Order of Service - March 13, 2016 "Conversations About Death"
Date of Service:
March 13, 2016
March 13, 2016 Mortality: The Practice of Being Alive
People with serious illness have priorities besides simply prolonging their lives...
You don't ask, “What do you want when you are dying?”
You ask, “If time becomes short, what is most important to you?”
-- Atul Gawande, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
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*Gathering Hymn We Give Thanks Wendy Luella Perkins
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day,
For all gathered here, and those far away;
For this time we share with love and care,
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.
Prelude Not While I’m Around, Sweeney Todd (9am) Stephen Sondheim
To All, To Each, Carols of Death (11am) William Schuman
Welcome
Chalice Lighting Cassandra Christenson
*Opening Hymn #360 Here We Have Gathered
*Covenant Love is the doctrine of this church.
The quest for truth is its sacrament,
And service is its prayer.
To dwell together in peace,
To seek knowledge in freedom,
To serve humankind in fellowship,
Thus do we covenant with each other.
*Hymn of Praise From all that dwell below the skies
Let songs of hope and faith arise
Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung
Through every land, by every tongue.
Offering for the Westside Food Bank
Time for All Ages The Keeping Quilt Patricia Polacco
Joyce Holmen
Song of Blessing Go Now in Peace Natalie Sleeth
Go now in peace. Go now in peace.
May the spirit of love surround you
As you go, as you go on your way.
Life Together
Offering Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 Frédéric Chopin
Devotional Time
Sung Response Comfort Me Mimi Bornstein
Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me oh my soul.
Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me oh my soul.
Walk with me, walk with me, walk with me oh my soul.
Walk with me, walk with me, walk with me oh my soul.
Hold my hand, hold my hand, hold my hand oh my soul.
Hold my hand, hold my hand, hold my hand oh my soul.
Music for the Morning Just One More Day (9am) Daniel Gledhill
Lead Me Home (11am) Eric Barnum
with Larry Howard
Introducing our Speakers
Reflection Len Adler
Sung Response Sing with me, sing with me, sing with me oh my soul.
Sing with me, sing with me, sing with me oh my soul.
Dance with me, dance with me, dance with me oh my soul.
Dance with me, dance with me, dance with me oh my soul.
Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me oh my soul.
Comfort me, comfort me, comfort me oh my soul.
Conversation Cassandra Christenson and Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur
*Closing Hymn #1008 When Our Heart Is In A Holy Place
*Benediction To Live In This World Mary Oliver
To live in this world you must be able to do three things:
To love what is mortal;
To hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;
And, when the time comes to let it go,
To let it go.
Musical Response The Prayer (9am) David Foster
Halle, Halle, Halle (11am) arr. John L. Bell
*Please stand in body or in spirit
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Greeters: Dwight Flowers, Katie Malich & Jila Tayefehnowrooz
Ushers: David Goetz, Barbara Kernochan, Dan Patterson & Kit Shaw
Coffee: Robert & Phyllis Kory, and Jila Tayefehnowrooz
Bookstore: Mark Warkentin
Service Notes
Today 60% of our non-pledge offering will go to WISE and Healthy Aging, a multi-service, non-profit organization serving older adults and their families and caregivers throughout Los Angeles County.