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The Worship of God Glendale Baptist Church: a caring community of equality and grace

Sunday, June 14, 2020

By the Rivers of Babylon: A Summer Considering Exile

Exile [ˈeɡˌzīl, ˈekˌsīl] NOUN -the state of being barred from one's

native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

"They knew now that they would die in exile."

synonyms: banishment · expulsion · expatriation · deportation ·

eviction · uprooting · separation · extradition · ostracism

The Life of the Community April Baker

May God be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to God.

Glendale’s worship continues to provide the community of faith and

our guests a way to enter into Holy Presence with blessing,

authenticity, and joy. The tone and method of our worship is a shift

from our usual style, but the care with which we plan and the

reverence with which we enter into worship remains consistent with

our values. Liturgy—the work of the people—takes many different

forms. We are blessed to have a summertime season of

strengthening and stretching our liturgical muscles together as we

examine ideas of home, exile, and what it means to be strangers. As

the bell chimes, take a moment to breathe deeply, settle into Holy

Presence, offer a prayer for those whose faces you see, and prepare

yourself for worship.

ENTERING WORSHIP

Lighting Our Candles and Chiming the Hour

Pausing for Silence

Introit “Come, Join Us as We Journey” Brian Koho

& Don Schlosser

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Call to Worship Summer Hyche

Friends and family, leave your exile behind; God is calling us home.

Though we are afraid, we follow the Way through the desert.

Enter the desert without fear; God's water will satisfy our thirst.

Though we are discouraged, we will walk the Highway of God's

people.

Travel the Highway with joy; God is leading to life not scarce, but

abundant.

Though we doubt, we will encourage weak hands and support feeble

knees; we will accompany the fearful and calm the anxious.

It is the day of Sabbath. It is the day of worship. Rejoice and be

strong, for the promise of Holy Presence is given to us.

Come, friends and family, let us worship!

Hymn 276 “We Gather Together” KREMSER

PRAYING

Morning Prayer April Baker

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Congregational Response

Praying the Psalms from Psalm 51 Kelly Moreland Jones

Have mercy on me, O Gracious One, according to your steadfast

love; according to your abundant kindness forgive me where my

thoughts and deeds have hurt others.

Lead me in the paths of justice; guide my steps on paths of peace!

Teach me, that I may know my weaknesses, the shortcomings that

bind me, the unloving ways that separate me—that keep me from

recognizing your life in me;

For I keep company with fear; I dwell in the house of ignorance. Yet I

was brought forth in love and love is my birthright.

You have placed your truth in the inner being; therefore, teach me

the wisdom of the heart.

Forgive all that binds me in fear that I might radiate love; cleanse me

that your light might shine in me.

Fill me with gladness; help me to transform weakness into strength.

Look not on my past mistakes but on the aspirations of my heart.

Contemplative Experience Johnny Sears

Centering Prayer

In his book Contemplative Prayer, Merton writes “Monastic prayer

begins not so much with “considerations” as with a “return to the

heart,” finding one's deepest center, awakening the profound

depths of our being.”

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PROCLAIMING

A Time for Glendale Kids Joy Gooch

“No Mirrors in My Nana’s House”

Hymn “O Love of God, How Strong and True” CANNONBURY

Homily Marks of the Exiled Amy Mears

Genesis 4:9-12

Music “Wayfaring Stranger” Jon Neergaard

RESPONDING

Offering Prayer Kelly Moreland Jones

Paying our Tithes and Giving Our Offerings Jake Schaub, pianist

“Melodie,” from Lyric Pieces, op. 47, no. 3 by Edvard Grieg

Dedicating Our Gifts in Service of the World

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Declaring Our Thanks Together

God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we give thanks for those

whose worship informs ours, whose love for singing their doubt and

faith inspires ours, whose generosity with their resources encourages

ours. May our worship prompt curiosity; may our singing connect joy

and challenge; and may our giving improve our lives and bless the

earth and the people you love. Amen.

PREPARING FOR THIS WEEK

Hymn 70 “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale” ROEDER

Benediction

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Congregational Response

Pausing for Silence

In the quiet, all are invited to consider how Spirit has been revealed

in this hour. Please remain in reverent expectation during the music

as you discover ways to transition from this hour of worship into your

own life of service in the world, seeking where God is at work and

how you might continue your worship by joining in.

Music for Closing Jake Schaub, pianist

“Im Balladenton,” from Lyric Pieces, op. 65, no. 5 by Edvard Grieg

Glendale Happy Hour with Summer

Glentern Summer Hyche invites you to stay connected in the zoom room

right now for a 15-minute conversation about things that are comforting,

sustaining, pleasing, or exciting you during this season. You can

participate in the chat thread (click on the little conversation bubble

icon at the bottom of the screen) or unmute yourself and speak. Bring

your happies and give other Glendalers more reasons to smile as they

connect with the faith community.

