| Prelude Music |
 |
Harpist |
| Welcome |
|
Parish Nurse |
| Call to Worship |
|
Parish Nurse |
| Minister: |
God is in this place. |
| Congregation: |
God's Spirit never leaves us. |
| Minister: |
God hems us in behind and before.
God’s hand is upon us. |
| Congregation: |
God's Spirit never leaves us. |
| Minister: |
God gives us comfort. |
| Congregation: |
The Lord lifts us up and
we are held close to the heart of God. |
| Minister: |
God's Spirit never leaves us. |
| Congregation: |
God is in this place. |
Gathering Prayer
|
(in unison)
God, we gather together
tonight in the glow of candlelight with friends and loved ones, acquaintances,
and strangers, knowing that your Spirit is with us. Knowing you never
leave us. We come to you weary, wounded, and burdened—give us
rest. Give us courage and humility to lay our burdens at your feet.
Unite us in love; hold us together in compassion for one another.
Mystery Healer, search our hearts and grant us peace. |
Gathering Hymn
|
Abide With Me
(Accompaniment by pianist) |
Music:
William H. Monk
Words:
Henry F. Lyte
Verses 1 and 2
|
Sacred Scripture
|
Psalm 121
Matthew 11:28-30 |
Minister |
| Silence for Reflection |
(Each period of silence lasts for about 3 – 5
minutes) |
| Reading |
I come before thee as one of thy many children. See, I am small
and weak; I need thy strength and wisdom.
Grant me to walk in beauty and that my eyes may ever hold the crimson
sunset. May my hands treat with respect the things which thou hast
created, may my ears hear thy voice!
Make me wise, that I may understand the things which thou hast taught
my people, which thou hast hidden in every leaf and every rock.
I long for strength, not in order that I may overreach my brother
but to fight my greatest enemy—myself.
Make me ever ready to come to thee with pure hands and candid eyes,
so that my spirit, when life disappears like the setting sun, may
stand unashamed before thee. |
Sioux Prayer
Reader #1 |
| Silence for Reflection |
|
| Reading |
The summer yields to the autumn winds blowing
While the cool burns the leaves golden red
We harvest fields we planted once knowing
Grains of truth would soon come to a head.
Mystery Healer, I feel your hand above my brow
Into your love I bow.
Aging dreams seeming hard to remember
Alluring sleep ever taking its toll
Love redeems like the snows of December
Pure and deep as the infinite soul.
Mystery Healer, I feel your hand above my brow
Into your love I bow.
To meadowlands of our soul’s flowering
We return from the roots we have sprung
To understand love we know is empowering
Though we learn from the truth where love hung.
Mystery Healer, I feel your hand above my brow
Into your love I bow. |
Autumnal Equinox
by Chris Van Cleave
Reader #2 |
| Silence for Reflection |
|
|
| Centering Taize Chant |
(Parish nurse reads this first, setting the pace of the chant.
Then it is read in unison as a group, repeating the chant eight
times.)
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace, in God my peace
and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest, find its rest and peace. |
In God Alone |
Invitation for Prayer and Blessing with
the lighting of candles
|
(Congregation is invited by the minister to come down
the center aisle, light their candle from the center candle in the
cross, and place it in the cross as a symbol of leaving their pain
at the cross. The congregation is then invited to come to any of the
three prayer stations that are manned by the parish nurse and two
ministers to be anointed with oil if they desire, and to receive prayer.
They are asked to return to their seats via the side aisles) |
| Unison Prayer |
Watch now, dear Lord,
With those who watch or weep tonight,
And give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord,
Rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones,
Soothe your suffering ones,
Pity your afflicted ones, shield your joyous ones,
And all for your love’s sake.
And may the God of hope fill us
With all joy and peace in believing,
That we may abound in hope
In the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Text by Saint Augustine of Hippo |
Parish Nurse |
Departing Hymn
|
Abide With Me
(Accompaniment by pianist) |
Verses 3 & 4
|
| Benediction |
|
Parish Nurse |
| Postlude |
|
Harpist |
