Mainstreeter Blast November 19, 2020

 

Message from the Pastor   Please take a moment to watch this special stewardship message from this week's Meditative Moment with Pastor Kelly.   Out of an abundance of caution for the rising infection rate, the weekly trail adventure and fellowship opportunity have been suspended until it is safer to gather.      The latest option to help us all stay connected in this time of physical distancing is our "Virtual Coffee Hour" starting right after Sunday Worship (approximately 10:30am).    Stop by the Vestry and catch up with your friends (bring your own coffee and snacks).    The virtual rooms are via Google Meet and don't require Facebook at all, and may be attended by phone, by app on iPhone/iPad/Android/or by Computer.   Access information is below.   If you need some hints at using Google Meet there are some instructions and screen shots at https://www.mainstreet-umc.org/activities/coffee-hour that might help you get acclimated. Vestry:  https://meet.google.com/qmq-zxbb-sye  or by phone: +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ?415 456 786 8524#   Click Here for Sunday Bulletin November 22, 2020   Pastor's Sabbath Days: Pastor Kelly: Tuesday Pastor Kristy: Friday Days to Reach Pastor's Pastor Kelly: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Pastor Kristy: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday     2021 MSUMC Envelopes  The 2021 contribution envelopes have arrived.  Since not everyone uses the envelopes, you're welcome to let us know you don't need them. IF you are expecting them, they will be available for pick up at the church connector lobby on the following Monday's from 10am - 1pm:  November , 23, and 30.  They will also be available for pick up on Thursday, November 19 when you drop off your pledge card between 1- 5.  And on Sunday from 8:30-9:30 a.m  You may also pick up a fridge magnet and MSUMC Shirts if you ordered one.  If you can stop by and get the envelopes that would be a great help for the church and would ensure you get them in time for next year.  Understandably, if you cannot make it to the church during these times, I will mail out any remaining envelopes in early December.  Thanks.  Paul Curtis, MSUMC Financial Secretary.       Missions Thanksgiving information: This year, the Missions Work Area will provide gift certificates to our New American Families instead of assembling boxes.  We encourage those families, as well as anyone in the Nashua area who needs food, to go to the Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter during the hours listed below to get Thanksgiving boxes, which will include a turkey and all of the "fixings."  Thanksgiving Boxes 11/19, Thursday – 11am-3pm 11/20, Friday – 11am-3pm 11/23, Monday – 11am-3pm 11/24, Tuesday – 11am-3pm 11/25, Wednesday – 11am-3pm If you wish to help provide the gift certificates for Thanksgiving support for our New American families, you can add a check to the church into your envelope with "Thanksgiving gift cards" in the notes line.  This will allow them to have traditional foods or some of the basics that an ordinary food basket will not provide.  Thank you for your assistance.       Christmas Poinsettias   The Worship Committee will be offering Christmas poinsettias for purchase this year.  Although we are unable to gather in the Sanctuary this Advent and Christmas season, we would still like to offer something festive for the season.  Poinsettias will be offered in red or white and cost $11.00 each  To Order: Please contact Terri Kenny at:  603-891-2526 (home)                                                           603-689-8233 (cell:  voice or text)                                                           terrikenny@comcast.net   All payment should be sent to: Attn:  Finance (please write Poinsettia in memo line) Main Street United Methodist Church    P.O.Box    Nashua, NH  03060                                                             The deadline for ordering poinsettias will be Sunday, December 13th.  Poinsettias will be available for pickup after December 24th.  Thank you and God Bless.     Joyful Shepherds Christmas Gifts 2020     The Nurture Committee will be handling the purchase of gifts this year.  We will not be asking for congregation gifts unless you have already purchased them.  If you have gifts to give, please deliver them to Lynn Moseley at 278 Depot Road, Hollis, NH 03049 by November 20.  Should you need someone to pick them up from your home, please call Nancy Long or Lynn Moseley.     Joyful Shepherds will be meeting at Lynn's home on Saturday, December 5 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM. We'll be organizing and designating gifts on that day.  Christmas gifts and cards will be going out to those we visit.  Nursing homes will allow drop-offs though we may not be able to have personal visits.    Many thanks for your past donations. We look forward to the Christmas season though it will be different this year. If you have questions, please contact Nancy or Lynn.   The ShopWithScrip program is a gift card fundraiser that Main Street has participated in mostly at the holidays and mostly through paper order forms in the Vestry at Coffee Hour for the past few years!  