Your Local & Global Queer Church Community for All A Positive Worship Experience
Theme for Today: Abundance Thinking
Third Sunday in Lent
March 3rd 2024
All Are Welcome!
Service of Gathering
Welcome Rev Dr Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister
Rev Dr Robert Griffin, Executive Minister
Announcements
Introit
Rev Dr Anne Atwell Minister of Connections
Please rise as you are able.
An Evening Prayer (AAHH)
If I have wounded any soul today, if I have caused one foot to stray, if I have walked in my own willful way, dear God, forgive.
If I have uttered idle words or vain, if I have turned aside from want or pain, lest I offend some other through the strain, dear God, forgive.
Sunshine Cathedral Affirmation
Sunshine Cathedral is a different kind of church where:
*Our God is love.
*Kindness is our worship.
*Compassion is our prayer.
*The sacred value of all people is our creed; and
*Healing the hurts caused by hatred is our mission.
The Call to Worship
One: This is the day that has been made. All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Service of Praise
Crucifer - Tito McWilliams Ramos
Processional Hymn
Let Us Give Praise to the God of Creation (CoCS)
Let us give praise to the God of creation, Lord of all hist’ry and source of all power, Calling us now to the world’s restoration; granting us strength for the needs of this hour.
Persons are agents by God’s gracious willing, Blessed with assurance of ultimate worth. Power is within us for hist’ry’s fulfilling, Stewards of all the resources of earth.
All things are sacred, for use with thanksgiving, Boundless resources for each to employ; Strength for the body and souls’ fuller living; Spirit and element bonded in joy.
Opening Prayer (Sunshine Cathedral 2024 Daily Prayer)
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
One: Let us pray in unison:
Right now, I am tapping into the universal life force. I wish for all who are suffering to find relief and hope.
I deny fear any power over me. I will be a bright light in the world.
I am serene and confident and full of joy.
I expect blessings.
Nothing is too good for me
May we all be strong and wise and loving.
May Love heal our world.
Let there be peace.
Amen.
Prophetic Witness
Heal our world, Spirit, heal our world;
Heal Our World
Hear our cry and turn our nations back to you.
Lord, heal our world, hear us, O Lord, and heal our world;
Receive our prayer and heal our broken world.
Receive our prayer and heal our broken world.
Please be seated.
Clarion Call
Sung Response
Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Heal our world, Spirit, heal our world;
Hear our cry and turn our nations back to you.
Lord, heal our world, hear us, O Lord, and heal our world;
Receive our prayer and heal our broken world.
Receive our prayer and heal our broken world.
Service of Proclamation
The Wisdom of Rodney Stock
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
Christianity served as a revitalization movement that arose in response to the misery, chaos, fear and brutality of life in the urban Greco-Roman world…To cities filled with the homeless and impoverished, Christianity offered charity as well as hope. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachments. To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family. To cities torn by violent ethnic strife, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
The Wisdom of Michael B Curry
When we use the phrase the ‘Jesus Movement,’ we’re actually pointing back to the earliest days of Jesus’ teaching and his followers moving in his revolutionary footsteps in the power of the Spirit. Together with them, we’re following Jesus and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationship with God, with each other, and with creation.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
Please rise as you are able.
The Good News According to Mark (12.13-17 New Jerusalem Bible)
Rev Kevin TisdolSome Pharisees and some Herodians came to Jesus to set a trap for him.
These came and said to him, Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, that you are not afraid of anyone, because human rank means nothing to you, and that you teach the way of God in all honesty. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or not?'
Recognizing their hypocrisy he said to them, 'Why are you putting me to the test? Hand me a denarius and let me see it.'
They handed him one and he said to them, 'Whose portrait is this? Whose title?' They said to him, 'Caesar's.'
Jesus said to them, 'Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and God what belongs to God.' And they were amazed at him.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
The Anthem
Please be seated.
That's the Way It Is
By Max Martin, Kristian Lundin, and Andreas Carlsson Performed By Sara BurnsHomily Abundance Thinking – Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Altar Call and Anointing
Prayer Chorus
Please rise as you are able.
