NOTE: THIS SERVICE WILL HAVE A STRONG ANTI-ABLEIST BENT.

Perhaps rewriting some hymns that reference the blind or “lame” would be meaningful.

Please don’t choose songs that talk about healing impairments.

Prelude: Canned…

Land Acknowledgement:

Welcome:

Gathering Song: Let the Whole Creation Cry (Chalice 21)

Let the whole creation cry, Alleluia!

Glory be to God on high! Alleluia!

Sun and moon, lift up your voice, Alleluia!

Night and stars, in God rejoice, Alleluia!

Family, siblings, young and old, Alleluia!

Raise the anthem man-i-fold, Alleluia!

Join with children’s songs of praise, Alleluia!

Worship God through all your days, Alleluia!

Call to Worship:

One: Beloveds, hear the good news: God’s Spirit anointed Christ

Many: She sent him to proclaim good news to the poor and liberation to the oppressed.

One: Beloveds, hear the good news: God’s Spirit anointed Christ

Many: She sent him to bind up the brokenhearted and give mourners reasons to rejoice.

One: And Beloveds, hear the good news: God’s Spirit anoints you.

Many: She sends us to live good news for neighbors in poverty and liberation for the oppressed.

One: Beloveds, hear the good news: God’s Spirit anoints you.

Many: She sends us to bind up broken hearts and give mourners reason to rejoice.

One: Beloveds, Creator made the world as good news. Christ showed the way of good news. Spirit empowers us to live good news. So let us worship with hope and gladness.

Many: Let us worship the God of good news.

Readings:

        Isaiah 61:1-3

The spirit of God is upon me

    because the She/They have anointed me;

She/They have sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

    to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberation to the captives

    and release to the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Eternal One’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God,

    to comfort all who mourn,

to provide for those who mourn —

    to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    the planting of the Eternal One, to display our Creator’s glory.

Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because She has anointed me
       to bring good news to the poor.
She has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Eternal One’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

An excerpt from Amy Kenny’s My Body Is Not Your Prayer Request:

My disabled body is beautiful in its distinctiveness. My body might be more crooked than yours, but it has earned its spiky edges. My leg might be blue from lack of circulation, but it sparkles like sapphires. My nerves are on fire, but it is fire that releases the sequoia cones that germinate the forest. My spasms are sharp as ice, but ice is what regulates the ocean's tide. My disabled body is made of the same stuff as stars.

        1 Corinthians 12:31b:  I will show you a still more excellent way.

        One: May Holy Wisdom enter through our ears

        Many: And may She find a home in our hearts.

Sermon: Cripping the Gospel: A Still More Excellent Way

Prayers of the People

One: In Your Loving Name

Many: Hear our Prayer

Lord’s Prayer: Maori Version

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father, Mother, [Parent beyond gender] of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe;

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trial too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and forever. Amen.

Communion:

Liturgy:

One: God is with you.

Many: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

Many: We lift them up to God.

One: Let us give thanks to God.

Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.                

Words of Institution:

Communion Song:  We Are Many Parts (Gather, 310)

Refrain:

We are many parts, we are all one body,

And the gifts we have, we are given to share.

May the Spirit of love make us one indeed;

One, the love that we share, one, our hope in despair,

One, the cross that we bear.

God of all, we look to you, we would be your servants true,

Let us be your love to all the world (Refrain)

All you seekers, great and small, seek the greatest gift of all;

If you love, then you will know the Lord. (Refrain)

Closing Communion Liturgy

One: We give thanks for these holy mysteries.

Many: Your glory has filled our hearts.

One: You have given yourself to us, God.

Many: Now we give ourselves to you and to all.

Closing Song: O For a World (Chalice 683)

O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways

Where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.

O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,

Where truth is spo-ken, children spared, e-quality achieved.

The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.

Tell all who mourn, outcasts belong, who-o perishes will rise.

O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,

Where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.

Blessing

Soul Junk Peace

Peace, peace, peace

My peace I leave with you

Not as the world gives at all.

Not as the world gives, not as the world gives,

Not as the world gives at all.