Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

The Living Room is a blank canvas -- lots of white all around; all the usual furniture and wall decorations are covered with white sheets, including the cross. Seats in circular arrangement to support communal feel…empty, blank canvases, while allowing for freedom, also can feel desolate, lonely if you don't remember that you're not alone. Need to reinforce that we are not alone...we are all in this together.

• Video of “Sweet Disposition” by Temper Trap plays http://tinyurl.com/2c2gb9e 
• A Journeyer steps up to light the lamp and another rings the bell
• Sharon B. makes announcements

Worshiping with Our Children

• Julie C. leads our children in talking about coloring in a coloring book vs. a blank canvas. Sometimes the world tries to restrict when, where and how we connect with God, but that can be like trying to draw your own picture over a design in a coloring book. God loves us no matter how we express ourselves.

Welcome and Breathe

• Lisa C. welcomes, has us breathe...

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• Tameca reads Amos 5:21-24 in the form of call and response

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord, spoken through the prophet Amos: I can't stand your religious meetings.
Journey: I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
Reader: I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals.
Journey: I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making.
Reader: I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
Journey: When was the last time you sang to me?
Reader: Do you know what I want?
All: I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.

• Ace reads Luke 12: 1-5

By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other's toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus' primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, "Watch yourselves carefully so you don't get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can't whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day's coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.

"I'm speaking to you as dear friends. Don't be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. 

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

• Renee says an offering prayer
• Renee sings “Closer to Fine” by the Indigo Girls as the ushers pass the baskets and then take them to the foot of the covered cross

Telling The Story and Our Story

• A Journeyer reads from a psalm by St. Paul David Hewson (Bono, U2)

I have climbed the highest mountains. 
I have run through the fields…
Only to be with you…
I have run, I have crawled, 
I have scaled these city walls…
Only to be with you…
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for…
I have kissed honey lips. 
Felt the healing in her fingertips…I have spoke with the tongue of angels. 
I have held the hand of a devil... (It was warm in the night.)
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for…
I believe in the Kingdom Come. 
Then all the colors will bleed into one…But yes, I'm still running…
You broke the bonds. 
And you loosed the chains. 
Carried the cross of my shame…
You know I believe it…
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for…

• Dave Brown talks
• Lisa introduces meditation prayer and art exercise, inviting the community to go to art stations to draw how they want to live their faith
• “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by John McVey plays during exercise
• Lisa talks about how we are in community together, sharing one another’s gifts and burdens
• Lisa invites people, as a spiritual practice, to pick up a piece of art or writing just created, and remember throughout the week that we are together as we live our faith

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• Dave gathers community in a circle, provides a short exhortation
• Sharon B. reads Acts 20:32

Now I'm turning you over to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

• Sharon dismisses us 
• “Sweet Disposition” plays again as folks depart