Mystery
Thursday Evening Worship
24 June at 7:30
GATHERING
As the synod gathers, worship leaders mill about, greeting, vesting, and chatting. The sacristan enlists people here and there to help set the table and prepare the space. The idea is a gentle ‘chaos’ which allows us to see each other as participants in the event, not just observers.
An instrumental improvisation of the opening introit is part of this gathering time.
Violin: Sebastian Meadows-Helmer; Piano: Mark Kieswetter
Sing a New Song to the Lord \Psalm 98 by James Brown
QUARTET: Jennifer Famme, Michael Hackbusch, David Malina, Claudine Carlson
Bishop Pryse: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Hymn #861 When Long Before Time
Bishop Pryse: Let us pray.Loving One, in the midst of chaos we come together and discover again that we have a place and purpose. At this table of joy we are reminded that we are part of a mystery that is deep, wide and rich. Give us eyes to see. Ears to hear. And bless our time together that we might grow into the fullness of your kingdom.
WORD
Genesis 1:1-2, 20-24(Everett Fox, The Five Books of Moses)
Pat Lovell speaks from the wings into a wireless mic. Mark plays underneath reading.
Silence first. Then bit by bit, the music builds. Music continues after Pat stops reading. Then silence before next reading.
Pat Lovell:
At the beginning of God’s creating
of the heavens and the earth,
when the earth was wild and waste,
darkness over the face of Ocean,
rushing-spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters –
God said:
Let the waters swarm with a swarm of living beings, and let fowl fly above the earth, across the dome of the heavens!
God created the great sea-serpents
and all living beings that crawl about,
with which the waters swarmed, after their kind.
God saw that it was good.
And God blessed them, saying:
Bear fruit and be many and fill the waters in the seas,
and let the fowl be many on earth!
There was setting, there was dawning: fifth day.
God said:
Let the earth bring forth living beings after their kind,
herd-animals, crawling things, and the wildlife of the earth after their kind!
It was so.
Silence
1 Corinthians12:4 -12 (NRSV, arranged by James Brown)
4 voices on raised platforms
Bishop KristensonNow there are varieties of gifts,
Linda Graingerbut the same Spirit;
Heidi Wachowiakand varieties of services,
John Vandersleenbut the same Lord;
Bishop Kristensonand there are varieties of activities,
Linda Graingerbut it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
Heidi WachowiakTo each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Bishop KristensonTo one is given through the Spirit
Linda Graingerthe utterance of wisdom,
Heidi Wachowiakand to another
John Vandersleenthe utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
Bishop Kristensonto another faith by the same Spirit,
Linda Graingerto another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
Heidi Wachowiakto another working of miracles,
John Vandersleento another prophecy,
Bishop Kristensonto another the discernment of spirits,
Linda Graingerto another various kinds of tongues,
Heidi Wachowiakto another the interpretation of tongues.
John VandersleenAll these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Bishop KristensonFor just as the body is one and has many members,
Linda Graingerand all the members of the body, though many,
Allare one body,
Bishop Kristensonso it is with Christ.
Heidi WachowiakMystery and joy!
John VandersleenThanks be to God!
Bishop Pryse invites people to stand.
Gospel Acclamation
Celtic Alleluia #17; all on refrain (2x); QUART verse; refrain (2x) (NM)
Christine makes her way to the altar. Mei Sum, Emily Ritz, Bob Binhammer and Michael Pryse take their places at the raised platforms.
Bishop Pryse invites people to be seated.
Gospel: John 2:6 - 10
The Scholar's Version: The Five Gospels, Robert Funk, ed. (NY: Macmillan, 1993)
Christine Carlsen
Listen to the news according to John...
Pause
There was a wedding at Cana
and the wine ran out.
But there were six stone water jars standing there
used for the rites of purification,
and each held maybe twenty or thirty gallons.
Mei Sum Reflection
Christine Carlsen
“Fill the jars with water,”
Jesus says to them.
So they filled them up to the brim.
Then he tells them,
“Now dip some out, and take it to the chief steward.”
So they did.
Emily Ritz Reflection
Christine Carlsen
When the steward tasted the water, now changed into wine, he had no idea where it came from, even thought the servants who had taken the water out knew. He calls the groom aside and says to him:
“Everyone serves the best wine first, and only later when the people are drunk, the cheaper wine. But you have held back the good wine until now.”
Bob Binhammer Reflection
Christine Carlsen
Jesus performed this miracle, the first, at Cana of Galilee. It displayed his majesty, and his disciples believed in him.
Bishop Pryse Reflection
Christine Carlsen
This is the word of God. A lovely, and life giving word.
Congregation: Amen.
