use what was handed to me,
To fashion a place I could hide.
Each bit of anger and each bit of fear
I’d fashioned to fine polished stone.
Resentments were mortared to hold all in place;
I started to build my new home.

The walls grew quite high and they shut out the light.
The rooms were quite large and quite bare.
I only wanted a place to feel safe,
But there was just loneliness there.
I thought isolation was where I’d find peace;
A safe place for just God and me.
I’d made it so safe and secure that it seemed
Not even my God could find me.

CHORUS:
Now the walls have come tumbling down;
The mortar is loosened, the stones fall apart,
I can see the blue sky above, the smiles of my friends,
And God’s love in my heart.

Pure isolation can turn into hell when silence is deafeningly loud.
I found that I was alone in my walls
And I was alone in a crowd.
The fortress I’d started would never be done,
Still so much anger and pain;
The walls had grown higher than I’d ever dreamed,
They’d rival the castles of Spain.

CHORUS:

... and God sighed

...and God Sighed
by Rev Micah G Hartung

I created a world with infinite colors divine, textures and temperatures flowed in a line.
I created the egg holding the tadpole of kind, and watched as a family matured as mine.
I created birds and watched them soar long, up into the heavens singing their cheerful song.
I created the mammals pressed to their mom, that  would remain for a period ere long.
I put  speed in the hooves of running deer, and stood in awe when they would appear.
I created the human who knew no fear and knew that all wonder soon would be near.

And God sighed...

My glaciers cut shapes in the land, forming ridges and valleys with a sweep of My hand.
Then rain for rivers upon the dry land, and oceans and seas moving in and out on the sand.
I created the flora and fauna that rooted abound, to hold the earth solid and create the ground.
I created the sun, moon and stars all around, so creation would know that rest could be found.
I married the creatures with the earth and sea, then I rested  to see what would come to be.
I saw creatures move and natures first bee, study  the ground and all that they could see.

And God sighed.....

The sun rose brightly on creations first day, and its brilliant light was what it displayed.
The colors of this creation illumined this day and were a bit of everything I brought into play.
I gazed at this creation as they looked to the sky, and waited to hear joy being sung in the reply
It was diversity I made and  bound with a tie, and their soul I saw, shining through their eye.
There was no song of praise in harmony or words of reverence about  the mystery of Me.
Instead they began to fight as it would be, power, property and creation you see.

And God sighed....

Some would say that in this confusion we flee, or its my Creation I should leave.
But how could I leave the very essence of me, a world I created and gave no reprieve.
Instead I gave to My children created above, a gift of value known as unconditional love.
Wisdom and knowledge sent by a dove, and a covenant in the rainbow reaching from above.
Some of Creation stand firm  in the light, illuminating peace and  kindness until it takes flight.
I am the God of  hope brought right, I am the light always present in the darkest of night.

And God Smiled and  Sighed...

God speaks to all

God speaks to all:

Come and walk with me,
Let no one deny you,
For you are my Beloved
And there are no persons
Who can take my love
Away from you.
It does not matter
How you define yourself,
I created you
As you are right now
And I love you because
You are always my child.
Come Beloved, come now
And walk with me.

How Mighty

How Mighty

How mighty are your works, oh man!
Mighty are the works of your hands;
But besides the works of God,
They are nothing at all.
For the works of God,
The creations of His hands
Are the stars, the planets,
And everything that lives.
Even you, oh man,
Is created by God above.
How mighty are your works, oh man,
But mightier still the works of God!
Written 1964

God Is My Strength

God is my Strength
for Ginger Harris

Psalm 62:1-2
My God is my strength,
A place to go
In times of trouble.
In  His arms 
I find rest
And peace
For my troubled soul
And I find
That I need not fear
When God is near.

Matthew 11:28-30
And when I come
Near to God
And lean on Him,
All my weariness
Is taken away.
In those arms ,
I find the rest
And the peace
That I need.

Philippians 4:12-13
In everything
And in every time,
God is with me
And gives me strength.
Because of that,
I can do all
That I am
Called to do.
God is always with me
At all times!

Take Off

Take Off Your Grave Clothes
Terry Lee Ousley c 1997
Ousley Music/BMI

Jesus had a friend whose name was Lazarus.
This Lazarus was special unto Christ.
While teaching word was sent to Christ from Bethany
That Lazarus was sick and just might die.
Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death.
It is so that God may be glorified."
Two days later Jesus said, "Lazarus sleeps.
Let us go now so that he will arise."

When Jesus arrived at Bethany
Lazarus had been in the tomb for four long days.
His sisters said to Jesus, "If you'd just been here,
Lazarus would be here - healed and alive today!"
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life -
Will you believe the truth these words afford?"
Then weeping Jesus walked right up to Lazarus' tomb.
With authority said, "Lazarus come forth!"

Chorus:
Rise up from the tomb, roll the stone away!
Move towards the blessed light, in Jesus' presence stay!
Come forth from the tomb, leave behind the gloom -
Take off your grave clothes and be free!

Still today we let sin's sicknss kill our souls
When we should live a life of liberty
But you can win the vict'ry Jesus won for you
if you'll open up your heart and believe!
Like Lazarus you must come forth from sin's tomb -
Just step into God's light and be free!
Then shed those grave clothes made of doubt and misery,
Put on garments of praise and victory!

Chorus: repeat twice

Don't

Don't ignore me,
I am here
And I am human,
Just like you!

Don't ignore me,
I am alive
And I have needs
Just like you.

