CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God of the exiled and the embraced
People: God of the fools and the wise ones
Leader: God of the ones who are obedient and those who go their own way
People: God of the generous and the power hungry
Leader: God of those who confess and those who seem unredeemable
People: We come to hear your challenging and hopeful word
Leader: To come face to face with ways we are like the prophets or like the kings
People: Ways we are exiled because of our choices or the decision of others
Leader: And ways we act, vote and live as Caesar.
People: We are ready; teach us now.

©May 14, 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

PRAYER

God of Each New Day, help us breath in the sights and smells of your creation and breathe out gratitude and joy for the wonders you have created. Help us breathe in your hope, even during the bleakest times, and offer that to a world in need. Be with us as we worship you that we can hear a word that will make us more obedient, less self-centered, more compassionate and less likely to follow for worldly gain. In the name of Christ who lived such a life we pray. Amen.

©May 14, 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

For bodies weary beyond belief and hearts broken by crevices and canyons of separation, we ask you for your loving care, O God. Receive the tears and pain. Heal in ways we cannot imagine so that all that remains is Love. Pour out wisdom; pour out mercy; pour out your courage until every person who follows Christ loves like Jesus. Thank you for inspiring us and filling us with your song. O, Tender Creator, when we make mistakes as we follow you, please forgive us. When we make mistakes, let us always err on the side of grace. Keep us mindful that hungry, hope-seeking eyes are watching, eager to know if you exist and if you care. Keep us mindful that they learn that, in large part, by the way we communicate, the way we vote and the way we show the joyful, inclusive love you have for all that lives. Amen.

Eyes locked, time frozen,
Electricity crackling at every angel’s pronouncement:
“Do not be afraid.”
Knees knock, palms perspire
Remembering stories of the ancestors.

Do not be afraid?
When our lives are about to be changed?
When our self-made map is shredded and blown to every corner of the world?
When the river bends and we cannot see beyond the curve?
When the sea boils and rumbles
Seeking to toss our bodies one way and our faith another?

And then those four words of
Admonition, encouragement, commandment, prayer
Seep into our rattling bones with assurance -
“Do not be afraid.”
It’s not that frightening yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows will be erased.
It’s not that storms will vanish from the earth
It’s not that abusive power will melt at the sight of a victim.
And it is not that the chaos of grief and agony
Will never be experienced again.

It is that I will be with you.
My peace I give you -
Not as the world can give or understand or duplicate.
I give you my presence
Faithfulness in the gale,
Silver slivers in ebony fog,
Peace to offer peace to those who are terrified,
Peace to be strength in turbulent times,
Peace to bring hope to those who are submerging for the third time.
Courage, wisdom, and authority that the church can be the church,
Disciples be disciples
No longer snuggled into a serene harbor
But willing to travel into deep water
For the sake of Shalom.

Poem and stole for Bishop David Yemba
For General Conference April 2012
By Rev. Cynthia Langston Kirk
Poem © February 2012

                                         As An Old Woman

When I’m an old woman I shall wear thread and fabric bits stuck to my skirt

Confetti for a party-on-the-move.

When I’m an old woman

I shall carry poetry fragments and song phrases

Dangling from my fingertips like jewelry.

When I’m an old woman I’ll whistle joy

And tell you stories of people that will shape your heart.

When I am old I will have tiny pockets

Filled with beads of every color and shape,

Large pockets for scissors, sticks, sketch pads

Sensible and peculiar tools for creating.

When I’m an old woman

I’ll feed birds from bowls tied to my shoes

And learn the songs they share.

When I’m an old woman I’ll make you pancakes

Shaped like pigs and flamingoes

Serve them with apricot syrup and delight.

When I’m an old woman I’ll sit by the ocean,

Drink in the fog; then paddle a kayak one more time.

When I am old we’ll sing songs about God -

Love that knows no bounds and justice that requires our involvement,

How Jesus loves all the little children

Red, yellow, black, brown, white.

When I’m an old woman I will pray

For those I know, for those I don’t know

And for those I can no longer remember.

When I am an old woman

My heart will be filled with decades of love

And I will be grateful.

          ©Febraury 21, 2012  Cynthia Langston Kirk

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: When all seems right in our lives

People: God is present, loving us.

Leader: When we are oppressed, living in bondage

People: God is present, loving us.

Leader: When grief overwhelms us, seeking to destroy our faith

People: God is present, loving us.

Leader: When we are in the wilderness, far from anything familiar

People: God is present, loving us.

Leader: When we arrive at a new place of hope

People: God is present, loving us.

 OPENING PRAYER

Holy One, you have given us commandments as a compass for our lives. We discuss them, ignore them, memorize them and seek to keep them. Remind us they can all be followed by loving you and loving one another.  Help us put our trust in you anew this day, for you bring us through the wilderness into the broad and gracious place. Amen.

 ©February 6, 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

Seeing is Hearing

Seeing is hearing that which is hidden in plain sight,

Absorbing the reverberations of creation,

Perceiving the symphony of line and form; then going deeper

Than nicks and warts and embellishments,

Beyond distractions and wounds

To the true essence of the song.

