"Storms make trees take deeper roots." Dolly Parton - For Your Meditation - Judson Memorial Church
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For Your Meditation
“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
~ Dolly Parton
AGAPE SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2021
Connecting Community, Remotely
judson.org/worship
Welcome, 2021! | Agape Sunday, January 3, 2021 | Judson Memorial Church
Senior Minister – Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper | Minister – Rev. Micah Bucey | Associate Minister – Rev. Dr. Valerie H. Holly
“The perfect church for imperfect people”
Preacher : Rev. Donna & Valerie Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Valerie H. Holly & Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper
Music Director : Henco Espag Creative Contributors: Abigail Hastings & Litha Ashforth
Sound Technician: Michelle Rosen Filming, Compilation, & Editing: André Daughtry
Cover Art: “Root system of a two-month-old pine tree”
Visual Prelude André Daughtry
Music by Henco Espag
Welcome
Land Acknowledgment
Our physical space stands on the unceded land of the Lenape people. Judson Memorial Church acknowledges the Lenape
community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations, and we make this acknowledgement as
part of our work to dismantle the ongoing legacies of Christian supremacy, settler colonialism, and white supremacy.
Call to Worship
Opening Song I Will Trust in the Lord
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship
2 - I Will Trust in the Lord
Ancient Testimony Isaiah 43:19
God says:
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
Modern Testimony “Burning the Old Year” by Naomi Shihab Nye
Letters swallow themselves in seconds.
Notes friends tied to the doorknob,
transparent scarlet paper,
sizzle like moth wings,
marry the air.
So much of any year is flammable,
lists of vegetables, partial poems.
Orange swirling flame of days,
so little is a stone.
Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,
an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.
I begin again with the smallest numbers.
Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves,
only the things I didn’t do
crackle after the blazing dies.
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship
Modern Testimony II “New Year’s Improv on Auld Lang Syne
for residents and employees in Memory Care Units 2021”
by Maren from Gifts in Open Hands
Should old acquaintance be forgot
the story, face and name,
through loss of years -- both joys and tears –
yet we shall be the same.
From old acquaintance and from new –
CNA, PT, and nurse,
one single touch feels kinder now
than all the universe.
Though mind be jumbled by disease,
and thoughts not nimble climb –
yet deep inside, my answer hides
for those who take the time.
For sons and daughters met by skype,
and those who bathe with care,
for greyhound wag, for Anna’s child,
for polished nails, brushed hair …
For sweetness in the birthday cakes,
for jokes with vacuumed spills,
for patience walking halls at night
and courtesy with bills …
For feathers on the new year’s mask,
a gently lifted spoon,
Each laugh is like a light that shines,
at midnight as at noon.
We love the old and long ago --
vaccine gives hope a chance.
So share a cup of kindness still,
its courage helps us dance.
Oh, yes, there’s much that’s been “forgot”
frustration grows and fears –
but we can hold each precious “now”
and celebrate New Year’s.
Interpreting For Our Time
Rev. Donna Schaper and Rev. Valerie Holly
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship
Agape Meal
Invitation to Communion, Invitation to the Meal
Agape is a word used to describe unconditional love. Agape meals are part Mass, part Eucharist,
part Communion, part Welcome Table; and in all parts, a remembrance of Jesus’ last Passover
supper with his disciples on the night of his betrayal. It is also the communal table and joyful feast
of the people of God calling forth the anticipated time of justice for all.
All believers and unbelievers and maybe-believers are welcome to the simple feast. No one need
participate. Agape is the meal’s title and only “rule.” Here we eat together, in memory and in
hope. We eat during the singing and praying, as we want. We drink either wine or juice, both of
which are on the table. We eat together, following the words of Jesus reminding us to remember
him. Jesus practiced radical table hospitality: eating with everyone, in many ways. The elements
of bread and drink are brought by the people, but whether you brought or not, please join the table
with joy. Agape means there is plenty for all.
Agape Song Build A Longer Table
Heart of the Community Celebrations and Concerns listed below
For a daily helping of community, quiet, and sharing of Celebrations & Concerns, all are invited to our daily 9am
Meditation & Prayer Circle, whether you are welcome to join as often or as seldom as you’d like. Details can be found on
the back page of the bulletin. All are welcome. Feel free to reach out to micah@judson.org with any questions.
Community Prayer
Offertory Pippa’s Song
by Ned Rorem
Soloist: Litha Ashforth
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship
Benediction & Closing Song Auld Lang Syne
Bulletin: ALH
Virtual Coffee Hour and Q&A | Join via Zoom | After Service
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship
JUDSON CHURCH BOARD 2021
The Officers
Keen Berger (Moderator, ‘23): keenberger@gmail.com
Michael Koehn (Vice Moderator, ‘21):
mdkoehn@yahoo.com
Megan Wolff (Clerk, ‘22): meganjwolff@gmail.com
David Lee (Treasurer, ‘21): dlee@kddance.com
Jani Cauthen (Assistant Treasurer, ‘22):
niahnay@aol.com
Board Members
Dakota Blair (‘21): dakotatypes@gmail.com
Suzanne Dickerson (‘22): shdickerson48@gmail.com
Jon Giles (‘21): jonncgiles@gmail.com
Jason Tseng (‘22): jason.f.tseng@gmail.com
Mark Gilman (‘23): mark.gilman83@gmail.com
Abigail Hastings (‘23):
abigailhastingsemail@gmail.com
Nekeisha Lewis (‘23): nekeishalewis@gmail.com
Message from our Moderator: “I am happy to hear from
anyone about Judson! We are a congregation-led
church, which means that the congregation has the final
say in governance. The Board members are elected from
the congregation, and represent the congregation, so
they are eager to listen to everyone.”