This program earns money for the church with the purchase of Gift Cards at no extra cost and there have been some recent changes to the program that everyone should know about! There is a new mobile app (called RaiseRight - available in the App Store or on Google Play) that can be used to purchase gift cards.  You can purchase electronic gift cards OR you can have physical gift cards shipped to any address you choose!  The code needed to sign up for Main Street's program in the app is: 7EF7366757686 If you have any questions about Main Street's ShopWithScrip program, please reach out to Laura Graudons at LauraG1973@comcast.net or 595-2412       Luminaries and Lanterns    Let's have fun making creative lighting to place outside the church on Christmas Eve.  As long as they are not on the city sidewalk and don't have real candles we are within city guidelines.  Also please use only non-breakable containers, no glass or pottery. We will provide the battery tea lights. Here are some ideas for you to try at home.  These are for most ages, but some adult supervision or help may be required.   The easiest luminary is made using an empty clear plastic milk, water or juice gallon or half gallon jug.  Remove all labels.  You can cut the jug all the way around just below the handle to remove the top.  Any strong scissors will work.  If you want to leave the jug primarily intact, you still need to cut an opening in the back just a little ways up from the bottom where we can add a rock or some kind of weight and a battery tea light.   The examples in the picture are half gallon containers.    Star designs would be great since our theme for Advent is all about lighting up the night.   Use a permanent (waterproof) black marker to draw designs on your luminary.  If you want you could tape a picture or template in or outside the container to use as a guide for drawing or filling in a design.  Remove it when you are done.  The examples below are just a freehand dot starburst, and two designs using templates.  I happen to have a star punch so that made things easier, but you might find a picture of stars to trace or just draw freehand.  You can see one looks like a silhouette of stars and the other looks more like star light shining out.  You have at least 3 sides so you can make them each different.           If you want a challenge, try making a punched tin lantern.  My example below has discolored with  time.  It was made back in the day when shortening came in smooth tin cans, which were great for making lanterns.  Find the biggest empty tin can you can:  soup, fruit, vege, whatever.  Remove and save the label if possible.  Make sure can is rinsed out well and there are no sharp edges on top.  You can pinch down any burs with pliers.  The can will probably have ridges and that is OK.  If you still have the label, use it to measure the size of paper you will need to draw your design. Remember it will need to overlap probably ½ inch when you put it around the can and tape it together later for punching.  You can measure the distance around the can if you do not have the label, then add the extra ½ inch.   If you have freezer paper or something similar that is kind of waterproof that is helpful.  If not, you might want to use cardstock or something a little heavier than notebook paper.  It will get wet eventually.  Do not tape it to the can yet. Next, fill the can with water.  If you have a plastic lid that fits on the can you are lucky, other wise you might want to tape some aluminum foil or plastic film over the top.  Leave the can of water in the freezer overnight to be sure it has frozen nice and solid.   Now you can draw a design on the paper you measured for the can.  (Hint: don't draw on both ends of the paper as one will overlap the other.) Make dots for where you will punch nail holes.  Make slot lines if you want to use a slot style screwdriver.  You will be hammering on the end of either the nail or the screwdriver handle. Gather everything you need before removing the can from the freezer.  You will want to protect any surface you are working on from water or scratches.  Put down some plastic if you have it, then a towel folded a few times for padding and stability.  Remove the can from the freezer.  Wrap your paper design around it and tape the paper together. You will place the can on its side on the towel.  Then start pounding the nail or screwdriver to make your design.   You need to work fast as it gets harder to punch the tin when the ice melts.  The ice helps the can keep its shape while you are punching, but it shrinks as it melts.  You may want to check under the paper to see how far you are punching into the can.  You want large enough holes so the light shines out through them.  If the can is only dented, you won't see the light when it is lit.     Overall 2020 Financial Health   As shown by our finance snapshot below through October, we are meeting our current bills except for World and NE Missions where we need generous fourth quarter giving by our congregants.   Our $368,308 received to date includes our CARES Act loan, HON Continuing Fund, and some up-front annual pledge fulfillments. Our revised COVID budget plan has about $439,000 in general fund expenses for 2020.   Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by COVID-19.   