(A responsive Call to Worship & Confession of Sin)
***
Through the generations,
humanity has sought the divine.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
For many thousands of years,
we perceived many competing gods,
encouraging people to worship the strongest,
most effective god among many.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
Wars were fought, people torn apart, and
idols worshiped in hopes of finding the divine source.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
Today we perceive one God of all peoples and,
still we fight over what the One wants,
over who understands God the right way.
It is as if we still perceive many different gods.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
A babe born in Bethlehem,
breathed in the divine,
and breathed out life & love.
As an adult he journeyed to the margins,
he taught the ancient faith of the Jewish people,
encouraging faithfulness in love and care for others.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
His love frightened the powerful,
the oppressors, and occupiers,
and so death on a cross was his fate.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
But God, the one God of all peoples,
does not let death have the last word,
love does not give up on humanity in any generation.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
Humanity in the twenty-first century
still argues over who God loves,
“Is there enough love to go around?” we wonder.
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
Let us confess in silence our sin of loving too little,
of allowing our kindred to suffer injustice,
whether at our hands or the hands of others.
[time of silent confession]
Breathe in, breathe out.
Do you not perceive our father-mother,
the creating one,
the source of all that is?
“Are you my mother?
Are you the creating one?
Are you the source of all that is?”
In this hour,
let us worship the God of all creation.
Breathe in the divine,
when you leave take a humble heart,
breathing out the love & justice of God.
God is our mother,
God is the creating one,
the source of all that is!
Praise be to God! Amen.
___
See also Are You My Mother: A Sermon
Tim is a runner, a hiker, a devoted husband, a father of two adult children, and their spouses, and a grandfather of four perfect children. A former early childhood educator, Tim is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has served as pastor of both Disciples and United Church of Christ congregations. As we enter what we hope is the final phase of the pandemic, Tim is beginning a journey of rediscovering himself and discerning next steps. He writes from his home in Albany, Oregon and wherever the Spirit lures him.
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