Your Local & Global Queer Church Community for All A Positive Worship Experience
Theme for Today: Paulism vs Christianity
April 28, 2024
All Are Welcome!
Service of Gathering
Welcome Rev Dr Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister
Rev Dr Robert Griffin, Executive Minister
Announcements
Rev Dr Anne Atwell Minister of Connections
Introit O Filii Et Filiae with Alleluias
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Past are the cross, the scourge, the thorn, the scoffing tongue, the gibe, the scorn, and brightly breaks the eastern morn. Alleluia!
Gone are gloomy clouds of night; the shades of death are put to flight; and from the tomb beams heav’nly light. Alleluia!
Please rise as you are able.
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: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All: Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Service of Praise
Crucifer - Tito McWilliams-Ramos
Processional Hymn This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
All throughout the night, I’m gonna let it shine.
All throughout the night, I’m gonna let it shine.
All throughout the night, I’m gonna let it shine. L et it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Opening Prayer (Sunshine Cathedral 2024 Daily Prayer)
Rev Dr Anne AtwellOne: 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.
Service of Proclamation
Prophetic Witness In the Midst of New Dimensions
As we stand a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes, grant that we your global village, might envision wiser dreams
God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
Please be seated
Clarion Call Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to with draw in pain, may your blazing phoenix spirit resurrect the church again.
God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
The Wisdom of Reza Aslan
(Zealot: The Life & Times of Jesus of Nazareth)
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
Luke wrote the book of Acts as a kind of eulogy to his former [mentor, Paul] some thirty to forty years after Paul had died. In fact, Acts is less an account of the apostles than it is a reverential biography of Paul; the apostles disappear from the book early on, serving as little more than the bridge between Jesus and Paul…
The apostles may have walked and talked with the living Jesus (or, as Paul dismissively calls him, ‘Jesus-inthe-flesh’). But Paul walks and talks with the divine Jesus: they have, according to Paul, conversations in which Jesus imparts secret instructions intended solely for his ears.
The apostles may have been hand-picked by Jesus as they toiled away on their fields or bought up their fishing nets. But Jesus chose Paul before he was born…In other words, Paul does not consider himself the thirteenth apostle. He thinks he is the first apostle.
In these human words, God's voice is heard.
Thanks be to God.
Please rise as you are able.
Gradual Mfurahini, Haleluya
Christ has arisen, alleluia. Rejoice and sing praise, alleluia.
For our redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death, dispelling its gloom. Let us sing praise to God with endless joy. Death’s fearful sting Christ did come to destroy. Love always giving, alleluia! Jesus is living, alleluia!
Paul in Corinth (Acts 18.1-4 & 1 Corinthians 1.14-18)
Rev Dr Anne Atwell
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.
Paul said to some gathered, “I thank God that I baptized very few of you and no one has been baptized in my name. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
In these human words, God's voice is heard. Thanks be to God.
Please be seated
Sign of Peace Filled With Loving Kindness
May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be well.
May I be filled with loving kindness.
May I be well.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
May I be whole.
May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well.
May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be whole.
May we be filled with loving kindness. May we be well.
May we be filled with loving kindness.
May we be well.
May we be peaceful and at ease.
May we be whole.
Service of Sacraments
Sacrament of Sharing (Tithes & Offerings)
Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Offering Prayer
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol/10:30 Rev Margarita Rodriguez
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.
The Anthem
Homily
Love Never Dies
By Andrew Lloyd Webber & Glenn Slater Performed By Jessica BorboneRev Dr Durrell Watkins Paulism vs Christianity
Altar Call and Anointing
Please rise as you are able.
Prayer Chorus I Believe in Miracles
I believe in miracles, I’ve seen a soul set free.
Miraculous the change in one who has found liberty. I’ve seen a lily push its way up through the stubborn sod;
O I believe in miracles for I believe in God.
I believe in miracles, I’ve seen a soul set free.
Miraculous the change in one who has found liberty. I’ve seen a lily push its way up through the stubborn sod;
O I believe in miracles for I believe in God.
Pastoral Prayer and Affirmations
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
Caprice d'Adieu
By N Paganini Performed By Laura GonzalezRise 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
Phil Cappetta 04/28/1990
Anthony Varvaro 04/29/2022
Randy Sellmann 04/30/1998
William Smith 04/30/1998
Frank Troina 04/30/2005
Gregg Gustafson 05/01/1994
Dean DiFiore 05/01/1996
Robert Rodd 05/01/1999
Harry Hinman 05/01/2014
Ron Bulpin 05/02/1988
Scott Carter 05/03/1994
The Last Supper Narrative Rev Dr Anne Atwell
One: On the night of his arrest, Jesus shared a Passover meal with his closest companions.
He compared sharing bread to being a body where many parts work together within and as a whole.
He compared a memorial cup to the life-blood of a ministry dedicated to justice-love.
And he asked that when such a meal was shared again, that he be remembered (+), so that his life and love would be present in their blessed memories.
Intercessions
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol/10:30 Rev Margarita Rodriguez
One: We pray, and we allow ourselves to be the answer to prayer.
For the Sunshine Cathedral Global Fellowship and local congregation, for all who are on our prayer list, for our loved ones, for world and community leaders, and for our own needs, let us pray:
Prayer Chorus Bless Us All
One: And with people all over the world we pray –All: 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.