Don't pretend
That I do not exist
Or that God
Did not make me.

Don't ignore me
Just love me
As I am
This day.

Can You Hear Me, Lord

Can you hear me, Lord?

By  Jerry Browning

Can you hear me, Lord; how did I come to be?
Can you hear me Lord; is this Your Love I see?
Seems the world you made has turned its back on me.
If you hear me Lord, I’m longing to be free.

Do you love me, Lord; I feel inside you do.
Do you love me, Lord; my heart cries out to you,
In the dark of night, let me see your light shine through,
If you love me Lord, then let me walk with you.

Can you tell me, Lord; all the reasons I am here?
Can you tell me, Lord; what is it others fear?
Why is hate so strong & love so rare and dear?
Will you tell me Lord, for I feel you standing near.

Will you take me Lord; I’m longing to be free.
Will you take me Lord; my soul cries out to thee
For the only love I know you placed in me.
If you won’t take me Lord; why did I come to be?
(repeat last two lines)

God Keeps Me Safe

God Keeps me safe                 for Rick Peterson

Psalm 23
My God
Is my protector,
And is always near
Through good times
And the bad,
Ready to help
And strengthen,
And keep me safe.

Psalm 27
At all times
Of my life,
God is near me
To give me light.
I need not fear,
For my God
Is always with me
Even when my enemies
Are all around me.
I am always safe
In those arms.

Psalm 84
And I will live safely
In the house of God.
There is beauty there
That is greater
Than any other place
That I know,
And I long
To dwell there,
For my true home
Is there.

Psalm 121
God is always near,
And watches over me,
Keeping me safe.
At all times
And in all places,
God is there
And does not sleep,
That I will be
Kept always safe.

John 1:1-5
God has always
Been there
And brings light
To my life
And all others
Who will believe.
And in that light
Is life,
And the dark
Can never
Overwhelm me.

Romans 8:28
And God is there,
Loving all people,
And working for good
For all of us.
And again,
I find safety,
For God's love
Keeps me secure.
And I am called
To walk in those paths
That will lead me
Onward to where God is.

Psalm 150
And I praise God!
With everything
That exists,
I will ever praise God,
Who keeps me safe.
Love is mine!
Let all the world know
That God loves me
And all other people!

A Prayer

Oh dear God, there are so many problems in this world you created for us.  We fume and fight over the smallest differences between us when we should be talking together to find ways to live in love and peace.  Please help our leaders find other ways to "protect" their countries and citizens than fighting or threatening each other other. Please help us to find our way to your peace ✌ and love AMEN

Let Us Talk

Come,
Let us talk together
About those things
That divide us.
If we talk,
Maybe then
We will find
Wwe are more alike
Than what we think.
Let us talk together
And find ways
To peace on earth
And how to really love
As God does.

Let Your Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine   

Call to worship:
Let your light shine,
Show the world
What God's love
Is all about.

*

Call to prayer:
Come all people
And seek
The Lord of light!

Prayer:
Loving God,
Forgive us
For not letting
Our light shine.
Forgive us
For the darkness
Along the road.
Forgive us
When strangers
Turn away
Because they
Cannot see
To find the way.
Help us to learn
How to let our light
Shine out brightly.

And God is here
With us,
Ready to show us all
How to light up
Our world.

*

Matt 5:13
Be the salt
To your part
Of the earth
And help the people
Find the peace
And love they need.

Matt 5:14-16
Set your light
To glowing bright
And set high
In a lighthouse
So that when
The storms of life
Come along,
Those along the way
Will know
The right way to go.

Charge and benediction:
Come, light up
Your part of the world
So that all people
Will know how to find
The path of life.

Walk with God

Walk with God   

Is 2:2-3   
God walks with us
And leads us all
Along the paths
That will lead us
To the house of God.
Let us walk in faith,
Knowing that God
Is always there.

Is 40:31
When God walks with us,
Our strength will be
All that we ever need,
And there will be
No weariness
If we stay in faith
On the paths
Where God leads us.

John 8:12
If we walk with God,
Jesus will always
Be with us.
And there will be
No darkness,
For there is light
Wherever Jesus is.

2 Cor 5:7
When we walk
In faith with God,
We will know
That there is always
Someone with us,
Even if we do not see.
Walk always in faith,
Knowing that God
Is always near,
Loving us all.

Come in Noy

Come in Joy    for Jerry Browning March 2003

Psalm 16:9-11   
Come, follow me,
And I will lead you
In the paths of life.
In my presence is joy,
And I will keep you
Secure and safe,
And you will know
That always, I love you.I will

John 15:11-17
Come in joy,
Knowing that my love
Is always there.
Pass my love on
To one another
And your joy
Will be more full.

John 16:19-22
I will turn
All your sorrow
Into such joy
That no one
Can take it away
From you.
Just look and see,
I am always there,
Waiting for you.

John 16:23-24
Come to me,
And ask of God
For whatever you want
And in my name
It will be given
That your joy
May be full.

John 16:31-33   
Come in joy,
Knowing that you
Are united to me.
Be at peace,
For no matter
What you may suffer
At the hands
Of the world,
I am with you
And I have defeated
This world.

John 17:6-19
Holy God, you are
Mother and Father
To all here.
You have given
Them to me.
Help them to live
Together in unity
And in love
For each other.       

John 17:20-26
I also pray
For those yet to come,
That they might
Always be one,
Just as we are.
Show them your glory,
That all may know
Of the love
That has been there
From the beginning.
Help those to come
To always know
The joy
Of your presence.