April 3rd, 2025 - Midweek Vespers
We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether in-person or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether in-person or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
Introit
Carolyn Sargent
Hymn
Son of My Soul, O Savior Dear, Hymn 96
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
Sanctify the Day
One: We gather at the close of this day, Holy One, and just as the sun has finished its work, so also have we.
All: But it is not always easy to let go of what has happened or what is still undone. Our hearts and minds are still turning over the tasks and the conversations, not quite at peace and not quite ready to rest.
One: So we offer up this day to You, Holy One, asking that you help us to bless it and let it be done. Accompany us in this time of prayer, as we confess and give thanks. Remind us that You do not require perfection, but progress.
All: As we say goodbye to this day, give us the wisdom to perceive You, the patience to wait for You, the heart to see You, and the breath to proclaim You. We pray in the name of Love itself, Amen.
All: But it is not always easy to let go of what has happened or what is still undone. Our hearts and minds are still turning over the tasks and the conversations, not quite at peace and not quite ready to rest.
One: So we offer up this day to You, Holy One, asking that you help us to bless it and let it be done. Accompany us in this time of prayer, as we confess and give thanks. Remind us that You do not require perfection, but progress.
All: As we say goodbye to this day, give us the wisdom to perceive You, the patience to wait for You, the heart to see You, and the breath to proclaim You. We pray in the name of Love itself, Amen.
Remember the Day
One: God who is both the Good Shepherd and the Good Cleaning Lady, we offer our confession to you this night, knowing that we do not have to pretend to have it all together.
All: Forgive us for wanting to go our own way, and not always wanting to be found. Forgive us for failing to notice who has been lost, for we know You expect us to keep track of one another and to realize when we are not whole.
One: We trust that no matter how lost we are, You will always find us. And it is because of this that we will not abandon each other, ever mindful that all of us need all of us to make it.
All: We know that when we fall, You are there to lift us up, dust us off, and send us out to try again. Just as You are always near to us in times of trouble, so we promise to be present for each other. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
All: Forgive us for wanting to go our own way, and not always wanting to be found. Forgive us for failing to notice who has been lost, for we know You expect us to keep track of one another and to realize when we are not whole.
One: We trust that no matter how lost we are, You will always find us. And it is because of this that we will not abandon each other, ever mindful that all of us need all of us to make it.
All: We know that when we fall, You are there to lift us up, dust us off, and send us out to try again. Just as You are always near to us in times of trouble, so we promise to be present for each other. In your holy name we pray, Amen.
Call & Response
One: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
One: Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
One: Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
Those seeking God shall never want.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
One: Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
One: Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
All: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those seeking God shall never want.
Illumination
Reading: Luke 15:1-10
As we consider the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, we are reminded that parables teach us many things. In this case, we are comforted by the idea that God is like a shepherd, who, having a hundred sheep and losing one, will go after the one that is lost until it is found or like a woman who will sweep and search for a lost coin until it is found.
Let us enter into a time of reflection and gratitude. Think of a time when you felt alone and lost, remembering the difficulty and the heartache. Now recall the moment of grace when you felt found by Love. Think of a moment when you felt saved by mercy, from God or someone else. Let us offer our thanks with a deep sigh of relief, with relaxed shoulders, and with a softened heart. Let us try that again. We offer thanks with a deep sigh of relief, with relaxed shoulders, and with a softened heart.
One of our responses to being found, of resting in the arms of God, is gratitude. But the parable also speaks to our responsibility to notice those who are missing, those who are lost, those whose voices have been silenced, and those who have been pushed or left outside of being in the community. Let us spend some time thinking of those who need us to notice. Let us do some counting so that we know who is missing.
Having done the counting, you are invited to come forward to write down the names and places we know need us to remember them on a strip of fabric. We write their names as a prayer and as a promise. We remember them before God, and before each other, promising to join the search party, so that we might walk each other home, our community restored to wholeness.
[Music: For Everyone Born
Shirley Erena Murray and Lim Swee Hong
Clint Williams and Carolyn Sargent
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead,
(and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!)
For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair, (Refrain)
For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong, (Refrain)
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live, (Refrain)
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)]
As we consider the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, we are reminded that parables teach us many things. In this case, we are comforted by the idea that God is like a shepherd, who, having a hundred sheep and losing one, will go after the one that is lost until it is found or like a woman who will sweep and search for a lost coin until it is found.
Let us enter into a time of reflection and gratitude. Think of a time when you felt alone and lost, remembering the difficulty and the heartache. Now recall the moment of grace when you felt found by Love. Think of a moment when you felt saved by mercy, from God or someone else. Let us offer our thanks with a deep sigh of relief, with relaxed shoulders, and with a softened heart. Let us try that again. We offer thanks with a deep sigh of relief, with relaxed shoulders, and with a softened heart.
One of our responses to being found, of resting in the arms of God, is gratitude. But the parable also speaks to our responsibility to notice those who are missing, those who are lost, those whose voices have been silenced, and those who have been pushed or left outside of being in the community. Let us spend some time thinking of those who need us to notice. Let us do some counting so that we know who is missing.
Having done the counting, you are invited to come forward to write down the names and places we know need us to remember them on a strip of fabric. We write their names as a prayer and as a promise. We remember them before God, and before each other, promising to join the search party, so that we might walk each other home, our community restored to wholeness.
[Music: For Everyone Born
Shirley Erena Murray and Lim Swee Hong
Clint Williams and Carolyn Sargent
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead,
(and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!)
For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair, (Refrain)
For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong, (Refrain)
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live, (Refrain)
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)]
Prayer for the World
Type your new text here.
Hymn
All Praise Be Yours, My God, This Night, Hymn 100
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
Benediction
Resting now in the certain promise of God’s love, we find ourselves at ease . We lay down our burdens and release our petitions, trusting God keeps for us what needs holding. Depart in peace, beloveds. The day is done. Amen.