Your Local & Global Queer Church Community for All A Positive Worship Experience
Theme for Today: Is It Really Over?
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 17, 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 - Deacon Lydya Chapman
Processional Hymn
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley (CoCS)
Jesus walked this lonesome valley; he had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him; he had to walk it by himself.
We must walk this lonesome valley; we have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us; we have to walk it by ourselves.
You must go and stand your trial; you have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you; you have to stand it by yourself.
Jesus walked this lonesome valley; he had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him; he had to walk it by himself.
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 Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Sung Response
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 Charlotte Eriksson
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
So for now,
I will miss you like I’ll never see you again, And the next time I see you, I will kiss you like I’ll never kiss you again, And when I fall asleep beside you I will fall asleep as if I’ll never wake up again, because I don’t know if I will. I don’t know if I will.
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 (13.1-8 New Jerusalem Bible)
Rev Marian CavagnaroAs Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
The Anthem
Please be seated.
Put A Little Love In Your Heart
By Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers, and Jackie DeShannonPerformed By Jessica Borbone
Homily Is It Really Over? – 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.
Service of Sacraments
Sacrament of Sharing (Tithes & Offerings)
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Offering Prayer
9:00 Linda Edin /10:30 Rick Brown
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
Shall We Gather at the River Near to the Heart of God
Arr By
Mark HayesPerformed By Dr Jihong Adams-Park
Rise as you are able.
Doxology
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
Diane Martin 03/17/1990
Ed Thibodeau 03/18/2019
Ted Justyk 03/19/1990
Bob Hoy 03/20/1995
Ralph Durham 03/20/2004
Mark Parker 03/22/1994
Mannie Marricco 03/23/2006
Ted Rosenberg 03/23/2009
Eucharistic Intentions & Intercessions
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /10:30 Deacon Ed Huckemeyer
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 Deacon Ed Huckemeyer
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 Deacon Ed Huckemeyer
Celebrant: We celebrate this Eucharist to the glory of God and with special intentions for peace in our world.
Rev Marian Cavagnaro & 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
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol /10:30 Deacon Ed Huckemeyer
Be Still
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
Final Song
Commissioning
Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Dwelling in Beulah Land
One: Our worship has ended. Let our service begin! All: Thanks be to God!
Postlude
Barbara Ramcharitar
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
What and Where is Beulah Land?
byRev. Dr.
DurrellWatkins (Senior Minister, Sunshine Cathedral)
Beulah is only mentioned once in the bible (in the book of Isaiah, “You shall be called my delight and your land, Beulah”). Beulah literally means, “married to the land” and probably referred to exiled Hebrews wanting to return to their land of Promise.
In the 17th century Christian allegory “Pilgrim’s Progress,” Beulah represents the peaceful end of one’s life, the other side of which is a heavenly home.
Some have imagined Beulah to be a sort of entrance to Jerusalem, the holy city on a hill.
Beulah and Beulah Land are used in lyrics of several gospel songs as sort of a metaphor for peace and well-being. While it clearly means something good, it is also ambiguous enough that for you, it can mean what you need it to mean.
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.
POT LUCK – Join us Wednesday, March 20 at 6 pm for our monthly Potluck.
EVENSONG – Thursdays in Lent at 7 pm, we are offering a weekly prayer service that includes readings, moments of silence, candle lighting, and prayer choruses. We are offering this as a spiritual discipline for Lent. Join us for this profound and sensual prayer experience.
LOAVES & FISHES – Non-perishable food items are being collected on Sundays in Lent to help stock our food pantry that serves up to a thousand people many weeks.
BECOME AN EASTER LILY – The sponsors of our Easter programming are called Easter Lilies. Easter Lilies help us have a grand Easter celebration which also helps energize the ministries of the Sunshine Cathedral. Our Easter Lilies make special donations in memory or in honor of loved ones whose names are included in the Easter Sunday worship program. There are Easter Lily envelopes in the seat backs and an Eas-
ter Lily link is available on our website. Those wishing to be Easter Lilies must make their commitment by Palm Sunday. For more info contact Rev Dr. Robert Griffin (Robert@sunshinecathedral.org).
LENT - the season of preparation that precedes Easter. It is said to last 40 days but Lent takes 46 days, because Sundays aren’t meant to be counted in Lent. Sunday is traditionally called “The Lord’s Day” because it is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, the legendary and poetic way of affirming that his purpose and place in our lives did not end at Golgotha, but rather, we experience him with us still in song, sermon, sacrament, scripture, and imagination. Since every Sunday is a little Easter, we omit them from the days of Lent. Subtract the 6 Sundays from Lent, and we are left with 40 days.
Lent is a time to renew spiritual practices or take them deeper. In the early church, preparation for baptisms (which would take place at Easter) could last a year. Lent is a shorter time of learning and recommitting to the path. It is a time for “almsgiving” (giving generously to church and charities), regular worship, and daily prayer.
Observing Lenten disciplines is a way to grow spiritually and to prepare for a renewal of Easter joy in your life.
SHARING TRULY GOOD NEWS
by Rev. Dr. Durrell WatkinsMy mother’s town of about 60k (its “twin” city, adjoining it, bumps it up to about 90k). It’s 1 to 3 hours from any urban areas (Shreveport, Little Rock, and Dallas).
While visiting my mother last week, I decided to go to church on Sunday. I looked for a progressive church. Years ago there were 3 or 4. They seem to be gone. There is no MCC or Unitarian Universalist Church. There is no UCC. There is a Protestant congregation that I have visited before; it’s nice, but I've come to expect more than "nice." I need a message and a community that simultaneously encourages and challenges, that affirms and calls to action, that values justice rather than just-us, that loves and that loves to have fun. I need Sunshine.
So I really appreciated Sunshine Cathedral’s broadcast. It was how I was able to worship in that isolated area. I’ve enjoyed the broadcast before when traveling, but this time was different. This was a reminder of how WE ARE IT for anyone in many places who wants something other than threatening, superstitious, intelligence insulting, fear-based, exclusivist religion.
On my mother’s cable there are 16 religious channels. SIXTEEN.
1 Jewish
1 Catholic
1 Mormon
1 Scientologist
12 evangelical/Pentecostal
That’s it. Not one channel showing anything similar to Sunshine Cathedral. That’s what we’re facing. And that’s why we’re super important. I, a very motivated, committed, liberal person of faith spent more than a day looking for a place to worship or a televised service that I would find affirming and up-lifting. I found nothing that didn't require a long commute.
What of those who don't know that friendly spiritual communities based on love even exist? How much more difficult will it