October 2020 Finance Snapshot:   General Fund (GF) Total GF Income Received as of 10/31/2020:           $368,308.90* Total GF Income Budgeted through 10/31/2020:   $369,553.50 (revised budget) ($369,551 orig. bud.) Total GF Expenses Paid through 10/31/2020:          $328,820.70 Total GF Expenses Budgeted through 10/31/2020:  $359,238.11 (revised budget) ($369,503.13 orig.) * Includes $39,270.09 designated for Heart of Nashua Continued ($30,358.30 spent—$20,000 YTD     budgeted) and CARES Act PPP $37,385 received and used for GF expenses .   Notes on General Fund - Current on payments due to providers other than Conference mission payments.    We have paid a little over six months of each New England and World Missions.  We are behind    on Ministerial Support due to a mix up with other missions but will catch up in November.  To pay    our mission shares in full for 2020 we need to pay $16,986.56 ($6,233.69 for Ministerial Support and    $10,752.87 on World and NE Missions combined).    Heart of Nashua 1 & 2 (GiF) & HON Cont. (Capital Campaign/Elevator, Connector, Renovations) - Balance Due on HON Loan as of 10/31/2020:  $152,326.13 (Loan was $358,343.45) - In October the $1,769.53 monthly payment was paid plus $500 on the principal.  HON Cont. funds   on hand ($8911.79) will pay the remaining 2020 payments and payments for the first three months in   2021 and additional principal. - Total Paid Using HON 1, 2 & Continued as of 10/31/2020:  $1,848,782.64   Funding for the Future, 100 for $150 (Endowment) – Received Jan.-Oct. 31, 2020:  $2415.00    Our goal is to have 100 people or families give $150 each year to this fund to grow our endowment for future generations of the church.  Of course, other amounts are gratefully accepted.   Thank You - Many thanks to the Worship Committee for creating "Piecing Together a Life of Faith" (our   stewardship campaign) and to all who shared their quilts and their quilt stories with the church.  - Thank you for your prayers, your presence at our virtual services, your service and your gifts.  Gifts    whether pledged or unpledged are gratefully received and help provide for the many ways this    congregation serves. How to Help - If you are currently giving to the Heart of Nashua Continued (HON Cont.)  please consider donating to    the General Fund instead for the rest of this year.  This is a difficult year for MSUMC financially and    the general fund is where funds are most needed.  All funds received for HON Cont. are used to pay    the loan and additional principal. Your donations are used as directed by you. - Please continue to support us financially if you can.   Checks may be mailed to Main St. UMC,    PO Box 1517, Nashua, NH 03061, Attn.:  Financial Secretary.  Donations may also be made via    PayPal, Vanco or by direct deposit to our bank account. - If possible, please send in your 2020 donations so we receive them by December 23.  This will give   us time to process them for 2020.  PayPal donations take time to transfer to the church and typically   have a mid-month cutoff date for payout to the church later in the month.  That means any remaining   2020 PayPal contributions made after the December cutoff date and report will not be received by   MSUMC and posted to your envelope number until after the January report is received and PayPal   has transferred the money to the MSUMC bank account.  Vanco donations should be okay since they   are directly deposited in the bank.  If you have questions, please contact Paul Curtis.  If you will be   transferring stock to the church's brokerage account, please do so early in December and notify   Phyllis Bowden.   Other -The Finance Committee continues to carefully track income and expenses for 2020.  With your   continuing help we aim to pay all mission shares and expenses. October General Fund income was   low—about half of what we spent.  Let's catch up in November and December. - The 2021 budget has been approved.   Expenses are expected to be similar to 2020.  Because of    COVID 19, etc., some income sources will continue to be impacted so we will need increased giving    to offset them. - Although the church is not open, we have expenses.  Insurance, heat, electricity, and payroll must be    paid.  Recent expenses include:  boiler inspection certificate, furnace maintenance, routine elevator    maintenance, pest control, cleaning supplies, postage, copier lease         Update on Cafe Agape When Main Street UMC closed the building due to pandemic concerns in the spring, Debora and Vince, two of the Cafe Agape workers, decided to continue to operate the ministry out of a truck, independent of the church.  They now have plans to plant the ministry in space donated by another church. As a way of closing this chapter of ministry at Main Street UMC, the remaining volunteers who worked in Cafe Agape were invited to celebrate a Litany of Thanksgiving for the Cafe Agape ministry. Some were unable to attend due to health concerns, but three women from the ministry attended. As a part of that litany, we prayed:  We thank you for the Cafe Agape ministry and for the love shared with our neighbors in community. You led your servants by the Holy Spirit to serve your people in Cafe Agape, to show love to those who are more familiar with the world's contempt.  With thanksgiving, we praise you for raising up these faithful servants who have loved our neighbors well.   