Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. We continue to celebrate Black History month together. Today’s centering practice comes from Cole Arthur Riley, creator of Black Liturgies
- Inhale: I need more than me
Exhale: We get free together - Inhale: I am worthy of embrace
Exhale: God, lead me to belonging
Call to Worship
Adapted from “Let Me Walk With You,” by Dr. Tamisha Tyler
Let down your hair and tell me your story.
You are welcome here
at the table where blessings flow.
Sameness and difference.
Sameness and difference.
Let us dive deep into mystery and grace together.
Let us sit in the grey together,
Let us wait on God together.
I cannot promise you I will be perfect;
I can only promise that I will be here.
Walking…
Listening…
Waiting…
Together.
Amen.
Worship Song
Sound of Adoration
When we were lost ones
You were the Shepherd that carried us home
When we were prodigals
You ran to meet us with open arms
And we can’t hold back our praise
When we were refugees
You were the One who took us in
When we were enemies
You paid the price for all our sin
And we can’t hold back our praise
This is the sound of adoration
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the joy of all creation
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the Risen One
You conquered death and made a way
You sang our freedom song
Now we are dancing on our chains
And we can’t hold back our praise
By the cross, I am free
Your grace changes everything
I was blind, now I see
Your grace changes everything
My Hallelujah
Open up the doors again
Let the King of glory in
His Kingdom will never end
Oh, I know that You are good
Break the darkness with the light
All the earth let praise arise
Every dead place come alive
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You will have my hallelujah
You alone the highest name
All to You I surrender
Every breath I take
Make my life Your praise
Oh, Spirit of the Living God
Fire burning in my heart
I’m wide awake to who You are
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You are my strength when I am weak
You are my sight when I can’t see
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Oh, when I was lost, You rescued me
When I was bound, You set me free
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Community Prayer
Adapted from Dr. Barbara A. Holmes. Dr. Holmes was a spiritual teacher, author, activist, and scholar — as well as President Emerita of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Our God
in whom we live and move and have our being,
For the nurture of our many villages of belonging;
for unexpected healing and imaginative pathways;
we give thanks.
In our fractured and frustrating time,
we cannot carve out shared destinies in isolation.
Even in our wounded unknowing,
bring us to a place of true contemplation.
Open our eyes to wonder and mystery all around us;
open our hearts to authentic connection;
open our hands to become a community of care,
even in the midst of crisis and concern.
— Moment of silent prayer —
Spirit of love,
Bring us into inner space so deep, so daringly vast,
that even in the midst of noise around us,
we find stillness and home in You.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Support for World Relief: Our church is sending $1500 to support the work of World Relief in helping refugee families, which will cover rent/utilities for one month for one family. For over 40 years, World Relief has worked with both Republican and Democratic administrations to help resettle over 500,000 refugees. The suspension of the Refugee Resettlement Program and a stop-work order in January means that private donations are the only means of support for 4,000 recent refugees who were already in process of being resettled here.
- Monthly Prayer Walk: This Saturday, March 1st, we’ll meet at 9:00 am here at Sandburg for our prayer walk/run!
- The Season of Lent: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5th. We will have a gathering that day via Zoom at 7:30 pm.
- Home Groups: Ann & Cherry’s Home Group will begin on Saturday, March 15th at 4:00 pm. Their focus will be on care for self & care for others. Tae & Yang’s Home Group will start on Friday, March 21st at 6:30 pm — in honor of Women’s History Month, their group will study women in the Bible! Keep an eye out for an Under 30s group as well. Feel free to respond to an invitation or take initiative to join up!
- Church Retreat: We’re excited to have a church-wide retreat on 4th of July weekend! We’re looking at July 4th through 6th — we’d like to get a rough headcount now so we can plan!
- Youth Group Valentine’s Cards: A quick update from Ann Leong, “A couple of patient’s family members raved about how the cards brightened not only their day but the day of their loved ones who were in the hospital sick.”
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Shine (From the Inside Out)
Worship Song
Open Space with Hosanna
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes
to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You
have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Your
Everything I am
for Your Kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Pull me in closer
Close to Your heart
May I be a pure reflection of all You are
Love that is patient
Love that is kind
And love that keeps no offences
or wrongs in my mind
Make me like Jesus
Make me like Jesus
You’re faithful to find me
Right where I am
Though even in my wandering You call me friend
And mercy receives me
and lifts me to my feet
And I’m caught up in the wonder and mystery
Of knowing Jesus
Of knowing Jesus
My heart is an open space
for You to come and have Your way
I’m open, I’m open
Scripture Reading
John 9:1-12
1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Unusual & Unexpected
Pastor Jeya
Conversation Questions:
- Which medieval cat best represents how you were this week and why? And then 2 more
- What’s a way that you’ve had eyes to see God’s healing and transformation this week?
- Where is there a place that you are hoping for and maybe even hopeful to work towards God’s healing and transformation this week?
Worship Song
Have My Heart
You love with no reservations
You’re not looking for perfection
And there’s no need in me pretending
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything
You deserve my full attention
Nothing less than my devotion
Oh, speak to me and I will listen
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
You can have my heart
You can have my heart
Be the Lord of my emotions
Set me free from selfish motives
And search me ’til there’s nothing hidden
And I’ll give You everything
Yes, I’ll give You everything
My heart is Yours forever
My heart is Yours forever
Anchor & Hope Church 