God and the Problem of Suffering

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Prelude
 Adam: God be with you.
 All: And also with you.
  
 Welcome and Announcements – Adam Ericksen
  
 Lighting of the Peace Candle – Amira Stanley and Vilette Veda
 Amira: Our tradition at CUCC is to light a peace candle at the beginning of each worship service to center ourselves around the Peace of God. Amira will lead us in the liturgy as Gavin lights the candle…
 Vilette: I invite you to join us in lighting the peace candle…
  
 All: We pray for peace
 in our hearts,
 in our homes,
 in our communities,
 in our nations,
 and in our worlds.
  
 Scripture Readings – Sharon Dobbs
 Mark 1:29-39
  
 *Call to Worship – Amira
 Amira: Please join us in the call to worship…
 Amira: Gather us in, the brokenhearted and the joyful.
 Vilette: Gather us in, the weak and the strong.
 Adam: Gather us in, the fearful and the brave.
 Amira: Gather us in, the young and the old.
 Vilette: Gather us in, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, cisgender, and straight.
 Adam: Gather us in, the black, the brown, the Asian, the white.
 All: For we are all your beloved children. Amen
  
 Children’s Moment - Adam
  
 *Passing of the Peace – Vilette
 Vilette: Friends, I invite you to join me in the passing of the peace…Close your eyes…breathe…breathe again. Put your hands on your heart. In your mind’s eye, imagine the light that is in all of us. Some might call it the Soul or Conscience or Essence or maybe you call it God. Take a piece of that light and hold it close. Now hold out your hands, imagine the light, your light, traveling from your fingers out across the world, like a sun ray. As the rays travel, accept the light that is offered to you, as you offer light, as the light returns to you… Breathe. Breathe again. Hold the light close. May the Peace of Christ be with you…
  
 All: And also with you.
  
 Song: Singing Skies, sung by Rhonda and Dave Frick-Wright
  
 Invitation to the Offering Adam Ericksen
  
 Prayers of the People – Adam
 (After each prayer, Adam will say, “God in your love” and you are invited to respond with “hear our prayers.”)
  
 Community Prayer and Lord’s Prayer - Amira
 Our God,
 Who art in Heaven,
 Hallowed by 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 and ever. Amen.
  
 Sermon –  God and the Problem of Suffering – Adam
  
 Communion: Vilette, Amira, and Adam
  
 *Unison Benediction – Vilette
 May God bless you and keep you.
 May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
 May God look upon you with kindness and bring you peace.
 This day and forever more. Amen
 -Numbers 6:24-26