Abide with Me
Abide with me; the dawn of day is here; Darkness is vanished, light is shining clear; Truth’s glorious message makes the glad earth free; O holy Comforter, abide with me!
I need Thy presence, satisfying, pure; All else is changing, Thou alone art sure. Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through joy eternal, Lord, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy Truth before my wondering sight; Shine in my soul, fill me with life and light; Heav’n’s morning breaks, its glory now I see; Thou in rich blessing dost abide in me.
Pastoral Prayer and Affirmations
Sign of Peace
How Could Anyone
How could anyone ever tell you - you were anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you - you were less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle?
How deeply you’re connected to my soul.
How could anyone ever tell you - you were anything less than beautiful?
How could anyone ever tell you - you were less than whole?
How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle?
How deeply you’re connected to my soul.
Volunteer Award Presentation (10:30)
Service of Sacraments
Sacrament of Sharing (Tithes & Offerings)
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Offering Prayer
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /10:30 Rev Renwick Bell
One: Because we value our community and believe in our inspired mission, because we want every person to live with hope and joy, and because we know that even a little can mean a lot, we participate in the Sacrament of Sharing, the joyful giving of resources meant to help more and more people discover that they are God’s miracle and not God’s mistake.
All: We give what we can and do so with love. Every dime and every dollar given with the intention to bless others will make a difference in someone’s life. This brings us joy, and in this way, we worship. God bless our gifts to faithful service, for the sake of your love. Amen.
Offering Music
Doxology
6 Pezzi No 5 Serenata
By O RespighiPerformed By Laura Gonzalez
Rise as you are able.
Glorify Thy Name
O God, we love you, we worship and adore you; glorify your names in all the earth.
Glorify your names, glorify your names, glorify your names in all the earth
The Lord’s Supper
Sacrament of Hospitality
We Remember
Tom Rosenblatt 03/01/2004
Mark Hooker 03/02/2004
George Lamas 03/03/1991
Jerry Widholm 03/03/1991
John Messina 03/03/2006
Grace Corey 03/03/2007
Bill Zaone 03/05/1990
Larry Nelson 03/06/1991
Bob Horton 03/06/2010
Bob Meadows 03/09/1979
Loretta Karban 03/09/2007
Eucharistic Intentions & Intercessions
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /10:30 Rev Renwick Bell
One: Our hearts are set on God’s loving presence. Let us affirm our trust in God.
All: I believe in God, the Good, and in the message and mission of God’s anointed prophet, Jesus the Wayshower, who was born of Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was executed for empowering the powerless and restoring the dignity of the marginalized, and yet he lives in our hearts and ministry. I believe in the omnipresent power of divine Love, in the Blessed Community, in the sacred value of all people, and in life without end. Amen.
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /10:30 Rev Renwick Bell
Mother-Father God, we affirm blessings for all who are on the Cathedral’s prayer list and for all who are on our hearts. We trust you to lead, guide, and direct each of us in the ways of happiness, well-being, and right action. We pray for those who hold authority in the nations of the world that they may be guided by wisdom and motivated by a love of justice and peace. We pray for our departed loved ones, (+) let light perpetual shine upon them. And with people all over the world we pray, May peace prevail on earth!
These prayers we offer in the names of all helpers of humanity, and in the spirit of Jesus, son of Mary, as we continue to pray as Jesus taught us:
Model Prayer
Creator which art in heaven, hallowed be thy names. Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And leave us not in temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kin-dom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
9:00 Rev Dr Anne Atwell /10:30 Rev Renwick Bell
Celebrant: We celebrate this Eucharist to the glory of God and with special intentions for peace in our world.
Rev Dr Anne Atwell & Rev Kevin Tisdol
One: Referring to the Christian Mass, Thich Nhat Hanh said: “This piece of bread is the body of the whole cosmos. Look deeply and you notice the sunshine in the bread, the blue sky in the bread, the cloud and the great earth in the bread...What is not in a piece of bread? The whole cosmos has come together in order to bring to you this piece of bread. Eat it in such a way that you come alive, truly alive.”