And we pray that, as the Spirit of God continues to lead us forward, that we may continue to exemplify, in word and deed, the Gospel of Jesus  Christ.  Grant that we may continue to serve you as the Church on earth, while we anticipate the Kingdom of God to come, which is kind, just, merciful, and loving.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our neighbor, guide and friend. Amen After our time of worship, the volunteers sorted the remaining clothing donations and shared good memories, pictures, and stories from their time in this ministry..  So that the items will be accessible to the largest number of people as quickly as possible, the sorted clothing was divided and sent to the clothing closet at the Southern NH Rescue Mission and to Stepping Stones, a new program for homeless youth, ages 14-24. Both the Rescue Mission and the new director of Stepping Stones expressed their thanks for the items. To all who supported Cafe Agape through your prayers, presence, gifts, and service, we offer our thanks.  At this time, we would ask that you no longer send financial contributions to the church for Cafe Agape, as it is no longer under the church's care..  We pray continued blessings to Deborah and Vince and the patrons of the ministry as they continue elsewhere.     Cabinet Bible Study for Advent Continues: The New England Conference Cabinet invites you to participate in online Bible study during Advent. With shared reflection led by Many Waters District Superintendent Karen Munson and some of our district lay leaders, in these four sessions we will encounter scriptural insights about human relationships that help identify and unpack our current experiences of corporate bias and individual prejudgement. The resource for this study is "It is Enough: A Racism Bible Study" written by Rev. Michael C. Johnson from the Eastern PA Conference.  Bible Study will be four 1-hour sessions. The meeting link will be the same for each:                 7-8 p.m. Sunday, Nov 22         7-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec 6         7-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec 13 Get the Zoom link

Charge Conference Tonight

Charge Conference Tonight at 6:30 p.m.  This is a communion worship service.  Please bring a  juice and bread to the worship. ANNUAL DISTRICT CHURCH CONFERENCE Our annual Church/Charge Conference date has been set for this coming Monday, November 2nd at 6:30 pm.  District Superintendent, Rev. Taesung Kang will meet with the Staff Parish Relations Committee at 5:30 p.m.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a church community to celebrate our ministries and prepare for the future.  All are encouraged to attend. Zoom meeting information: Topic: SPRC Meeting/Church Conference - Taesung Presiding Time: Various Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81193153067?pwd=dko0UEJ1YjQ2ZGVxRFZEeVZkelpGQT09 Meeting ID: 811 9315 3067 Passcode: 341394 One tap mobile +16465588656,,81193153067#,,,,,,0#,,341394# US (New York) Dial by your location                +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)       HOLY CONFERENCING IN OUR CHURCHES GATHERING REFLECTION FOR BELOVED COMMUNITY "Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." --Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? --Isaiah 43.18-19, NIV CALL TO AGAPE LOVE IN HOLY CONFERENCING 'Welcome' --#3152 Worship & Song Let's walk together for a while and ask where we begin to build a world where love can grow and hope can enter in, to be the hands of healing and to plant the seeds of peace, singing welcome, welcome to this place. You're invited to come and know God's grace. All are welcome, the love of God to share, 'cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place. Let's talk together of a time when we will share a feast, where pride and power kneel to serve the lonely and the least, and joy will set the table as we join our hands to pray, singing welcome, welcome to this place. You're invited to come and know God's grace. All are welcome, the love of God to share, 'cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place. Let's dream together of the day when earth and heaven are one, a city built of love and light, the new Jerusalem, where our mourning turns to dancing, every creature lifts its voice, crying welcome, welcome to this place. You're invited to come and know God's grace. All are welcome, the love of God to share, 'cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place. Presider: Dr. King's beloved community exhibits agape love, which, as the love of God operating in the human heart, seeks to "preserve and create community." Christ's 2 mature followers love each other as well as those who persecute or do evil against them. Christians confront hate with love because agape love derives its essence from the cross of Christ, which brings redemptive power. This love does not accept injustice or evil as acceptable. Rather, it loves by way of justice, which ensures equity in access, participation, and flourishing for everyone.... God prompts us to remake our hostility-filled communities into those where justice and love reign true. This also applies to the Church. What would The United Methodist Church look like, feel like, and be