Concerning Worship

In our worship, Glendale recognizes the theological importance of ways

language is used. We do not attempt to change every historical reading,

anthem, and hymn in each service; we do try, over time, to balance

cultural and gender references to include all persons in the worship of

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God. Please feel free to use inclusive language during worship. The Introit

and Congregational Responses are from “Come Join Us as We Journey”

2002, written by Thomas H. Troeger, Oxford University Press, used by

permission. The Psalm reading is adapted from Nan Merrill’s Psalms for

Praying, The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc: New York,

1996. Used by permission.

Special Called Business Meeting

There will be a Special Called Business Meeting via Zoom next Sunday,

June 21, at 10:30 am before we begin worship. The agenda is to receive

and vote on recommendations from the Nominating Committee for

Leadership Council and other positions. The list of those being

recommended by the Nominating Committee will be included in the

next weekly email that will be sent on Monday, June 15.

This is Woman's Work: The Worth and Witness of Womanism in Times

Tuesday, June 16, 6:00–7:00 PM CDT

https://www.facebook.com/events/286092495895967/

The exploitation of black women’s labor has a long history and is even

more visible now in the era of pandemic, considering who is “essential

workers.” Womanism speaks to this. The School of the Prophets is where

womanism is more than a siloed school of thought. Womanism is integral

to how theological education is shaped and experienced. This

intergenerational panel of four womanist scholars represent many

disciplines, including homiletics, ethics, religion and psychology. The

panelists speak out of the urgency and import of the times and proclaim

hope in the midst of the pandemic.

Panelists:

emilie m. townes

Dean of the Divinity School

E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and

Society

Phillis I. Sheppard

Associate Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture

Lisa L. Thompson

Associate Professor and the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chancellor Faculty

Fellow of Black Homiletics and Liturgics

Stacey Floyd-Thomas

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E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Ethics and Society

Associate Professor of Ethics and Society

Returning to Campus

Glendalers are working diligently to do our part in protecting each other

and ourselves in this COVID-19 season. The campus remains closed with

only necessary entries into the building. The Leadership Council’s plan

continues to be to decide on a month-by-month basis when and how

we will regather “in the flesh.” At this point, the campus will remain

closed at least through the month of June. In the last part of June, we will

make a decision about July. The ways that you have offered care and

maintained connection with one another, the ways that you have

continued to live into your commitment to this community during this

time is encouraging, inspiring, vibrant, and compassionate. As Glendale

has shown in other times of difficulty and crisis, we will get through this

together sustained by the Holy and our companionship with one

another.

COVID-19 & Homelessness in Nashville – How To Help Alleviate Food

Insecurity

Community partners* are coordinating outreach efforts to support

people living in encampments. As a direct result of COVID-19, food

insecurity has become a big issue for people experiencing homelessness.

We need about 150 more food boxes per week. With that, our partners

will be able to serve about 400-500 people who currently have no other

options than to stay outdoors (following CDC guidance on COVID-19).

We are asking for your help. Here are two options:

1. Make a monetary donation directly to the outreach food operations.

You can donate online to Open Table Nashville or to The Bridge Ministry.

Make sure you designate the donation to "Food for Encampments."

2. Donate food items directly. Items can be dropped off at Glencliff

United Methodist Church, 2901 Glencliff Road, Monday through Thursday

from 9am to noon. Please include trash bags and if possible some

hygiene items including disinfectant wipes.

*Our Street 2 Home encampment coordination effort includes the Metro

Homeless Impact Division, The Village at Glencliff, The Bridge Ministry,

Open Table Nashville, Mental Health Cooperative, Park Center, The

Salvation Army, Neighborhood Health, Shower Up, People Loving

Nashville, Second Harvest, The Food Project, Southern Alliance for People

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and Animal Welfare, and more (if you are not mentioned here, please

email judith.tackett@nashville.gov - we'd like to list all the partners that

keep joining this effort).

Storytime for Kids and Families

Glendaler Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis, who works for Nashville Public

Library, will hold a weekly zoom story hour for young and formerly young

folks. Alan Green will send the link on Wednesday mornings; the story

time will begin at 11:00am each Wednesday. Gather around the screen

to watch, read, and listen as Klem-Marí brings us stories from around the

world.

