
Sherri Sinders – quilt, Linda Ediger – banner, Sara Stucky – painting, David Toews – ceramic turtle, Pastor Rose Marie – poetry book, Randall Kaufman – cross
Spirituality and the Arts 3: Shall we Dance?
Prelude “Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God” Performed by Jubilate Ringers and Ben Smeaton, percussion
Prayer for Peace & Lighting of Peace Candle
God of Love, We’ve Known Division
God of love, we’ve known division and we’ve seen its awful cost.
We have struggled as a nation, and there’s much that we have lost.
We have been a house divided — and, divided, we can’t stand.
May our nation be united; give us peace throughout this land.
Turn us, Lord, from what divides us — fear that drives us far apart,
greed that leads to great injustice, racist ways that break your heart.
May we seek what brings together — hearts that bear each other’s pain,
care and mercy toward our neighbors, love that welcomes strangers in.
May we all, in conversation, speak the truth and listen well.
May we hear, across this nation, stories others have to tell.
May we learn from other cultures and be blessed by their worldview;
May we serve with one another — loving others, loving you.
You have challenged us to goodness; you have shown a kinder way.
It’s your love that now inspires us as we seek a better day.
May we end our harsh division; may we stop the hate and fear.
Make us one, Lord, as a nation; may we be united here.
– Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2020, used by permission
-moment of silence-
Call to Worship[i]
Laugh! Children of God!
Let tears of joy baptize your eyes and your cheeks.
Give God thanks and celebrate!
It’s great to be alive!
It’s great to be alive!
Dance! Children of God!
Lose yourself in the choreography of the Spirit.
Life is a dance and God is the orchestra.
It’s great to be alive!
It’s great to be alive!
Embrace! Children of God!
Open your arms and feel close to each other.
It is in our openness where life takes on meaning.
It’s great to be alive!
Give God thanks and celebrate!
It’s great to be alive!
-John. W. Howell
[i] Reprinted by permission of the publishers from Touch Holiness, ed. Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi. ©1990 by The Pilgram Press.