God, Improv & The Art of Living - Say Yes Week Two - June 13th, 2021 PRIDE Celebration - 540 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90020 ...
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God, Improv & The Art of Living – Say Yes
Week Two - June 13th, 2021
PRIDE Celebration
“Several Circles, 1926”
Artwork by: Wassily Kandinsky
540 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90020
Telephone 213.385.1341 – www.FCCLA.orgThe Gathering of the People
First Congregational Church of Los Angeles is a safe place for all people, and we celebrate our diversity of race,
creed, gender, religion, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions...We extend a
warm welcome to all this morning and especially those who are worshiping with us for the first time. Your
presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together ~
Prelude on the Great Organs Christoph Bull
When Bach met Kraftwerk: Autobahn-Toccata
(Johann Sebastian Bach, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Emil Schult; arr. C. Bull)
Fugue in F Major, BWV 540/2
(Johann Sebastian Bach)
What's Going On
(Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson, Marvin Gaye)
Over The Rainbow
(Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg; arr. C. Bull)
Welcome Rev. Laura Vail Fregin
Chiming of the Hour
Words of Gathering Thomas Zamora & Raul Rojas
We come together in a rainbow of hope and love.
We come together filled with excitement
for the new world we are creating.
In this virtual place, with open arms, with pride and joy,
we celebrate our diversity of race, creed, gender,
religion, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations
and gender identities and expressions!
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender,
queer, questioning, same-gender loving,
Straight, cis, old, young, disabled, athletes,
people with questions, and those who
know all the answers – are welcome here!
No one is excluded from this place of grace and goodness.
Here, we remember God loves us all, just as we are.
So let us worship our God, as people who are one in God’s Spirit!Hymn of Gathering All Are Welcome
Prayer of Awareness Rev. Wally Hoeger
O God, whom no image can encompass,
no definition encircle, and yet who meets us
in the gentle touch of love,
the beauty of a butterfly's wing,
and the laughter of children -
help us on this day, to move beyond
our attempts to limit you,
as you bless us and fill us
with your hope.
Help us in this time to open our hearts
and affirm our love as we say yes to your call…
for you, O God, are with us on this day,
and in all the days to come.
May it be so.
May it be so for all of us.
Amen!
Introit “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” arr. DON GILLIS
Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles, Justin Raines, Director
The Lord’s Prayer Sarah Hoffman
Our God…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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
Gloria Patri
Children’s Blessing Rev. Wally HoegerPrayers with the People Rev. Laura Vail Fregin
Invitation to Silence & Prayer
a strong rainbow pours itself out,
bending the eastern sky with glory,
it brings with it a powerful beauty
to soothe our needy hearts with hope.
and I do believe I hear the sun
wild with wonder and rejoicing,
laughing at the once-darkened sky
now parted in colored splendor.
I remember then the One who came,
who broke our stormy night apart,
and shook despairing hearts with hope;
this One told truth of things beyond
and gave us more than gold.
this rainbow filling mid-June sky
touches more than just the earth;
it makes its mark within our depths
and lets our hearts look up in hope.
-Joyce Rupp/adpt lvf
This morning as we come into the time of silence,
we hold tightly to the beauty of the rainbow
even as we remember those who died five years ago
at the Pulse nightclub on a warm mid-June night.
The artist that we are journeying with this summer,
Wassily Kandinsky, had a theory about geometric
figures and their relationships.
He believed that the circle is the most peaceful shape
and that it represents the human soul.
We invite you now to let his incredible gift of this painting,
lift our hearts as we remember all those who died.
SilencePrayer of Our Hearts
Holy One,
all around us, all within is gift.
You are ever on the move,
ever calling us into the future –
creative, playful,
dazzlingly loving God.
This morning,
may we find joy within ourselves,
wisdom in our flaws,
amazement and gratitude
in this ongoing process
of becoming who we are.
Help us to realize, Holy One,
we need not be that which we cannot be -
help us to leave behind those caricatures of
what others said we should be…
and help us to embrace the marvelous person
you created us to be.
Let us proudly embrace the life
we are co-creating with you
and with each other.
O God, in these moments,
let this wonder and your ever expanding love for us
sink deep into our hearts and minds -
healing the pain of the past
even as we are becoming part of this glorious present…
and your amazing future.
Amen and Amen.
Meditation Anthem “Let My Love Be Heard” JAKE RUNESTAD
Laude, Dr. David Harris, Director
The Reading from the Gospel of John Sarah Hoffman
There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there.
Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the celebration.
At a certain point the wine gave out and Jesus’ mother said to him,
‘They have no wine.’Jesus said, ‘But what concern is that to you and to me?
My hour has not yet come.’
Mary instructed those waiting on tables, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’
As prescribed for Jewish ceremonial washings,
there were six stone water-jars on hand,
each one holding between fifteen and twenty-five gallons.
‘Fill those with water,’ Jesus said,
and the workers filled them to the brim.
