Liturgy
Each person in this room is a kaleidoscope
of feelings, experiences, thoughts and skills.
Always changing, and always showing a
different aspect of God’s creativity.
Each person brings a worldview so rich
only their Creator can truly understand it.
Our collective body is beautiful in its many parts,
Yet it is made truly magnificent when
it comes together
to seek understanding,
acceptance, and love of the other.
We gather this morning in the name of our Creator,
who is celebrating that you are here,
that you are fulfilling a vision
of a truly magnificent mosaic
born of pure love.
in the name of the Endlessly Creative One,
of the Christ.
who humbly plays In ten thousand places,
and of the Holy Spirit,
who animates our shared life
amen.
(Sarah Berson)
Scripture
We invite you to hear from the letter of Philippians 2:1-8.
1 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love,
any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy,
2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
Homily and Reflection
Homily Podcast – Shared Leadership as Resistance 9.17.2023
Who are the voices we need to include at the table?
In what ways might you practice love with the most vulnerable?
What areas of power and privilege are we invited to let go of?
Benediction
Let us close with a benediction.
As the whole earth
groans for freedom,
we will find our way
through practices of love.
Love that is generous.
Love that is bold.
Love that is reciprocal and risky.
Love that does not abandon nor neglect.
Love that is fulfilled in the joy
of giving and receiving.
Seeking liberation for all life,
let us go and live with faith.
We pray in the name of our God,
the magnanimous Creator,
of Christ, our audacious Savior,
and of the Holy Spirit,
our shared Breath of Life.
Amen.
(adapted from Enfleshed LIturgy)
[ Photo by Elly Endeavours ]