Tuesday, July 28, 2020

The liturgy below is for the Chapel gathering (via Zoom) on July 28 at 12 pm (PDT). If you are unable to join us at that time, you can use the Soundcloud playlist linked on this page to sing the songs and hear the homily. Past Chapel liturgies are also linked from this page.

If you would like to receive email reminders for further Chapels this summer, along with Zoom login details, please click the 'Receive Chapel Updates' button on this page.

Welcome & Announcements

Opening Prayer | Come to Our Shut Down Places

Walter Brueggemann (Taken from Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth)

It does not come easy to us to imagine that you
    closed the womb of mother Hannah
    and thereby foreclosed the future for a time.
And yet, we can name in your presence
    a myriad of shut-down places around us . . .
        those shut down in poverty and despair,
        those shut down in fear and in rage,
        those shut down by abuse and violence,
            too hurt to speak,
            too frightened to appear,
            too scarred to dance.

And closer, our own shut downs:
    in anxiety, in resentment, in pretense,
        too weary to care,
        too greedy to share,
        too much of us to neighbor.
These are not all your doing, we confess.
But you are the God who opens all shut downs:
    by your power, you give futures,
    by your goodness, you give hope,
    by your mercy, you make new.
So we bid you this day come to our shut down places
    and give birth anew.
We pray through the Easter opening
    of the Friday shut downs. Amen.

Abide With Me

Lyrics: Henry F. Lyte | Tune (Eventide): Willian H. Monk

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O thou who changest not, abide with me

I need thy presence every passing hour
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me

I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death's sting, where grave thy victory?
I triumph still if thou abide with me

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come, your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
    but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
    and the power,
    and the glory,
    forever and ever.
Amen.

Scripture | Psalm 63 (NRSV)

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
    I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek to destroy my life
    shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword,
    they shall be prey for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who swear by him shall exult,
    for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Homily | Ross Hastings
What Do We Do in Desert Places?

Ross is Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Lyrics: Thomas Obediah Chisholm | Tune (Faithfulness): William Marion Runyan

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love

    Great is thy faithfulness
    Great is thy faithfulness
    Morning by morning new mercies I see
    All I have needed thy hand hath provided
    Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

    Great is thy faithfulness
    Great is thy faithfulness
    Morning by morning new mercies I see
    All I have needed thy hand hath provided
    Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

    Great is thy faithfulness
    Great is thy faithfulness
    Morning by morning new mercies I see
    All I have needed thy hand hath provided
    Great is thy faithfulness
    Great is thy faithfulness
    Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Benediction