Beloved community,
We come together as one
while under different roofs.
We come together as one
while holding different ideas, dreams, struggles, fears.
We come together as one
as outcasts, and as those who cast out others.
We come together as one
gathered by the One
who befriended the oppressed
and the oppressor.
Let us worship God.
OPENING PRAYER
Strange God, untameable God,
You will not let us confine you or your children to a box!
You lavish love upon those we call unloveable;
You embrace those we shut out and call stranger;
and you delight in choosing people who shock us
to bring your blessing into the world.
God who died and rose again,
You look upon barrenness and unkindness and hopelessness
and say, “I can work with this.”
When you touch death, it blossoms into life.
You make a way out of no way.
Fearsome God, gentle God,
When we are merciless
you come in mercy.
When we deny justice
you come with justice.
We come with praise. We come with prayer.
We come with gratitude to you
Our creator, our redeemer, the breath within our lungs.
I wrote this for a virtual service on June 21, 2020 centered around themes of oppression, patriarchy, and white supremacy; it explored how our world shapes each of us based on our various identities and what kind of reconciliation is possible between oppressors and the ones who oppress. My sermon text was Genesis 21:8-21. My sermon, “No Good Patriarchs – Solidarity with Hagar” can be read or watched here.
Binary-Breaking Worship 