Wednesday Morning (9:45am)

Theme: Imagine Metamorphosis

Welcome/Announcements

Opening Prayer—Rev. Kharma Amos

Holy Spirit, Creative Genius, we have come into this place and gathered in the sanctuary
of this beloved community this morning to worship you. Because we each uniquely bear
your own image, we are able to imagine, witness, and experience more of you in these
moments together than we can as isolated people or communities. Today, we celebrate
the limitless potential of your creative power at work in and between us … as we imagine
metamorphosis, transformation, and new possibilities. We invite you throughout this
time of worship, throughout this day, and throughout this conference to rip the lids off of
any of the boxes we have constructed for you, for ourselves, or for who you are calling
us to be together. Have your way with us, O God, and help us to claim our role as co-
creators with you. Use all of our gifts. Surprise us with the ways in which those gifts
multiply as we let your Spirit flow freely through us. And may all that we say, do, are,
and are becoming be a testimony to your love that knows no limits. Amen. And so it is.

Drums - AGC Band with additional drummers

A/V invitation: “You are invited to participate in metamorphosis.”
Sand ritual—“From dust we came and to dust we shall return, but from dust we bring
creativity, imagination, and beauty.” (Pour sand in)

Add: Song: Open the Eyes of My Heart

Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You (Repeat)

To see you high and lifted up

Shining in the light of your glory
Pour out your power and love
As we sing Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy,

Holy, Holy Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
I want to see you

Add: Sign Choir

Spoken Word—“Metamorphosis”—Rev. Terri Eichelbarger

Song: “Melody of You” by Sixpence None the Richer: Elise Yenne, AGC Band
Spoken Word—Congregational Litany: Bradley Curry, MCC New York to read:
One: We worship a God who dared to imagine that there might be more,
who – with intention – dared to speak the words, “Let there be …”
Many: And there was light, warm and illuminating,
and the light was good.
 One: And there was water, cool and refreshing,
and the water was good.
Many: And there was earth, rich and fertile,
and the earth was good.
One: And there was sun and moon, time and seasons that change,
all of them good.
Many: And there were creatures in the sea and sky, scaled and
feathered, all of them good.
One: And there were creatures on the land, wild and free,
all of them good.
Many: And there were humans, made in the image of God
with sensual bodies of flesh and bone,
all of them beautiful and good.
One: And that all happened … only “in the beginning.”
The words, “Let there be …” reverberate still in the universe,
and in the heart and soul of each of us.
Many: We are also entrusted with the power of “Let there be …”
One: With each intention held, each word spoken or written,
each canvas we dare to paint, each song we dare to sing,
each step we dare to dance, each lump of clay we dare to mold,
we imagine that there might be more, and we help make it so.
Many: May we resolve in these moments to open ourselves to the Spirit
of creation, may we remember again the gifts we have been
given and imagine putting them to use in new ways, and may we
dare to allow the transformative power of “Let there be …”
shape our lives.

Congregational Song: Spirit of the Living

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me

Reading—Rev. Connie Mangin, Exodus MCC to read: Numbers 14:11-20

And God said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they
refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike
them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and
mightier than they.” But Moses said to God, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in
your might you brought up this people from among them, and they will tell the
inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O God, are in the midst of this people;
for you, O God, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in
front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this
people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, ‘It is because
God was not able to bring this people into the land sworn to them that God has
slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ And now, therefore, let the power of God be great
in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying, ‘God is slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means
clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and
the fourth generation.’ Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of
your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.”
Then God said, “I do forgive, just as you have asked.

Sermon: “When God’s People Don’t Go Straight,” Rev. Ines-Paul Bauman

Call to Offering
--Elder’s Church Growth Resources and Development (Lillie Brock)
Offertory— Choir—“God is Still Doing Great Things”
Butterfly Dance—
--Phyllis and Jide to do dance.

Spoken Word: Closing Litany— Led by Choir

One: The process of creation continues, and we are invited to participate in the
transformation of ourselves and the world.
Many: As we imagine metamorphosis and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we
become a part of the artwork unfolding, so we say with our voices:
All: Let there be … FAITH,
profound and personal, relational and responsive.
One: The only thing that can keep us from our highest aspirations for
ourselves, our communities, and our movement is our inability to imagine
what is possible with God.
Many: As we imagine metamorphosis and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we
contribute to the momentum of positive change, and we say with our
lives:
All: Let there be … HOPE,
inspirational and sustaining, motivational and grounding.
One: We can never quite know the beauty that will emerge at the end of a
process which God has initiated and in which we have dared to fully
engage.
Many: As we imagine metamorphosis and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we
relinquish control and receive the fruits of collaboration, and we say with
our hearts:
All: Let there be … LOVE,
passionate and powerful, inclusive and unrestricted.
One: In faith, we imagine metamorphosis.
Many: With hope, we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit.
All: In love with God, ourselves, and one another,
we become the change we long for.

Lillie: We have been changed, and that transformation continues tonight at our outdoor
service held at the pool.

Change My Heart Oh God

Change My Heart Oh God,
Make it ever true
Change my heart Oh God,
May I be like you
You are the potter,
I am the clay,
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray
Change My Heart Oh God,
Make it ever true
Change my heart Oh God,
May I be like you