Wholeness and Healing Service

The sanctuary was decorated to look like there was water flowing through it. People were invited to come up during the service.

Some of the children, including Abby, did annointing. She pressed her thumb onto a cotton ball in a bolw of oil and made the sign of a cross on each person's forehead. The children said things like "Jesus loves you" as they did this.

A prayer chain was made an hung on the tree. Inside each bulliton was a strip of paper on which to write a prayer. You could bring your strips foreward and children, including Katie, would staple them onto the chain. The chain was taken from the alter table and hung on the huge Christmas tree in the sanctuary.

People were also invited to dip their hands in the baptismal font and feel the water. They could take a stone also if desired.

Lilly wore her Christmas dress this week since next week she wil be dressed as a sheep and we will not be here for Christmas Eve Service.

Once upon a time Katie, Abby, and Kierra all had matching dresses.

I am going to write out everything since the service was so neat, so you may want to just skim the following. It was so wonderful that the children played such a big part in the service. The minister even said "The children are not the future of the church. The children ARE the church."

Meditation:

In our darkness: You are the God of Light.

In our despair: You are the God of Hope.

In our sadness: You are the God of Joy.

In our turmoil: You are the God of Peace.

In our heartache: You are the God of Love.

We worship you: God of all people and creation.

Call to Worship and Hymn "Precious Lord Take My Hand".

Poem "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about dispair, your, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itseld to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Song " Take, O Take Me As I Am"

Lighting of Advent Candle
Song "Arise, Shine for Your Light Has Come"

Poem "Who Am I?" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1946

They often tell me I stepped from my cell's confinement

CAlmly, sheerfully, firmly,

Like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I?

They often tell me I used to speak to my warders

Freely and friendly and clearly,

As though it were mine to command.

Who am I?

They also tell me I bore the days of misfortune

Equally, smilingly, proudly,

Like one accostomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?

Or am I only what I myself know of myself?

Restless and longing and sick, like a bird ina cage,

Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,

Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,

Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,

Tossing in expectation of great events,

Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,

Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,

Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I?

This or the other?

Am I one person today and tomorrow another?

Am I both at once?

A hypocrite before others,

And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?

Or is something within me still like a beaten army,

Fleeing in disorder from vistory alrady achieved?

Who am I?

They mock me, those lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!

Litany of Healing and Forgiveness

Prayer for Illumination

Song "Open My Heart"

Scripture Matthew 11:2-11

Song "Peace, Perfect Peace"

Message "You Matter" was divided into two parts with a time for silent refelction after each. John the Baptist had great expectations, but found himself in jail. He was thinking, "Where is this Messiah?" He may have experienced doubt, fear, and anxiety. Baptize means to bathe, to cleanse. During those times people bathed befor egoign into the temple. Tere were public shower houses around the temple. John the Baptist called people outside the city, into the wilderness. He t old them to repent and turn back towards God. To wash away the dirt and grime and grit but also the anxiety, doubts, and fears. During the silent reflection we were to ponder our own wilderness. If anyone was feeling great joy today, perhaps a partner proposed last night or a pregnancy was discovered, then ponder the journey to this moment of joy.

It poured rain today, so during the time of silence we could hear the water outside.

During the second part of the message Krystin spoke about Jesus' response to John's question. He said, "Go and tell John what you see." (the miracles) This wasn't the answer John was looking for. He wanted a national overthrow. Jesus said, "Look at the individuals, the relationships, not at swords and spears." Respond to the call to repent. This is what will heal our nations and our faith.

Hymn "Spirit I Have Heard You Calling"

Invitation to Come To The Water, Annointing, Prayer Table

Song "Does anybody know somebody who could use my help?"

* one of my favorites. I posted the words on an earlier entry.

Welcome

Offering and Prayer

Poem "The Lame, Leaping" by Timothy Haut, 2010

This is a bleak and barren time,

This season of candles and pine,

When sleigh bells ring

On the edges of our sorrow,

But here, in this circle of wheelchairs,

The Word becomes flesh

And old, sagging bodies

Lean in to hear an ancient promise;

Someday the lame shall leap like a hart,

And the tongue of the speechless

Shall sing for joy.

The dozing one-

She with the plastic beads around her neck--

Suddenly opens her eyes in surprise,

Grins at this wild hope,

Holds out her hand when I ask impetuously,

"Wouldn't you like to dance right now?"

And there, in her smile,

I see that she has already begun--

I see this once and would-be child

As she twirls, spins around the room

Leaps like a hart,

As she sings in her croaking voice

A chorus of Jingle Bells and joy--

Her fading memory's Magnificat

Of simple praise.

Dance, dance for joy,

You child of God!

Leap like a hart, for your heart's sake!

Litany of Wholeness and Hope

Hymn "Let Your Little Light Shine" African-American spiritual

* another one of our favorites! Words:

Shine, shine, shine; Shine, shine, shine

Let your little light shine, oh my Lord

There may be someone down in the valley trying to get home

It may be me or it may be you

It may be my mtoher and my father too

Let your little light shine, shine, shine

Let your little light shine oh my Lord

There may be someone down in the valley trying to get home.

It may be me and it may be you

It may be my sister and my brother too

Let your little light shine, shine, shine,

Let your little light shine oh my Lord

There may be someone down in the valley trying to get home

The congregation sings this with such enthusiasm, clapping and swaying, and singing loudly. It is also one of Abby's favorites. Many of the songs at this church don't use instruments. The leader sings a line and then the congregation repeats it until we have the words and rhythm down. I am not sure why they don't use the piano or organ, but this way no one has their face buried in a hymn book. :) Everyone has their heads and voices raised.

Benediction

Sung after each line "Be strong, and loving, and fearless"