All: We remember. We share. We give thanks. We summon hope. We are one. Amen.
Invitation to Communion Rev Kevin Tisdol
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 Songs Laudate Dominum (2x)
Laudate Dominum, laudate Dominum omnes gentes, alleluia!
Laudate Dominum, laudate Dominum omnes gentes, alleluia!
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Sing, praise and bless the Lord, peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Sing, praise and bless the Lord, peoples! Nations! Alleluia!
8 Fold Alleluia
Eucharistic Intentions
9:00 Rev Kevin Tisdol/10:30 Rev Margarita Rodriguez
We celebrate this Eucharist to the glory of God and with special intentions for peace, justice, and reconciliation in the world.
Christ lives in story, in ritual, and in our lives as we remember Jesus at this table.
And so, with Easter gladness, let us sing together:
Let the victor’s people sing, alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, Christ lives today, alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev Dr Robert Griffin
Noisy Offering
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 Raise You Up
Commissioning
One: Our worship has ended. Let our service begin! All: Thanks be to God!
Postlude Barbara Ramcharitar
OUR SUNDAY BROADCAST is made possible by Happening Out Television Network and donors who support our televised ministry. Happening Out is housed at Sunshine Cathedral Square. Happening Out programming can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Google TV, and Roku.
SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL AFFILIATIONS - Sunshine Cathedral is a member of the International Council of Community Churches (which is an institutional member of the National and World Councils of Churches), Metropolitan Community Churches (founded by and with a primary outreach to LGBTQ+ people), and the Divine Science Federation International, is affiliated with the Global Justice Institute (at MCC New York) and is a supporter of the International New Thought Alliance.
SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL’S VALUES -
1. Inclusion
2. Community
3. Spiritual Transformation
4. Social Action
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.
EASTER CONTINUES – Eastertide lasts 7 weeks (49 days) and is followed by Pentecost.
CASA MONARCA PRIDE WEDNESDAY - Eat at Casa Monarca on Wednesdays after 4:30 pm and part of your bill will be donated to the Sunshine Cathedral. Happy Hour menu is available until close.
MIDDAY PRAYER - Pray with us daily at Noon (eastern) for Midday Prayer on Facebook.
QUEER GOD SQUAD - We invite you to watch the Queer God Squad. It is live Monday – Friday at 3 pm eastern, and then available ON DEMAND on all smart televisions and your favorite social media.
GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP – Those who don’t live locally but who wish to be part of the Sunshine Cathedral community can learn about the Sunshine Cathedral Global Fellowship by visiting SunshineCathedral.org
DELI MAC IS BACK - Place Your Oder Now for Some Ugly Sister’s Deli Mac - This Mother’s Day show Mom how much you love her - get her a 1lb container of Ugly Sister’s Deli Mac. Love yourself too and get another one for you alone.
Minimum donation is $10.00 per lb. but you can give
whatever above that amount, as all proceeds go to the Sunshine Cathedral Food Sharing Ministry.
This yummy B.Y.O.F. (Bring your own fork) fundraiser benefiting the Sunshine Cathedral Food Sharing program is by reservation only and will have two pickup dates for Sunshine members:
Saturday May 11, from 10:00-11:30AM or Sunday May 12, after 2nd service 11:30 - 12:30PM.
To place an order contact Chef Penny at onecentuglysis@bellsouth.net
SAINTS OF THE WEEK
April 28: Oskar Schindler (1908-1974) - “Righteous Gentile.” Schindler was a German industrialist who had many Jewish people working in his factory. Although raised as a Catholic, he was not religious. For reasons which have never been clear, and at great personal risk, he used his power and influence to save the lives of 1,100 men, women, and children during WW2. At the end of the war he was impoverished. Today he is buried in Jerusalem at Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial) among the “Righteous Gentiles.”
April 29: St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) - Doctor of the Church. An Italian mystic, teacher, and nun, Catherine devoted herself to serving the poor and sick around her. She experienced ecstatic visions and was believed to have received the sign of the stigmata.
April 30: Pseudo-Dionysius (5th or 6th century) – mystical theologian who influenced later mystics, theologians, and philosophers. He understood “god-talk” to always be symbolic, that is, divine Transcendence necessitates speaking of the Divine in symbols, but whatever we say about God must fall short of all that God is. He believed “evil” is temporary and has no real substance to it.
May 1: St. Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) - Priest. Thomas was a simple Augustinian monk whose life is not remembered so much as his writings. His best-known work on the spiritual life is The Imitation of Christ, a classic that has been influential among both Protestants and Catholics. He emphasized that our actions are far more important than our knowledge.
May 2: Hannah More Kohaus (1844 – 1914) – poet and hymn writer, best known for her “Prayer of Faith” which is recited or sung in many New Thought churches.
May 3: Apostle Philip – chosen by Jesus, the Apostle Philip should not be confused with Philip the Deacon.
May 4: David S. Alkins (1922 – 2015) – was an Episcopal priest (graduate of both New England Conservatory of Music and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University) who served parishes in Texas and Washington state as well as working with various non-profit agencies. In 1979 he became the Dean of Brooks Divinity School (named for Nona Brooks, it was a Divine Science ministry school in Denver) and received an honorary doctorate in 1987. His two small publications were “Bridge Builders of Truth” and Jesus the Way Shower.