Hymn #837Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works
Prayers of Intercession
Matthew Anderson, Sarah Faulhafer and Bruce Cooke read from quartet riser.
A bell chimes between intercessions.
P: And the spirit said: “Go and stand on the mountain, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
And there came a great wind, a tornado - a light-show and sheer-storm so strong it split mountains and sent rocks spinning into pieces.
But the Lord was not in the wind.
And then, after the wind had ceased, came an earthquake.
And the earth trembled and shook, the ground heaved and bucked along ancient forgotten fault-lines,
Over 5 on the Richter scale, they said: and the bedrock, the very pillars of the earth seemed to be dancing.
But the LORD was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake arrived a fire,
so hot that mighty northern firs turned white and shattered,
the roaring so loud we could hear nothing else,
the fire sucking the very air from our lungs.
But the LORD was not in the fire.
And then,
after the fire,
came the sound of complete and utter silence.
Silence in which we could hear the sound of our own blood in our ears.
So silent it was nothing.
And when we heard the silence, we wrapped our faces and came to the mouth of the cave. For the LORD was there,
In the silence.
(silence, for a good long moment, then the sound of the bell)
A1: Breathe on us, Breath of God. As you once filled Elijah, fill US with this silence in which you speak, so that after the sound of the bell, we may respond: “O God, hear our prayer”.
(silence, then bell) O God, hear our prayer.
A2: Breathe on us, Breath of God. Give us a grounding in your Spirit in-breathed in us, fill us with the awareness of ourselves and of you, of our creatureliness, and our connection to this troubled and warming planet.
(bell) O God, hear our prayer.
A1: Open our mouths, O Breath of God, to pray for our leaders, for the powerful men and women in the motorcades and behind the barriers. May they, TOO, be blessed, and, despite the insulation and the isolation in which they move, through the power of your Spirit which knows no boundaries or borders, may these leaders be made a blessing for this world. We pray for the G-8, the G-20, for the protestors and the police, that through them all, a yearning for justice and truth might open us all.
(bell) O God, hear our prayer.
A2: Breath of God, speak into being, here, a holy place in which to hear your Word. Breathe open our ears to your calling. Bless our Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Bless this Assembly, these delegates and clergy, these visitors and officers of the church, these Bishops, Michael and Susan, this time apart in the wilderness,
(bell) O God, hear our prayer.
A1: Speak to us, you whose breath breathed through Elijah and Jeremiah, Mary Magdalene and John the Elder. Speak to us in a tongue we understand, Breathe into us courage to do your will and follow in your paths, with both our bliss AND our blisters, and with the fire of your spirit in our bellies. Speak to us this Assembly.
(bell) O God, hear our prayer
A2: Plan with us, O God, and make the new structures of our church as flexible and responsive as the ruach , the spirit you breathed into us in creation. Renew our church, nationally, synodically, and locally, as naturally as breath renews our physical bodies. Remind us that all we need is the Book, the loaf, the water, the cup, and each other,
(bell) O God, hear our prayer
A1: Bless the newly-elected officers of our church, and those who are being nominated and elected. Raise up among us always women and men of purpose and courage, and breathe into them the joy of your presence, even as they lead us,
(bell) O God, hear our prayer
A2: Breath of God, breathe into our finances, so that breathing-room might be there for Keith and for the rest of us, for the ministry and mission to which you have called us. Keep us responsible, but also give us courage to step out and to dare,
(bell) O God, hear our prayer
A1: Breath of God, let your gentle winds of healing be with the people of Midland as they rebuild and recover from the tornado. Watch over Tanya Raymer and others whom we think of at this time, and let your breath of life wash over us all,
(bell) O God, hear our prayer
P: Here we are, O LORD. While Presidents and monarchs gather, while diplomats and prime ministers, chancellors and tyrants deliberate, here we are, claiming this particular near-the-airport-space as yours. We have been zealous for you, O God, and zealous for your realm. But sometimes it feels as though we alone are left. Grant us courage as you always have your prophets and disciples; speak to us in the still small voice and in the cries of the world. All this, and whatever else you see that we need, we ask in the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Spirit who has brought us to this place,
AMEN
Bishop Pryse: May the peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.
MEAL
Offering
The offering this evening goes to Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
Offering Song
Keyboard improvisation into#682 Reamo leboga QUART 1-Botsw.; 2f.- English (NM)
The offering is collected, danced around the altar, and then set on the credence table.
The Great Thanksgiving
Bishop Pryse: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
Bishop Pryse: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
Bishop Pryse: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Bishop Pryse: Loving God, in the diversity of our world we give grateful thanks for the presence of Christ, in whose words and life we find our hope. He blessed children who came to him. He touched the sick and made them whole. He ate with those he wasn’t supposed to. He wept at the death of a friend. He weeps with us now. He walks with us now. He rejoices with us now. And in our midst he continues to help us imagine a world in which people and nations might live together in harmony.