One: The Apostle Paul wrote, “Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the life of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.”
All: At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “When you share this feast, (+) remember me.”
In his name, we share grape and grain, love and life. Amen.
Sung Response
For bread before us broken, for wine before us poured, for words which you have spoken, we give you thanks, O Lord.
In prayer that we’ll be strengthened and be again restored, in faith that you will aid us, we seek your table, Lord.
Invitation to Communion
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
One: These are the gifts of God for all the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Communion is Shared
The ushers will direct you row by row to come forward for Communion. If you would like a communion kit to serve yourself communion in your seat, tell your usher. “Taste and see that God is good.”
Communion Song
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Be Still
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Please rise as you are able.
The Prayer of Protection
The light of God surrounds us; the love of God enfolds us. The power of God protects us; the presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are, God is.
Benediction
Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Final Song
Dwelling in Beulah Land
Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling; Then I know the pains of earth beset on ev’ry hand.
Doubt and fear and things of earth in vain to me are calling;
none of these shall move me from Beulah Land.
I’m living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky (praise God).
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry.
O yes, I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply, For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.
Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation; hearing now a blessed voice, I see the way God planned. Dwelling in the Spirit here, I learn of liberation.
Gladly will I tarry in Beulah Land.
I’m living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky (praise God).
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry. O yes, I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply, For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.
I’m living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky (praise God).
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry. O yes, I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply, For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.
Commissioning
One: Our worship has ended. Let our service begin!
All: Thanks be to God!
Postlude
Barbara Ramcharitar
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
It’s About Love
by Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins (Senior Minister, Sunshine Cathedral)
Someone on social media recently said that Sunshine Cathedral wasn’t really Christian.
It is true that not everyone who worships at Sunshine Cathedral identifies as Christian, but most do and we are a Christian church in any case.
Personally, I am not interested in whether people identify as Christian or not. The very word has been so weaponized that it brings horror and dread rather than joy and peace to far too many people. That being said, I very much wish to be a follower of the Christ Way, a person who embraces and tries to live by the Love-Ethic Jesus taught and lived.
To follow Jesus doesn’t require rigid fundamentalism, harsh moralism, cruelty toward non-Christians, or uncritical acceptance of preconceived ideas. To follow Jesus, one need no more dogma, doctrine, or creed than “love.”
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he blessed peacemakers, the merciful, the bereaved, and the oppressed. He tried to protect women by discouraging divorce which could leave women vulnerable and at risk (today he would say pay your child support). He discouraged retaliation and even gave the outrageously pacifistic advice to turn the other cheek. He said to love everyone, even our enemies. He warned to keep materialism in perspective, to not let it become a sort of god. He said, “judge not,” and he gave the Golden Rule.
Forgive. Be kind. Be generous. See the best in most people most of the time. Care about the vulnerable. Work for justice for all. Treat people the way you’d like to be treated. In short, just love. One thing I know is that Sunshine Cathedral is filled with love, and that’s what is important to me.
A PRAYER FOR 2024 by Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins
(Put this prayer where you will see it every day and use it throughout 2024)
Right now, I am tapping into the universal life force.
I wish for all who are suffering to find relief and hope.
I deny fear any power over me.
I will be a bright light in the world.
I am serene and confident and full of joy.
I expect blessings. Nothing is too good for me.
May we all be strong and wise and loving.
May Love heal our world. Let there be peace. Amen.
CASA MONARCA – Join us Wednesday evenings for dinner and drinks at Casa Monarca (2980 N. Federal Hwy). Happy Hour menu available from 4:30 to close and a portion of Wednesday night profits are donated to Sunshine Cathedral!
BECOME AN EASTER LILY – The sponsors of our Easter programming are called Easter Lilies. Easter Lilies help us have a grand Easter