like if the beloved community became real for us? What would your local church be like? The beloved community manifests and protects agape love as its guiding principle and is expressed in the following ways: Recorded voices from around the conference: 1. Offers radical hospitality to everyone; an inclusive family rather than exclusive club; 2. Recognizes and honors the image of God in every human being; 3. Exhibits personal authenticity, true respect, and validation of others; 4. Recognizes and affirms, not eradicates, differences; 5. Listens emotionally (i.e., with the heart) – fosters empathy and compassion for others; 6. Tolerates ambiguity – realizes that sometimes a clear-cut answer is not readily available; 7. Builds increasing levels of trust and works to avoid fear of difference and others; 8. Acknowledges limitations, lack of knowledge, or understanding – and seeks to learn; 9. Acknowledges conflict or pain in order to work on difficult issues; 10. Speaks truth in love, always considering ways to be compassionate with one another; 11. Avoids physical aggression and verbal abuse; 12. Resolves conflicts peacefully, without violence, recognizing that peacefully doesn't always mean comfortably for everybody; 13. Releases resentment and bitterness through self-purification (i.e., avoidance of internal violence through spiritual, physical, and psychological care); 14. Focuses energy on removing evil forces (unjust systems), not destroying persons; 15. Nurtures unyielding persistence and unwavering commitment to justice; 16. Achieves friendship and understanding through negotiation, compromise, or consensus – considering each circumstance to discern which will be most helpful; 17. Righteously opposes and takes direct action against poverty, hunger, and homelessness; 18. Advocates thoroughgoing, extensive neighborhood revitalization without 3 displacement (this also applies to the Church – working toward responsible and equitable growth, discipleship, and worship); 19. Blends faith and action to generate a commitment to defeating injustice (not forgetting that injustice can also be found within the Church); 20. Encourages and embraces artistic expressions of faith from diverse perspectives; 21. Fosters dynamic and active spirituality – recognizes that we serve a dynamic God who is not left behind by a changing world or people, and that a passive approach will not work; 22. Gathers together regularly for table fellowship, and meets the needs of everyone in the community; 23. Relies on scripture reading, prayer, & corporate worship for inner strength; 24. Promotes human rights and works to create a non-racist society; 25. Shares power and acknowledges the inescapable network of mutuality among the human family. Presider: In the spirit of beloved community, I hereby call the Church Conference of [church name] into session and ask for your response. People: We are here as a United Methodist community of God to account for our ministries, to order our life together, and to resolve that in the year ahead we will answer the call of Jesus Christ to his disciples, leading this church into active ministries of love, truth, and justice. Presider: Knowing that we are all called to ministry of beloved community together, lay and clergy alike, let us enter into the business of your Church Conference. WORK FOR GOD'S BELOVED COMMUNITY 1. Vote to authorize virtual meeting (when applicable) We move that those who are authorized to participate in the [church/charge] conference of [church name] on [date] hereby agree that we consent to proceed with a virtual meeting using remote technology, and consent that all our decisions are in accordance with the Constitution of The United Methodist Church (Division Two, Section VI, Article II (¶ 33) and with the laws of the church, and are therefore legal and binding actions of the conference. 2. Election of Secretary 3. Recording attendance 4. Approval of Minutes of 2019 Church Conference 5. Approval of Audit/Fund Balance Report from 2019 6. Trustee Report 4 a. Has the congregation received any bequests from a will? Bequests from wills that have been received since the last Church Conference must be accepted by vote. b. Has the congregation used any capital/principle from investments/endowments for operating expenses this year? If so, for what purposes and how much? c. Has the congregation spent any funds realized from the sale of a parsonage? If so, for what purpose and how much? Was this done with permission from the DS? 7. Staff / Pastor Parish Relations Report Approval of Compensation for Pastor and Other Staff Appointed by the Bishop 8. Finance Report Update on Year-to-Date Finances Approval of 2021 Budget if prepared 9. Lay Leadership / Nominations Report Election of Church Leaders and Trustees 10.Lay Servants / Lay Speakers / Certified Lay Ministers Reports Approval and reaffirmation of any in these categories 11. Candidates Reports a. Reaffirmation of Candidates for Ministry b. Examination and Paper Ballot Vote for any New Candidate for Ministry c. Examination and Recommendation of Candidates for Church Related Vocations 12. Clergy Reports a. Retired Minister(s) Report b. Extension Minister(s) Report c. Pastor(s) Report 13. Membership Report and Remembering our Saints 14. Other business and prayers for the people TABLE FELLOWSHIP IN BELOVED COMMUNITY 'For Everyone Born/A Place at the Table' --#3149 Worship & Song For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead. And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice, and joy! Presider: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. 