Centering Prayer Fridays at Noon

Each Friday at noon during our spatial distancing from one another,

Glendaler Johnny Sears, Director of the Upper Room’s Academies of

Spiritual Formation, will be leading a zoom session of Centering Prayer. He

will offer some helps at the beginning of each session for those who are

newer to the practice, then hold 10 minutes of Centering Prayer, and

close with a benediction. If you’re a rookie or a novice to Centering

Prayer, here is a helpful primer: https://www.lindsayboyer.com/centering-

prayer It offers a nice overview of the practice so that we can become

familiar with it before the session.

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER

CONCERNS IN THE CHURCH FAMILY

Kristina Brown

Betty Clifton

Elaine Dickson

Lyndsey Godwin

Deb Krueger

Susan Moore

Joe O’Cain

Billie Pate

Richard Smith

CONCERNS IN THE EXTENDED FAMILY

Barbara Brock, Dranda Whaley’s aunt

Terry Edgerton, Cecelia Caldwell’s cousin

Josiah Evans, Joy Smith’s friend

Mark Gooch, Joy Gooch & David Gooch’s brother

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Hazel Halford, MATrotter’s sister

Stuart Harris’s mother

Steve Hawkes, Cecelia Caldwell’s brother-in-law

Tom Hulette, Joy Smith's brother

Alvin Jeffery’s grandmother

Jason Laster, Suzanne Wilson’s son-in-law

Kathleen McCracken, Poli Polidoro’s friend

Sandy Moyich, Mary Wright’s mother

Sammy O’Cain, Joe O’Cain’s son

Joy and Richard Smith’s friends, Jene and Jan Robinson

Joy Smith’s sister Becky

Kim Vaday, Brian Koho’s sister

Bob Veach, Myrte Veach's brother

Joseph Whaley, Brian Whaley’s father

Don Wheless, Lee Wheless’ brother

Lee Wheless’ father

Sarah Wilbanks, Lynn & Eileen Campbell-Reed's niece

Joan Yarborough and John Laney, former Glendalers

CARE FOR OUR PARTNERS IN MINISTRY

Our friends in Cuba

Other Sheep

CHURCH CALENDAR

Sunday, June 14

10:15 AM Zoom Room open

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Happy Hour with Summer Hyche

1:00 PM Youth Zoom

Wednesday, June 17

11:00 AM Zoom Room open

Storytime for Kids and Families with Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis

6:30 PM Zoom Room open

Sharing and prayer concerns

Thursday, June 18

5:00 PM Peaceful Home Protest

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Friday, June 19

12:00 PM Zoom Room open

Centering Prayer with Johnny Sears

Sunday, June 21

10:15 AM Zoom Room open

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Happy Hour with Summer

1:00 PM Youth Zoom

Wednesday, June 24

11:00 AM Zoom Room open

Storytime for Kids and Families with Klem-Marí Cajigas Chimelis

6:30 PM Zoom Room open

Sharing and prayer concerns

Thursday, June 25

5:00 PM Peaceful Home Protest

Friday, June 26

12:00 PM Zoom Room open

Centering Prayer with Johnny Sears

BIRTHDAYS

June 14 – Micah Sheppard

June 15 – Amy Dodson-Watts

June 15 – Melissa Whaley

June 16 – Rosalyn Ramage

June 17 – Jim Hiett

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GLENDALE BAPTIST CHURCH

A Caring Community of Equality and Grace

We strive

to partner with God and follow Jesus on the Way of Love

to create sanctuary for one another with special concern

for those who are marginalized

to work intentionally for mercy and justice

to sustain a creative and compassionate theological voice

to gather resources joyfully and share them generously

to love our neighbors and care for all of creation.

As part of the Body of Christ in the world, Glendale Baptist Church values

diversity and inclusivity in our relationships. We maintain close relationships

with our ecumenical partners locally. Our distinctly Baptist affiliations

include the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Being a Partner Congregation of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North

America provides us with a network of fellow peacemakers with whom to

work for justice and peace in God’s world. Because we value the place of

all people in the church without regard to their sexual orientation or

gender identity, we are a member congregation of the Association of

Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

GLENDALE BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF

Minister of Music: Rev. Don Schlosser

Office Administrator: Alan Green

Pastor: Rev. April Baker

Pastor: Rev. Amy Mears, Ph.D.

Pastoral Intern: Summer Hyche

Pastoral Intern: Kelly Moreland Jones

Pastoral Intern: Lauren Plummer

Pianist: Jake Schaub

1021 Glendale Lane, Nashville TN 37204

Website: www.glendalebaptist.org

E-mail: gbc@glendalebaptist.org

Office Phone: 615-269-0926

April Baker: aprilbaker@glendalebaptist.org

Amy Mears: amymears@glendalebaptist.org

June 14, 2020 Vol. 61, No. 24