Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

This week, there is a makeshift, somewhat random garden in the middle of the room. The chairs are set up in a circle, all facing this garden. In the garden is a simple chair. (Journeyers will take turns sitting in the chair.) The room feels … serious. This is work. 

• “I Will Follow” by U2 plays
• A Journeyer steps up to light the lamp and another rings the bell
• A Journeyer comes to chair in garden, sits there 'til next sitter comes
• Another Journeyer makes announcements

Worshiping with Our Children

• A Journeyer leads our children in talking about taking care of God’s world with just what we have. Hold up some money – that can help other people. Hold up a doll/ball – that can cheer someone up. Hold up some food – that can be used to help folks who are hungry. 

Welcome and Breathe

• A Journeyer comes to chair in garden, sits there 'til next sitter comes
• Another Journeyer reads poem “Caregiver”; it’s not on screen, just images

What makes the best garden?
Can a garden be a failure?

Give yourself to your garden
and trust in the beauty of it all.
If you provide care for the garden, 
you are a caregiver for a part of the world. 

• Rick welcomes, has us breathe

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• A Journeyer reads from the Jewish scripture called Beginnings, Genesis chapter 2

At the time God made Earth and the heavens, God formed the adam out of dirt from the ground and blew into the adam’s nostrils the breath of life. The adam came alive—a living soul! 

Then God planted a Garden. God put the adam he had just made in it. 

God took the adam and set the adam down in the Garden. The adam’s job -- the adam’s purpose -- was to work the ground, and to take care of the Garden. 

• Louis C K video plays
• A Journeyer comes to chair in garden, sits there 'til next sitter comes
• Rick leads discussion about what we have available to give care to the garden
• A Journeyer reads from Jesus’ teaching called the Sermon on the Mount

Don’t accumulate stuff in this life. It won't keep you happy or safe. Anything can hurt it -- moths, rust, burglars, recessions, financial advisors, loss of a job, a house fire, an illness, bad advice, a messy divorce. Anything can take it away from you, any time. 

And for that matter, don’t try even to accumulate happiness here on earth either. Anything can take happiness away -- moths, rust, burglars, recessions, financial advisors, loss of a job, a house fire, an illness, bad advice, a messy divorce. Very little is required to take away something as temporary and unsteady as happiness. Don’t try to hoard it. Don’t think it will save you. Listen: it won't last. 

Instead, accumulate beauty, and courage, and compassion, and servanthood. All the things I’m teaching you about. Those should be your most treasured things. 

Because, wherever your most treasured things are, is where you will want to spend all your time and energy and effort. You will end up there. You cannot help but end up where your treasures are. 

Giving -- To Help God Do God's Work in This World  

• A Journeyer comes to chair in garden, sits there 'til next sitter comes
• Another Journeyer reads poem “Caregiver” again and then leads an offering prayer
• Renee sings as the ushers pass the baskets and take them to The Garden

Telling The Story and Our Story

• A Journeyer comes to chair in garden, sits there 'til near end of service
• Rick talks
• Rick has us all come and lay hands on the garden in the middle, pray

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• The Journeyer who was last in the garden chair leads responsive reading

Leader:  What makes a beautiful garden?

Journey:  A garden that is loved and attended to. 

Leader:  When you give yourself to the garden entrusted to you…

Journey:  And when I trust in the beauty that is all around…

Leader:  When you provide care for the garden entrusted to you…

Journey:  And when I provide care for the garden entrusted to me…

Leader:  You are a caregiver for a part of the world.

Journey:  God has entrusted me with a part of the world. 

Leader:  You can do this work with exactly what you already have in front of you.

All:  God, I know You are with me. Help me to care for the garden You’ve entrusted me with. Amen. 

• Reader dismisses saying, “Go in peace and care for the garden entrusted to you.”
• “I Will Follow” by U2 plays again as folks depart