Quartet sings Sanctus, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy…’ by James Brown
Bishop Pryse: We give you thanks, Gracious God, for sharing with us the One who reached out with understanding and compassion. And we give thanks, too, that on his last night, he gathered with his friends, embraced them, broke with them the bread he had to share and said, “This is my body given for you. As often as you share it together, remember me.” After supper he took wine and said to them, “This is the cup of abundant life. When you share it, remember me.”
Bishop Pryse: Gracious One, pour out your spirit upon this bread and wine, upon us, and upon the nations, that we who share this feast might be a people of forgiveness, justice and love.
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Communion Songs
491 Come Let Us Eat (NM)
493 Taste and See
838 Beautiful Saviour
479 We Come to the Hungry Feast
Katharine Borch: Let us pray.Loving One, in the commotion of the world we have come together to remember who we are and where we are going. At this table of joy we have been reminded that we are part of a mystery that is deep, wide, rich and filled with abundance. Continue to give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that as the Eastern Synod we might help build the reign of God in the world.
SENDING
Hymn #843 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
Bishop Johnson: May God bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God look on you with favour and give you peace.
Katharine Borch: Go in peace, celebrate the Great Mystery.
C: Thanks be to God.
Hymn #866 We Are Marching in the Light of God is sung. (NM)
Bishops lead us out.
*NM indicates no printed music for the assembly
Liturgical words written by Michael Mills.
Prayers of Intercession written by Matthew R. Anderson.
Psalm 98 and the Sanctus composed by James F. Brown.
The hymns selected from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress, 2006). Descants from Vocal Descants for the Church Year: Based on Hymns in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg Fortress).
LOSS
Friday Morning Worship
25 June at 8 AM
PRELUDE
A table, with unlit votives floating in tall cylindrical vases lined up in a row and water-lilies strewn amidst the vases, occupies the space at one end; the font and paschal candle at the other.
People are brought to silence with solo violin music.
Sarabande in D minor by JS Bach: Sebastian Meadows-Helmer, violin
Water is poured into the font and the paschal candle is lighted.
OPENING SILENCE (30 seconds)
BELL
Chun Zhang: Today we remember and celebrate the lives of those pastors and pastors' spouses in our synod who have died since the last Synod Assembly. We remember, too, and celebrate the ministry of the congregation, which in the last two years has closed its doors. To remember and to celebrate helps us to grieve and to begin the process of letting go of the dead and of reconnecting with the living. Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting; we never do. The pain and grief are always there in some degree. Making the grief present may be more healing than hiding it…
SILENCE(5 Seconds)
Chun Zhang: Let us pray. Blessed be God, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. Amen
HYMN #379 Now the green blade rises
Led by violin (Sebastian) and bodran (Don Nevile)
Kris Lund: Job 38:1-11
And now, finally, God answered Job
from the eye of a violent storm. He said:
"Why do you confuse the issue?
Why do you talk without knowing
what you're talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds,
and tucked it in safely at night.
Then I made a playpen for it,
a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose,
And said, 'Stay here, this is your place.
Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'
Violin Interlude
Variations on NOËL NOUVELET by Sebastian Meadows-Helmer
Anne Anderson: John 20:1; 11-12
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance… Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid.
REMEMBERING AND NAMING ALOUD - The pastors or pastors' spouses who died in the last two years
The name of the deceased person is called aloud by Robb, then Robb lights a candle, and then Michael rings the bell. Silence. This continues until each name has been read.
SILENCE (a longer silence after all done)
Chun Zhang: Let us pray… Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We rejoice in the lives of those whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every people and nation gathered before your throne in your ceaseless praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PAUSE
REMEMBERING AND NAMING ALOUD - The congregation that closed in the last two years
Robb calls aloud "Peace Lutheran Church, Lower Sackville (1978-2010), then Robb lights a candle, and then Michael rings the bell.
SILENCE
Chun Zhang: Let us pray… Merciful God, you heal the broken in heart and bind up the wounds of the afflicted. Strengthen us in our weakness, calm our troubled spirits, and dispel our doubts and fears. In Christ rising from the dead, you conquered death and opened the gates to everlasting life. Renew our trust in you that by the power of your love we shall one day be brought together. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SILENCE
Heal Us, Lord Musical call and response led by Quartet
(from Singing our Prayer: A Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross (Augsburg Fortress, 2010)
Litany of Loss
Out of the depths we cry, O God.
When we cannot see beyond sorrow, then mourn with us,