www.judson.org/meditation Join via Zoom | Daily @ 9am
Pledge to Support Judson www.judson.org/pledge
Thursdays 3pm-4pm Join via Zoom
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worship~ CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS ~
Wëli Newiyal!/Happy New Year (Lenape/English)
May your days, weeks, months ahead continue to be overflowing with the spirit of love and filled with words of
wisdom, energy and Light.
All of us at Judson send love and strength to David Blythe and his entire family as they celebrate the life and
mourn the passing of David’s father John Daniel Blythe.
Amy Van Ry requests prayers for her father Robert Gossow, who is in hospice, and for her mother Barbara.
Mary Meyer requests prayers and healing energy be sent to her brother-in-law and good friend, Peter Gari, who
resides in Japan. Peter is her late husband's, Karl Garlid, only sibling. He has been diagnosed with bladder
cancer and on January 12 will have surgery to treat and determine how advanced it is.
Helena Fitzgerald and Thomas Strickland request prayers for their landlord, Michael Peskoff, and his partner,
Freddy Machado. Michael died this week while the two of them were visiting Freddy’s family in Colombia.
Craig Kuehl shares a celebration of Judson:
Good times and bum times,
we’ve seen them all.
And, my dear, we’re still here!
(Apologies to Stephen Sondheim)
Suzanne Dickerson and family, Erin and Joey Tresco, ask for prayers for Steven, Joey's brother, who was
diagnosed this week with Covid-19. He is at home, but the family has no other details at this time.
Amy Harbo requests prayers for her sister and brother-in-law in Maine who are suffering with Covid, and prayers
that their son, Alec, who has a rare autoimmune disease, will remain healthy.
Mary-Beth Shine requests prayers for her mother, Shirley Shine.
All of us at Judson lift prayers for Ms. Rose James who is currently convalescing at Village Care. She cannot
receive visitors at this time, but if you would like to reach out to her by phone, please write to Micah at
micah@judson.org for the number.
All of us at Judson are holding Doris Diether in our hearts. She typically sends hundreds of Christmas cards each
year, so we would love for her to receive some from our community. If you would like to send a card to Doris,
please contact micah@judson.org to get her address.
All of at Judson and our extended community send healing prayers to our own, Micah Bucey, as he recovers
from Covid.
Connecting Community, Remotely | judson.org/worshipAll of us at Judson send our love, solidarity, and prayers to our dear friends at Middle Collegiate
Church as they recover from a devastating fire and seek the support of their interfaith and
community partners in renewing their hope and rebuilding their home. You can donate to Middle
at middlechurch.org/donate.
The Judson Food Bank has reached a milestone of 281,450 pounds of food distributed to COVID-impacted New
Yorkers. We are a valued part of a citywide effort to provide much needed relief to underserved families and
we want to thank everyone for all the ways you continue to help us make an impact.
We send continuing prayers for and good energy to the family of Judson community member, Vivian Hamilton,
in Honduras and to all in Honduras, Nicaragua, and beyond as they suffer the continuing effects of Hurricane
Eta and Hurricane Iota.
Vivan requests specific prayers for her mother, Bernice Hamilton, who had a stroke last Saturday. She is in the
hospital in Honduras and is feeling a lot better now. Vivian also requests prayers for her sister, Rose Grant, in
San Pedro Sula, Honduras, who lost everything last week with the passing of the hurricanes.
We send continuing prayers and good energy to Lauren Andrews.
We lift prayers for the United States of America and the future we create as a Union.
We lift up those especially in need of good energy and prayers, those navigating mental and physical health,
and we shoulder these needs together, knowing that burdens can be a bit lighter when they are carried together,
that joys can be more grounded when we celebrate them together.
We celebrate and hold in our hearts those on the front lines of this crisis, the healthcare professionals, the
essential workers, the store clerks, the postal carriers, the MTA workers, all who serve and clean and make
certain that we are fed and sheltered and healthy, especially as we enter new phases of reopening.
We celebrate and hold in our hearts all of the schools: administrators, teachers, support staff and aides, program
facilitators, food services, custodial and transportation. All of the individuals that make up the school community
and provide education and social emotional support to every child and family. To all students, parents and
families as you adapt to the newness that is the 20-21 school year. We send continued strength and light.
We hold those who have lost work, who have lost income, who have lost a feeling of purpose, who have lost
loved ones, who fear for their health and for their future.
We also continue to celebrate all of you, a congregation of beloved souls who continue to hold one another in
astonishing, intimate, and life-giving ways, even while we are physically apart.
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