Peel away layers manifest and layers buried within.

Behold Life, eyes and ears.

Express the Mystery, hands and hearts.

©January 24, 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

Leader: God illuminates our hearts and minds

People: To the injustices in the world.   

Leader: Aiding us to see not only our gifts

People: But Holy Wisdom, our vital companion,

Leader: Empowering us with the bold courage of two midwives

People: That we may stand up for life and dignity and civility

Leader:  Let us worship God who we cannot define or contain,

People: God who continually invites us to go deeper and be more.

 PRAYER

Holy Mystery who has many names, protect, puzzle and prepare us as you did Moses. We complain and wonder when we do not experience you in ways we imagine; yet, all the while closing our eyes and ears to your life-changing manifestations. Set the bushes and stars on fire that we can see every instance of oppression and act as your loving disciples. We pray in the name of the One who gave everything to stand up for the disenfranchised, the doubters and the diseased. Amen.

©January 30, 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

Leader: God calls us away from that which is familiar and comfortable

People: To unmarked paths and unstable terrain.

Leader: We are showered with gifts

People: Yet, we often embrace the struggles more than the blessings.

Leader: God’s time is God’s time

People: Yet, we sometimes connive or cheat to get what we want, when we want it.

Leader: Come, let us learn from our ancestors who were often self-centered, scheming,

competitive folk

People: Whom God loved, repeatedly forgave and transformed.

 PRAYER

Loving One, teach us that family goes beyond the bond of blood and is more numerous than the inhabitants of any home.  Thank you for seeing potential in human frailty and remaining faithful to us even in the face of our betrayal. Show us that our ancient ancestors, not so different from any of us, can inspire and inform our journey today. Forgive our hurtful choices and show us how to accept fully your forgiveness.  We praise you, O God, knowing you yearn for wholeness and healing of your creation and offer us the compass of your wisdom and hope. In Christ and through Christ we pray. Amen.

©January 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Out of darkness God brought

People:  And continues to bring light.

Leader: Out of chaos the Holy One brought

People:  And continues to bring the rhythm of order.

Leader: Out of what cannot be seen our Creator brought

People: And continues to bring the miracle that is life.

Leader: And God deemed creation good.

People: Alleluia! Yes, it is good!

 PRAYER

When we are still, O God, when we calm the busyness within ourselves, we marvel at all you have created – how it works, how it looks, and how we are blessed by its presence.  Remind us that we are caretakers of all that lives.  Empower us to bring our best thoughts, our most caring hearts, and our passionate energies to the stewardship of the world. With joy and gratitude for life we pray. Amen.

©January 2012 Cynthia Langston Kirk

To use this or any liturgy written by Cynthia Langston Kirk please include the copyright in your bulletin and/or on your screen. If you want to use the writing in any other way than one time worship use, please contact Cynthia at: cynthia@piecingstories.com.

 A year after the shooting spree that killed five beloved people, wounded several more and left us grieving and grasping for hope, the city of Tucson came together on Jan. 7th for times of commemorating, celebrating, and committing to life, health and community.  It began at sunrise at the TMC Labyrinth at Peppi’s House. The mother drum called us together, constantly beating the pulse of life and invitation. Singing bowls sang the dawn of a new day. Rev. Amy Barron-Gafford, TMC Hospice Chaplain, welcomed people bundled in coats and blankets and read the poem (see below) at intervals during the dancing. Men and women dressed in white with sashes of color danced hope, perserverance, beauty, gratitude, joy and the strength of community.  Those who gathered before the sun rose over the Rincons (including Pam Simon, Gabby’s staffer who was shot and her daughter Summer) entered the beat with egg shakers, shaking them to the pulse, double time, triple time or however the spirit led. Three speakers, including Ross Zimmermann (Gabe’s dad) and Ron Barber, one of Gabby’s staff members who was shot last January, gave voice to commemorate, celebrate and commit. Later, Sinde Rubiner, facilitator of the artists, led us in creating a symphony with colorful  boom whackers. Each section of people had a different color, a different rhythm to maintain, reminding us all of the mulititude of gifts we bring to our beloved community and one another.

May we remember that each day is a gift from the Holy One to be shared and treasured, to be lived with passion and purpose.

Embrace Life

Listen

As heart speaks to heart

Calling us to live fully

Calling us to the center:

The rich, fertile place   

Of reflection and renewal,

Of being filled with purpose and passion.

Come

Shed the hold of grief, anger, apathy

Pray gratitude each step of the journey

Remembering the ones who alter our souls in beautiful ways.

Receive

The fresh breath of hope

Wisdom’s guiding power

Voice and abilities unique to you

And the gift of community.

Commit 

Renewed energies to heal this hurting world.

Walk, run, share, pray, teach, advocate

Embrace the giving path.

 ©December 5, 2011  Cynthia Langston Kirk

For January 7, 2012 Beyond Event