WELCOME, LOGISTICS AND EXPLANATION OF THE EVENING
Welcome to Treehouse!
We are thrilled you are here. If it is new to you, not to worry! We will guide you through everything.
Things to know about your time with Treehouse…
You are welcome here and we are blessed by your presence!
Come and go as you need.
Restrooms are all-Gender and located in the hall to the right.
Communion: bread is gluten-free, wine (red) & white grape juice (clear) are available.
WELCOME TO THE TABLE
L: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
L: As we gather at this dinner table, we welcome one another to the community we share.
L: We celebrate that each person is of sacred worth.
All: We honor the divine image in every human life.
L: We embrace all people, affirming the gifts of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and faith.
All: We affirm and welcome all people.
L: We are committed to working for racial equality and equality for all.
All: We commit ourselves to justice and equality.
L: No matter where you are on your journey, and regardless of who you are or who you love,
All: You are welcome here.
Song – Canticle of the Turning
1.My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
2. Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
3. From the halls of pow’r to the fortress tow’r, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.
Text: Rory Cooney, b. 1952, based on the Magnificat. Text © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
L: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation.
All: Amen.
L: Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
All: We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and placed us in a well-watered garden. In the desert, you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock. When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you washed us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life. We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere. Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy all who thirst, and give us the life only you can give. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ, our living water, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
Word: John 14:1-14
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Discussion
1. What stood out to you in this passage, What made you question or wonder?
2. Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” What are the biggest sources of anxiety for you right now? How does this passage speak into those?
3. Jesus says, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms.” What does this suggest about the scope of God’s welcome? Who do we struggle to imagine belonging there?
4. Thomas asks, “How can we know the way?” Why do you think this question resonates with so many people? When was a time when you were unsure of the way forward? What did you do?
5. Jesus says he is the way. How do you hold that belief while engaging respectfully with people of other religions or no religion?
Song – How Great Thou Are vv. 1,3,4
1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
3. But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross my burden gladly bearing
he bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
4 When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!” Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art! How great thou art!
Text: Carl G. Boberg, 1859-1940; tr. and adapt. Stuart K. Hine, 1899-1989.
Text © 1953 S.K. Hine, assigned to Manna Music, Inc., 35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135 (ASCAP). Renewed 1981. All rights reserved. (ASCAP)
Prayers
Let us Pray…
L: God of Hope, You prepare a place for all People. Be our hope in times of turmoil, our justice when oppression prevails, our peace amid conflict and unrest. Bring comfort to those who suffer, courage to those who work for justice, wisdom to who lead, and compassion to us all.
+ Where in our community, country or world do you wish to see a sign of hope, justice, and peace
Lord in your Mercy,
All: Receive our Prayers
L: God of Compassion, you are the source of life and the giver of wholeness and you know our needs before we speak them. We come before you in need of your healing grace. Lay your gentle hand upon those whose hearts are troubled. Ease their burdens, calm their anxieties, and surround them with your abiding presence.
+ Who do you know that needs a touch of care, hope and healing from God?
Lord in your Mercy,
All: Receive our Prayers
L: God of life, you are ever with us and hold us in life and in death; we thank you for your mercies. Give us now thankful hearts and lives that reflect your abiding love to the world.
+What do we have to give thanks for and celebrate this evening?
Lord in your Mercy,
All: Receive our Prayers
We commend to you all for who we pray, trusting that you hear us, see us and abide in us. Through Jesus Christ our Savior & Lord.
All: Amen
Communion
L: In this meal is found the greatest promise we have of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Here God abides with us in the presence of Jesus Christ.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
L: Now Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit we pray now the prayer Jesus taught us.
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
All are welcome to Come to the table of new life. Receive the risen Lord.
Bread is passed to your neighbor, saying: “The body of Christ given for you.” “The Blood of Christ Shed for you”
Communion Song – Christ, Be Our Light vv. 1, 3
1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed. Refrain
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
5. Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
signs of your kingdom come.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Text: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957
Text © 1993 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Post-Communion Blessing
Be strengthened this night by the presence of Christ made known to you in the bread and in one another.
Amen.
L: Let us Pray, God of All,
All: through this meal you have made your home among us and are making all things new. Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts,
to love our enemies, and to bring your abiding presence to all people. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Song –
1 “Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river
I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story,
here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
3 “Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you,
here his tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
4 “I the Lord will bless and keep you, and give you peace.
I the Lord will smile upon you, and give you peace.
I the Lord will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter and Brother.
Go, my children, I will keep you, and give you peace.”
Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919
© 1983 Jaroslav J. Vajda
Blessing & Sending
L: Alleluiah! Christ is Risen!
ALL: He is Risen indeed! Alleluiah!
L: Go In Peace, Praise and Serve the Lord!
All: Thanks be to God and Weeee Will!