Gathering Our Spirit with God's Spirit

The room is colorful, like a circus tent, full of celebration and helium-filled balloons. In the middle is a long table, with butcher paper (see children’s supply closet) and markers and pencils spread across it. Maybe some candles on it? Two smaller tables are set with many small votives to be lit during prayer exercise.

• “Beautiful Day” by U2 plays
• A Journeyer steps up to light the lamp and another rings the bell
• Leslie makes announcements

Worshiping with Our Children

• A Journeyer leads our children in talking about how each of us may want things like toys or a TV but what we really long for is love -- God’s love. 

Welcome and Breathe

• Rick welcomes, has us breathe...

God’s Spirit and Our Spirit

• Two Journeyers read from the Jesus story called Luke 

Jesus and his followers were walking from one town to another. A man approached Jesus and said, “I want to follow you, wherever you go.” Jesus saw what the man needed, and he said, “I have something for you to think about if you're going to follow me wherever I go: foxes have holes in the ground to stay in; birds have nests to stay in. But this work I’m doing and my followers are doing? It’s not about having a place to claim as our own -- I don’t have a house; I don’t have a place to put my head down. So, decide what you want.” 

Another day, Jesus approached another man and said, “I want you to follow me.” The man said, “Master, first let me go back home – I've got to take care of my family’s estate. My father died.” Jesus saw what the man needed, and he said, “If you decide to stay behind with things that won't last, you're the one who’s dead. But if you come with me, you can be part of something that’s alive and well: the Life God is creating. Which do you want?” 

Another person said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Rabbi, but first will you let me go back and tell my family goodbye?” Jesus saw what she needed, and he said, “You can't plow a field looking backward. We’re moving forward. So, decide what you want.” 

• Dave Madden lead us in singing “All Creatures of Our God and King”
• Leslie leads group discussion on “What hurts?” and “What is beautiful?”

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

• Two more Journeyers continues the story from Luke 

And then Jesus chose seventy-two of the ones who had decided to follow him. He commissioned them to go out in pairs ahead of him to the towns he’d be visiting later. His instructions went like this:

“There is a huge harvest, ready to be brought in. but there aren’t very many workers. So, we’re asking the Master of the Harvest to send out workers into the fields that are ready. Go! You’re the workers! But be aware: I am sending you out, and you may feel like lambs surrounded by wolves. I’m sending you without anything extra. No money bags. No extra bags. No extra clothes or shoes. Don’t stop to talk to people on the road; break custom. You're in a hurry. The harvest is ready. 

“Go where people are. If people invite you into their houses, give them a blessing. If they are willing to receive the gift you're giving, they're ready - like the harvest. (If they're not, you will keep your blessing. Don’t be afraid.) Stay as a guest in the house. Eat and drink whatever they give you. Dig in. Get to know them. Become part of their lives. 

“Heal sick people who are there, and tell them, ‘The life God is making is right next to you.’ But for the towns you enter that don’t receive you or welcome you? Walk into the center of town and shout, ‘We’re wiping the dust of your streets off of our sandals, and you're missing the life God is making!’” 

And Jesus said, sadly, “I feel sorry for the people who miss this moment.”

Jesus stayed behind and prayed for the ones he had sent out. 

In time, they returned, in pairs and small groups. They were overjoyed! They were amazed! “Master, the most wonderful things happened!” they reported. “Terrible problems melted in front of us!” 

Jesus was overjoyed! Jesus was amazed! God’s Spirit flowed through him and he said, as if he was seeing a vision, “I saw Satan fall from the skies, like a lightning bolt, while you were out in the harvest fields! You did a wonderful thing! You don’t need to be afraid of anything – you are full of God’s power!”

• One of the previous readers says an offering prayer
• Dave Madden plays fun music as the ushers pass the baskets and take them to front

Telling The Story and Our Story

• A Journeyer reads from 20th century theologian and writer Frederick Buechner

“The place where God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

• Rick talks
• We do prayer exercise of What We Want Scroll
• Instrumental plays while we all write on scroll, light candles

Go Out to Serve with Courage and Grace

• Leslie has us circle up and leads us in prayer to dismiss
• “Beautiful Day” by U2 plays again as folks depart