5 Presider: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Presider: Black lives matter to you, and always have. Black lives matter. Black male lives matter. Black female lives matter. Black LGBTQIA+ lives matter. Black trafficked lives matter. Black uneducated as well as educated lives matter. Black poor as well as rich lives matter. Black homeless lives matter. Black Christians and non-Christians matter. Black lives with disabilities matter. Black immigrants and refugees matter. Black children matter. Black teens matter. Their lives are sacred. Their lives are valuable. Their lives are precious. Their lives are important. Their lives are necessary. Their lives are integral to your magnificent beloved family. So we join with them and all the others who are just as sacred, valuable, precious, important, necessary and integral to your plan of salvation to sing your praises. We join with all the angels and archangels, the great choir of saints before your throne, from every nation, from every culture, who speak every language, worshiping endlessly before your throne of grace saying: People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Presider: You are holy, and so is your presence with us in Jesus Christ. Jesus was not white. Jesus did not speak English. 6 Jesus was not a Christian. Jesus lived as the citizen of an occupied nation. Jesus was part of an oppressed people. Jesus was a refugee who found protection on the continent of Africa. Jesus experienced mob violence. Jesus experienced police brutality. Jesus was lynched. Jesus gave up his own divine privilege, and chose to live as a slave and to live a life of service. This act defined his greatness, and defines our discipleship. Giving up his own divine privilege, Jesus took the bread used as a call to compassion for the oppressed, gave thanks for it, broke it and shared it with the whole community, saying: "Take and eat, this is my body broken and given freely for you." Remember how this act defined his greatness and defines our discipleship. Giving up his own divine privilege, Jesus took the cup used as a call to hope for divine deliverance, gave thanks for it, and shared it with the whole community, saying: "Drink from my cup, each of you; this is my blood that I shed to testify to God's eternal covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins." Remember how this act defined his greatness and defines our discipleship. Christ's life mattered. Christ's abuse by religious authorities mattered. Christ's murder mattered. Christ's resurrection mattered. And so do our lives. So we choose to follow Christ and to live according to this divine mystery as we now declare: People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Presider: Life, Meaning, Giver of Sacred Worth, cause these gifts of bread and wine to become for us the body and blood of Christ, the reason our lives matter. 7 Life, Meaning, Giver of Sacred Worth, touch the lives of any who feel that their lives don't matter; who feel they are not valued, who are treated with disrespect and fear that their precious lives will be thrown away. Change us, so others might have hope. Change us, so other might be valued. Change us, so that no one will have to stand before their oppressors alone. Change us, so Christ's life will matter. Change us, so the Holy Spirit's life will matter. Change us, so our Creator's life will matter, and that we might more fully give them the honor, glory, and praise, due their holy name, today, tomorrow, and always. People: Amen. Presider: Now as those who recognize the value of the oppressed and abused, let us pray with Christ who walks this path with them and us. People: Our Father* in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom** come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom**, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. *or Parent **or kin-dom BREAKING BREAD AND SHARING CUP 'For Everyone Born/A Place at the Table' --#3149 Worship & Song For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be, to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free. And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice, and joy! Presider: Let us pray: Thank you for sharing with us this holy mystery found in Jesus Christ. It has changed us: the way we think, the way we feel, what we understand, how we desire to live, and the value we see in the lives of others whom we have harmed through our sin of racism. Now send us out to demand that others be treated with the value they hold within your heart. May your love become more visible in us, that we not bring shame upon the name of Jesus, now or ever. Amen. GOING FORTH IN AGAPE LOVE FORMAL MOTION TO ADJOURN THE CHURCH CONFERENCE Presider: As our time together comes to an end, I declare this Church Conference adjourned. BAPTISMAL PROMISE People: We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. Thanks be to God! Amen. OUR WORSHIP IS OVER. OUR SERVICE BEGINS.

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