FourthSunday in Lent
March 10th 2024
All
Service of Gathering
Welcome Rev Dr Robert Griffin, Executive Minister
Announcements Rev Dr Anne Atwell Minister of Connections
Please rise as you are able.
Introit
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 - Deacon Lydya Chapman
Processional Hymn
I Will Enter [God’s] Gates/This Is the Day (Sing to the Lord)
I will enter the gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter God’s courts with praise.
I will say, ‘This is the day that our God has made!’ I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
I have been made glad; I have been made glad. I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
I have been made glad; I have been made glad. I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made, that our God has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that our God has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that our God has made.
I will enter the gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter God’s courts with praise.
I will say, ‘This is the day that our God has made!’ I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
I have been made glad; I have been made glad. I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
I have been made glad; I have been made glad. I will rejoice for I have been made glad.
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.
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.
Please be seated.
Service of Proclamation
The Wisdom of Larua Arrillaga-Andreessen Rev Marian Cavagnaro
Shouldn't you put the same amount of effort into your giving as you might for your for-profit investments? After all, philanthropy is an investment, and one in which lives - not profits - are at stake.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
The Wisdom of Louise Hay
The Universe loves a grateful person. The more you thank Life, the more Life will give you to be thankful for..
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 (12.41-44 New Jerusalem Bible)
Rev Marian CavagnaroJesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had.”
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
The Anthem
Please be seated.
Give a Little Bit
By Rick Davies & Roger HodgsonPerformed By
Aaron BallHomily We Give What We Can And Do So With Love– Rev Dr Anne Atwell
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.
Service of Sacraments
Sacrament of Sharing (Tithes & Offerings)
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Offering Prayer
Rev Marian CavagnaroOne: 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
Performed By
Doxology
Blessed Assurance
By Phoebe P Knapp Barbara RamcharitarRise 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
Sacrament of Hospitality We Remember
Dennis Perrin 03/11/2007
Dick Drow 03/12/1991
Earl Toner 03/12/2005
Robert Hagen 03/13/1997
Fred Schneider 03/13/2004
Gerard Marier 03/13/2005
Raymond Mailhot 03/13/2006
Stephany Bond 03/14/1999
Carlos Mielgo 03/15/2008
James Shipp 03/16/1994
Charles Gruenberg 03/16/2004
Grant Ford 03/16/2019
Rainbow Candle Lit Today
In Memory of Dr Peter Cinelli
February 28, 2024
BySunshine Cathedral Staff
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.
The Lord’s Supper
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /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 Marian Cavagnaro
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 Renwick Bell
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 Be Still
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev Kevin Tisdol
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 Anne Atwell
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 What WOULD Jesus Do?
By Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins (Senior Minister, Sunshine Cathedral) Today, Jesus would probably do what he did in the First Century: he would preach the Realm of God message.
The word translated as Realm of God or kingdom of God really means empire and Jesus used “empire of god” ironically, over against Caesar’s empire.
The so-called Reign of God or Realm of God or Commonwealth of God was an imagined utopia where love and peace, harmony and fairness, goodwill and equity would be what such a world would look like. It’s a dream of a counter-culture in direct opposition to the ways of dominance, the ways of empire.
In this realm of God, which we are meant to be building all the time - always as an alternative to empire, domination, war, greed, and injustice - there would be healing, people wouldn’t be excluded or targeted because of their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. We would all be and see one another as equal citizens in the Realm of God (kin-dom, global family of God).
Now, Jesus never wrote anything, nothing is written about him that we have until 20 years after his death, the gospels that tell the most about him were written 40-90 years after his death. Very little was written about him by people who had actually met him. What we have is a figure shrouded in centuries of myth, but under all of that must have been a person so courageous, so compassionate, so concerned for the “least of these” that he threatened the status quo, and people felt the need to spin great yarns about him.
Any Jesus we discuss is largely a Jesus of our imaginations, but based on a prophetic healer who changed enough lives that they told stories of how his way could change the world.
The Jesus we are still trying excavate from the lore and legend would, it seems to me, still be about caring for the under cared for, touching the untouchable, loving the unloved, and challenging dominance with dreams of peace and justice-love. That’s certainly the Jesus I have embraced and am happy to share with you.
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
