Seek Justice and Resist Evil: July 26 Worship



Seek Justice and Resist EvilMorning WorshipThursday, July 26, 2018HymnMore Voices 120, “My Soul Cries Out” (verse 3)(barb janes)In a world plagued by unjust systems,We ask for determination and abounding love.In a world of trouble and beauty,We seek justice and resist evil.We risk faith.We dare hope.In a world of… (Liturgist is interrupted by loud thunder boom, lights flash and then go to black. Soundtrack of rain. Stage lights come on to reveal Elder sitting cleaning berries on a porch. Teen enters.Elder: Cheryl Jourdain, ANCC. Teen: Alex McCubbin, MNWO)TEEN: Oh crap, the power’s out. And just when I was about to move up a level.ELDER: It’s not the power that’s out, just the electricity. And you spend too much time on those computer games.TEEN: Electricity’s out; power’s out. What’s the difference?ELDER: Thunder Moon.TEEN: (Aside) Oh great, here we go again with this old-timey stuff. ELDER: Across Turtle Island, our peoples have different names for the moons, telling us about what is happening around us.TEEN: (Bored) Yeah, it’s a storm, so…Thunder Moon, right?ELDER: Smart, you. What can Thunder Moon teach us?TEEN: Uh… (attitude) it’s raining? Power’s out?ELDER: ELECTRICITY’S out, but the Thunder Moon has power. We need the rain, the water. The winds of the storm move seeds to new places, and the wind knocks down the old and rotten branches to make way for new growth.TEEN: This sounds like my biology class. (Showing off) Did you know that lightning strikes set loose nitrates that fertilize the soil? And the wind actually removes large amounts of pollution?ELDER: (Slyly) Still think the power’s out? (Another boom of thunder; they both are startled, then laugh.) The Thunder Moon helps us learn that even in the fear and trembling of the storms in our lives, the storms in our world, there are gifts and blessings. The storm challenges you because it knocked out the electricity, but the storm brings great gifts of life to the earth.TEEN: But storms can do damage, too. I’d hate to be a bird in this wind!ELDER: We have a moon name for that.TEEN: (Eye-rolling) Of course you do.ELDER: Feather Moulting Moon. Do you know why birds moult? Broken feathers can’t heal—they have to be fully replaced. Same with broken systems—a bandaid fix doesn’t work, you need a whole new system.TEEN: (Taking a pose, fist in air, chants:) The system will not change the rules, but we will change the system!ELDER: Protest is necessary, but it takes more than protest. We learn from our winged friends that it takes energy to grow new feathers. It takes energy to show respect and care to all our relations. Change brings newness. Sometimes that means giving up what we think we already know.TEEN: I know the birds sing with joy. (Yawns) And they sing wa-ay too early in the morning.ELDER: Maybe they’re trying to wake you up. Get woke, would you? (Teen is impressed Elder knows this “woke” business.) Feather Moulting Moon has the power to renew us, to raise us up on eagle’s wings and to sing with joy.TEEN: (Reaches into Elder’s basket and eats a berry) Mmmmm! Delicious!ELDER: Yes, July is a sweet time. For some peoples, it is known as the time of Raspberry Moon. Another moon that gives us life lessons, to serve us as we seek justice and resist evil.TEEN: (Takes another berry and eats it) Mmmm, I think I’m going to like this moon, this Raspberry Moon.ELDER: (Moving the basket out of Teen’s reach) If you like it so much, where were you when I was picking? TEEN: Are you kidding? It was too hot to wear something with long sleeves. Those raspberry bushes scratch like a barn cat.ELDER: You think we get justice without thorny challenges? You think it’s easy, you just ask and you get? Think again! New life and real change—everybody wants the sweet fruit, but to get it, we have to face the sharp thorns. (Looks pointedly at Teen) Any thorns in your life?(The rain sound begins to slow.)TEEN: One of my friends just dropped me. She won’t even talk to me.ELDER: That must hurt like a thorn. How about thorns in the bigger world?TEEN: (Thinks for a moment) Why are there still so many wars? Why do we still have food banks in this rich country? Why do so many northern communities still live under a boil water advisory?ELDER: These thorns are challenges we face.TEEN: Can I have another berry?ELDER: (Offers the basket) New change can bring the sweet fruit. Raspberry Moon teaches us that by gentleness and kindness, we may pass through the thorns of the raspberry bush and harvest the fruit. By learning gentleness and kindness, we will gain knowledge to help us grow and care for all living beings.TEEN: War? Food banks? Boil water advisories?ELDER: Raspberry Moon offers its great gift to us: to navigate challenges with a good heart, to navigate challenges with kindness and gentleness. (The rain sound stops, a bird sings.)TEEN: I don’t want things to stay the same! I’m only a teenager, but I’m already sick of it, sick of all the injustices.ELDER: It’s good you are sick of it. I am glad you are sick of it! Seeking justice means things can’t stay the same. Seeking justice means change. That’s why these moons are so powerful—the moon changes. And so our peoples across the lands learn from the power of the Thunder Moon, the Feather Moulting Moon, the Raspberry Moon. These powerful moons help us change our selves in a good way. These powerful moons help us make change in a good way—with kindness, with respect, with care. Now, put on something with long sleeves. It’s time to go picking.HymnMV 120, “My Soul Cries Out” (verse 1)ScripturePsalm 72:5, 7 (Skyler Boylan, Youth)Hosea 10:12 (Michelle Broome, Youth)Reflection(Min Goo Kang)On your table, there are raspberries. In silence, we invite you to pass the raspberries, sharing so each of you have a berry or two in your hand. As you hold the raspberry, be mindful. What colour is it? What does it feel like against your skin? What does it smell like? Where did it grow? Who picked these raspberries—and what were they paid? Who brought the berries to your table this morning?We invite you to place the berry in your mouth, and enjoy!In this time of the Raspberry Moon, the Elder taught us that seeking justice often means dealing with thorns—that the way to justice holds sharp challenges for us. How do you experience thorns as you seek justice and resist evil? What gives you the heart to reach through the thorns to the sweet fruit of justice? Take a moment to think about that, and then you will be asked to share.In your table groups, take turns finishing this sentence: What gives me the heart to reach through thorns to the sweet fruit of justice is…We will call you back with music.HymnMV 120, “My Soul Cries Out” (verses 2 and 4)BlessingThe Lord’s Prayer (Voices United p. 921)Commissioning(Based on Colossians 1:9–12)I pray for you, my kindred; please pray for me.May God give us wise minds and open spirits!May we listen wisely, resisting evil, seeking justice, risking faith, daring hope.May we live well with our Creator, working hard in the berry patch.May we work for the long haul, glad of good companions on the way.May joy spill over and every cup overflow!GC43 Worship created by barb janes, Min Goo Kang, Ted Dodd, Susie McPherson-Derendy, Deanna Zantigh, and musical team Saya Ojiri and Bri-anne Swan. ................
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