NIGHT PRAYER FOR GENERAL SYNODMONDAY, JULY 3, 2017

CLOSE OF BUSINESS

*indicates that all are invited to stand in body or spirit.Congregation is invited to respond as indicated by Bold print.

MUSICAL TRANSITION FROM CLOSE OF BUSINESSSoon It’s Gonna Rain Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt

CALL TO WORSHIPWe gather at the end of this very long day, to the cadence of rain drops, joined by icy streams of rushing water, flowing and gushing, building and cascading over stones, bringing life and depth to rolling rivers. From the north to the south, from the east to the west, we share life-giving waters.

Creator God, Giver of Life, who called the oceans and rivers into being, who parted the Red Sea to liberate your people, who imbued the River Jordan with hopefulness as your Child emerged glistening and filled with your grace.

For this we praise you, O Holy One.

Sustainer God, wash away the grit of this day as we settle into your word this evening,And refresh us anew with your Spirit.

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*OPENING SONG We'll All Stand Together Amy G. Sens

SCRIPTURE PRESENTATION: 2 Kings 5: 1-14 The Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund, reader Edward Lawrence, dancer

HOMILY The Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-LevyPresident

Pacific School of Religion

SONG Wade in the Water Traditional Spiritual

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Chorus

Solo: See that host all dressed in white ALL: God's gonna trouble the water.Solo: The leader looks like the Israelite.ALL: God's gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

See that band all dressed in red.God's gonna trouble the water.It looks like the band that Moses led.God's gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

I went to the water one day to prayGod's gonna trouble the water. My soul got happy and I stayed all day.God's gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

Look over yonder and what do I see?God's gonna trouble the water.The Holy Ghost a-comin' on me!God's gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

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If you don't believe I've been redeemedGod's gonna trouble the water.Just follow me down to Jordan's streamGod's gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

LITANY AT THE WATER’S EDGE

Get in the water, Naaman – you must hurry, be healed, get strong, and lead anew. Mother Earth, La pachamama, is taking its last breath.Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman, or Shalom, Salaam, Peace, will only be distant echoes.Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman –

La migra está tocando la puerta y no tengo papeles.Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman, our communities and churches are suffering, our people are dying, our families need you at their side.Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman, we need protection, and education, and health care, and love!Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman, recognize the Gift of Being and advocate disability Justice for all of us. Get in the water, Naaman!

Get in the water, Naaman, We First Americans need our lands, our language, our heritage and our futures.Get in the water, Naaman!

Congregation: Wash away fear, apathy, despair. Cleanse us now from sin-filled attitudes

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and all “–isms” which poison our thoughts and our acts.Refresh us with new hope, determination. Grace us with guidance to overcome barriers and bridge divides. Help us now, O God – to be in community with all of your creation – to navigate these rushing currents – let us do what needs to be done today, mañana - and the day after. We pray this in the name of the Onewho meets us at the water’s edge.

*SONG: Cristo es la peña de Horeb

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BENEDICTION Rev. Vásquez – Levy

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POSTLUDE River Bridges, Block, Jenkins and VivionCatawba College Singers

Been traveling these wide roads for so longMy heart’s been far from youTen-thousand miles goneOh, I wanna come near and give yaEvery part of meBut there's blood on my handsAnd my lips aren’t cleanIn my darkness I rememberMomma’s words reoccur to me"Surrender to the good LordAnd he’ll wipe your slate clean"Take me to your river I wanna goOh, go onTake me to your river I wanna knowTip me in your smooth watersI go inAs a man with many crimes Come up for airAs my sins flow down the JordanOh, I wanna come near and give ya Every part of meBut there's blood on my handsAnd my lips aren’t cleanTake me to your river I wanna goGo on, Take me to your riverI wanna… Take me to your river I wanna goGo on,Take me to your riverI wanna knowI wanna go, wanna go, wanna goI wanna know, wanna know, wanna knowWanna go, wanna go, wanna goWanna know, wanna know, wanna knowWanna go, wanna go, wanna goWanna know, wanna know, wanna knowTake me to your river I wanna goLord, please let me knowTake me to your river I wanna know

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

Preacher The Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President, Pacific School of ReligionLeaders The Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund, Vice Chair of the UCC Mental Health Network

AJ Lacefield, member of Grace UCC, Lancaster, OH.The Rev. Elivette "Elly" Mendez Angulo, Project Coordinator, UCC Encuentros de Gracia y Bienvenida; Co-Pastor, Manantial de Gracia, East Hartford, CTThe Rev. Ruth Costello, Pastor, Community Church of Fontana, United Church of Christ, Fontana, Wisconsin Kennedy Copeland, UCC National Setting VolunteerOwen Roberts, Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT

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Reid Young, Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MAMusicians and Artists

Edward Lawrence, Juilliard trained dancer from Trinidad who has performed and taught internationally. He has been dancing at UCC national events since 2009. Catawba College SingersJessica Yates, Joan Hedrick, Victoria Layton , Savannah Shaver, Brie Gardner Sarah Botts , Mikaela Brown , Hannah Addair , Taylor Kroop, Mia Schuster Dustin Chapman , Liam Pendergrass, Jason Hickerson, Duane Leatherberry , Reshaud Brown RJ Thornton, Angel Paez , James Satterwhite , Randall Stull , Sam ReederThe Rev. Amy G. Sens, Pastor of Six:Eight UCC, Baltimore, MDDr. Jo Deen (Jody) Blaine Davis, Director of Music Ministries, Congregational Church of New Canaan, CT, and President, UCC Musicians AssociationDr. Thomas More Scott, Director of Music Ministries at First Congregational Church, Hudson, OH

Writer and Planners for this evening’s service:The Rev. Andrea Cano, writer, Chaplain, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Affiliate Faculty Providence Center or Health Care Ethics, Portland, ORThe Rev. Dr. Diane M. Carter, Pastor of St. Paul’s UCC, Bellevue, OhioMr. Jerry King, Director of Television and Media at Cathedral of Hope, Dallas, TexasDr. Thomas More Scott, Director of Music Ministries at First Congregational Church, Hudson, OhioThe Rev. Susan A. Blain, Minister for Faith Formation: Curator of Worship and Liturgical Arts, UCC, Cleveland, Ohio

Thanks to the Steinway Piano Gallery of Washington DC (11611 Old Georgetown Road , North Bethesda, MD 20852, 301-230-6535) for the loan of the Allen Organ and Steinway Piano used throughout Synod.

Artesian Pool and Fountain created by Clifford F. Dupill of The Athena Garden, Latrobe, PA.

Copyright and Licensing information:Every effort has been made to locate copyright holders for permission to use their work. Music livestreamed under WORSHIPcast License 7631Music performances covered under PERFORMmusic License 7631

Soon it’s Gonna Rain – Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. © 1960 by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Chappell-Styne, Inc., owner of publication and allied rights throughout the world. International copyright secured. All rights reserved.We’ll All Stand Together – Amy G. Sens; written for General Synod 2017. © 2017 Amy Sens. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the composer.Wade in the Water – Traditional SpiritualCristo es la peña de Horeb—Text, Anonymous; Translation ©1993 The Pilgrim Press; Tune: CRISTO ES LA PEÑA Puerto Rican melody, arrangement © 1993 Luis Olivieri; permission pending.River – Todd Michael Bridges, Joshua Alan Block, Austin Jenkins and Christopher Vivion. © 2015 Eartha’s Gumbo Music/ATV Allegro/Christ Vivion Music/Joshua Block Music and WarneParker. All rights for Earth’as Gumbo Music administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing. All rights for Joshua Block Music and WarneParker administered by Downtown Music Publishing. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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