‘Now,’ said Jesus, ‘draw some out and take it to the chief server.’
They did as they were instructed.
The caterer tasted the water -- which had been turned into wine
-- without knowing where it had come from; the only ones who knew
were those waiting on the tables, since they had drawn the water.
The caterer called the bride and groom over and remarked,
‘People usually serve the best wine first; then, when the guests
have been drinking awhile, a lesser vintage is served.
What you’ve done is to keep the best wine until now!’
This is the Gospel of Grace.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon God, Improv, and the Gospel of Living ~ Say Yes Rev. Michael Lehman
Invitation to Offering Sarah Hoffman
Out of gratitude for the God that set us free, we are invited to bring all that we are
and all that we have as we commit to sharing with others the love
that has been shared with us, in this place.
When we share our gifts, we are given the opportunity
to co-create with God – and with each other -
alternative possibilities:
Possibilities of a just world.
Possibilities of a beloved community.
Possibilities of care, of tenderness, of hope.
May the Spirit of Life be your guide as you give these offerings
with the peace and courage to make God’s dream of freedom,
a reality in our time and place.Offertory Anthem “Wake Me Up” TIM BERGLING, ALOE BLACC, &
MICHAEL EINZINGER arr. HANS BRIDGER HERUTH
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Ernest Harrison, Director, Danny Moreno and Jeffrey Allen Gale, Soloists
Doxology
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleuia!"
Prayer of Offering Rev. Wally Hoeger
Good and Gracious God,
with these offerings we give thanks for this time
where we have shared stories,
built memories
and filled ourselves with the things of love
so that we might live strong and confident
in the places we hold in this world.
As we prepare to leave this sacred space
and return to our precious world,
may we now give what we have learned
to strengthen love in all our relationships,
may we live in ways that guard each other’s souls,
and may we build,
for every single human being,
a place that they might know
the beauty that is ‘home.’
Holding fast to a vision of a love-filled world,
we pray this may be so –
and that it may be so for all of us.
Amen.Passing of the Peace Sarah Hoffman
In the beauty of this day and in the light of the rainbow
that shines over this gathered community,
let us remember that our God is always and forever with us!
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Words for the Journey Rev. Michael Lehman & Rev. Wally Hoeger
In this place, we believe in the precious nature of each individual.
And we extend peace to the people who respect their exciting
and challenging neighbors.
In this place, we believe in Justice for all people.
And we extend peace to the people who support the right for people to be
accepted, and celebrated, for who they are.
In this place, we believe in the acceptance of people of all
sexual orientations and gender identities.
And we extend peace to the people who speak out against persecution, bullying,
verbal, and physical abuse of individuals and groups of people.
In this place, we believe in an Inclusive Church.
And we extend peace to the people who, with their love and desire for wholeness
of humankind, create communities and churches where we are
all enabled to worship in the spirit of diversity, honesty, and love. [gduncan/England]
Let us now go from this place, dedicated to making the days to come,
the best days of our lives, as we say ‘yes’ again and again.
Amen!
Choral Response “Amen” KELLY MCCANDLESS
Laude, Dr. David Harris, Director, Dr. Christoph Bull, OrganHymn for the Journey
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Postlude Christoph Bull
Autobahn-Toccata - Elektrische Reprise
(Johann Sebastian Bach, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Emil Schult; arr. C. Bull)
Life of the Church Rev. Laura Vail FreginInside the Music “We are deeply fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate Pride with GFBLA and GMCLA, and even more fortunate that we share community with them, and that those community ties are deep enough that they have lasted through this year. Today’s topic, “Say Yes”, connects cleanly with the Pride movement and the broader justice initiative of striving for equity for all people. When I teach vocal improvisation (a regular occasion), I often talk about the experience of the middle schooler sitting in a chair at their first dance. The energy it takes to move from that seat and get on the floor could light L.A. for a week, yet, once the body is moving and surrounded by friends, we wonder why we weren’t there the whole time. Saying “yes” is the first step to successful improv, because it means that we are open to options, and simultaneously creating space for others to connect, be heard, and feel important. I was drawn to Jake Runestad’s “Let My Love Be Heard” for this reason. The slow, sustained lines begin to lift near the end, carried on the wings of upwardly-moving cascades in the treble voices. The gesture is a passionate one, a voice crying out to simply have a chance to be and be known. When we open ourselves to “yes”, we open ourselves to being known while we simultaneously share with others the essential gift of acknowledging their existence on their terms. We end today with Kelly McCandless’ “Amen”. Since we participated in its premiere in 2018, this piece has become one of my favorites. Kelly, a trans composer, writes about the connections that bind us all, and demands that an essential aspect of the Christian faith rests in recognizing people as who they are, beings breathed into existence by the Creator. Their lilting 6/8 metric drive carries the message past the social abuses waged on the LGBTQI+ communities across history, and into a future where celebrating diversity floats high above conflict, and everyone has an equal chance in this life to hear and be heard.” ~ Dr. Harris
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