The Pacifist Aggressive

Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate image credit  : Shawn Miller/Library of Congress This interpretive reading also uses language from Joy Harjo's Speaking Tree which was also read during the worship service. Reader One Reader Two Jeremiah 17:5-8 5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in humanity,     who draws strength from mere flesh     and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;     they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,     in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,     whose confidence is in God. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water     that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;     its leaves ar...

Readers’ Theater Widow Weynken Adapted from Martyrs’ Mirror Parts: Narrator Weynken Woman 1 Woman 2 Man 1 Man 2 Man 3 Narrator: In November of 1527, Mrs. Weynken, a widow, was brought as a prisoner to the Hague, in Holland, under the charges of being an Anabaptist which was outlawed by the government. She was arraigned before the governor and the full council of Holland. There a woman asked her: Woman 1: "Have you well considered the things which my lords proposed to you?" Weynken:   "I abide by what I have said." Woman 1: "If you do not speak differently, and turn from your error, you will be subjected to an intolerable death." Weynken:   "If power is given to you from above I am ready to suffer."  Woman 1:   "Do you then, not fear death, which you have never tasted?" Weynken: "This is true; but I shall never taste death, for Christ says: 'If a man keeps my sayings, he shall ne...

An order of service for a Thanksgiving worship of praise Psalms. Gathering Music Welcome and announcements I invite you to join in the experience, not just contemplation Every experience we have changes us as people, may we leave here both blessed and changed today people of God Prelude *Call to worship Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks from the height of joy to depths of despair  because we know that hope and salvation is in our God.  We give thanks in times of bitterness and anger because it is our God who redeems. We give thanks in times of peace and prosperity because it is our God who gives good gifts. We come to give thanks as a people, broken and beautiful. Blessed be the name of the Lord! *Hymn - How Great Thou Art Gray Songbook  *Invocation Children’s story Thanking God with Body and Voice *Song Blessed be your name (insert) (children dismissed to children’s t...

I love to use multi-sensory elements during children's time. He is an example from 1 Samuel 3 when God calls Samuel's name in the temple that uses blankets for touch and ashes in a paper bag for smell. _____ we just read a story what was the little boy's name where did he live (temple is like a church) where did he work (has family that visits, but he works with a priest) old man's name what do you think it was like to sleep in the temple/church every night? Sometimes I like to understand a bible story by imagining I was there. Let's imagine what Samuel might have felt. This story has Samuel in bed at night in the temple right? So why don't we use some blankets and pillows. what do you think Samuel's bed might have been like? how do these blankets or pillows feel on your face right now? Can you imagine feeling really, really sleepy like it is the middle of the night and somebody just woke you up? Now while we are imagining we are in the stor...