The Pilgrimage - Order of Worship

Or "bulletin," or "the plan," or whatever you want to call it. Jody and I wanted you to be able to see and read exactly what we'll be doing, starting this Sunday night (Oct. 29). Call St. Peter's (816) 942-1155 or email
musicstpetersucc (at) sbcglobal.net
for time & location details.

The call and response litany stuff ("A voice asks...", etc.) is meant so anyone can say any of the parts. It will be spontaneous. What is written below is only the framework; the whole worship will be created by what participants say, from "naming our hope" to the "questions" (no sermon, or any kind of message-monologue) to the circles of discernment.

We are most interested in what you think of all this. -h

The Pilgrimage

Witness
Claiming who and whose we are, and naming our hope

A voice asks: Why have we come?
An answer is heard: We come to acknowledge your claim on us, God.
Another answer: We come to listen together for your still-speaking voice.
And another: We come to discern and take on our parts to play in Christ's reign of love.
All: Open us now to your Spirit's presence as we come to pattern together the new life you have promised all creation.

We Name Our Hope
Any may speak: Tonight I boldly hope for... (name a hope).
All: God, hear our longings and strengthen our hopes!

Hymn of Witness
Sing my song backwards from end to beginning, Friday to Monday, dying to birth,
Nothing is altered but hope changes everything: sing "Ressurection!" and "Peace Upon Earth!"

Listening
For God's still-speaking voice in scripture, community, art, and prayer.

Scripture and Context

Questions for the Community
What stands out as the main point?
What are the implications of this passage for a life of stewardship?

Hymn of Listening
Let it breathe on me, let it breathe on me, let the breath of the Spirit breathe on me,
Let it breathe on me, let it breathe on me, let the breath of God now breathe on me.

Silent Prayer and Lord's Prayer (anyone can start when ready)

Stewardship
Embracing God's invitation to care for each other and God's world

Safe markers (Like Mary, hold what you hear in your heart and ponder it, Luke 2:19).
1. Speaking is invitational. This is not share or die.
2. Appropriate responses are mirroring ("I heard you say...") or pattern recognition ("I percieve a pattern in what you are saying..."). This is not a dialogue. No judging, fixing, advising, suggesting, or setting straight.
3. When recognizing a common call or readiness to move toward shared action, the appropriate invitation is "Could we continue this conversation beyond the circle?"

Discernment Circles (A time to reflect on what God is asking of each of us)

Hymn of Stewardship (move into the Circle of Blessing)
I'm gon' to (live, work, pray...) so God can use me, anytime and anywhere! (repeat)

Circle of Blessing
All: May God take your hands and work through them, open your lips and speak through them, wake your minds and teach through them, set your hearts on fire and love through them, and may Christ who sat at table with us continue with us wherever we go and sit at table with us always, by the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.

Potluck