Centering Practice
Adapted from Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley
Cole Arthur Riley writes, “It can feel foolish to pause to marvel at the stars when the world when the world is burning. Or to find the world beautiful when you’ve known it to betray you. But wonder is a liberation practice. A reminder that we contain more than tragedy. Beauty is our origin and our anchor.”
- Inhale: We pause to behold.
- Exhale: All around us, there is beauty.
You Are God
You Are God
I am not the Voice that rules the thunder
I am not the Word that calms the storm
I am not the Maker of the heavens
You are, You are
I am not the center of the story
I am not the subject of this song
I am not the One who’s earned the glory
You are, You are
You are God
You are not worried
You go before me
Every word You’ve spoken will return to You done
Your timing is perfect
The waiting is worth it
We count it all as joy for Your glory oh, God
You are good
You are God
There’s a work You’ve started long before me
Your kingdom will endure beyond my time
You welcome me to join You in Your story
I’m Yours, I’m Yours
Though my soul can’t see beyond this moment
Blurred by all the tears that I have cried
You’re the God who holds me in the tension
Only You are God
And I know that if it ain’t done yet
Then You ain’t done yet
Passing of the Peace
Let’s continue to build a more creative, hope-filled world! Take a moment to text a friend (from our Anchor & Hope community or beyond) and let them know how they inspire you!
Kids Worship Song
Light of the World
The world is searching for answer
A ray of hope in a hopeless world
Who can we turn to?
Where is our rescue?
There is someone, He′s the answer
He’s the light and He’ll light the way
His name is Jesus
And He came to save us
He is the light, light, light
Light of the world
And He shine, shine, shines
All over the earth
Shining bright, bright, bright
He is the light of the world
Kids Reflection
Today’s reflection comes from Psalm 19:1-4:
1 The heavens tell about the glory of God.
The skies show that his hands created them.
2 Day after day they speak about it.
Night after night they make it known.
3 But they don’t speak or use words.
No sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into the whole earth.
Their words go out from one end of the world to the other.
On Sundays, one of the things we love to do together as a church is sing praises to God. The Bible tells us that all of creations sings about God’s beauty and goodness! Did you know that even the stars sing praises to God? Take a minute to watch these videos together:
You can visit the NASA Sonifications page if you’d like to “hear” more stars!
Reset Sundays are special Sundays where we take time to connect with God through rest and wonder. We hope you get lots of good rest today! And we hope that you will experience wonder — because wonder helps us to worship God in new and wonderful ways!
Talk to your family about the following “I Wonder” questions. Each of you might give different responses, and that’s great!
- I wonder what fills your heart with joy?
- I wonder how you feel God’s love?
- I wonder how you see other things in creation praising God? Use your imagination! (For example, have you ever heard a whale singing?)
- I wonder what you want to praise God for right now?
Say a short prayer together!
- Right hand up… left hand up… clasp your hands together and bring them slowly to your laps! Repeat after me:
- Dear God… thank You… for Your love… that makes us… and the whole world… sing Your praise… Fill us… with wonder… and love… in Jesus’ name way pray… Amen!
Prayer for Illumination
Illuminate our hearts, O God,
with the light of Your Word,
that we would shine bright
and Your world would come alive.
Amen.
Scripture Reflection
Read Psalm 19:1-4 out loud:
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
8 types of awe
These are the eight different types of awe, according to psychologist Dacher Keltner.
- Moral beauty: Witnessing acts of kindness, courage, or self-sacrifice that inspire admiration and uplift the spirit.
- Collective effervescence: Feeling connected to something larger than yourself within a group, often during large events.
- Nature: Experiencing the vastness, beauty, and power of the natural world, from towering mountains to intricate ecosystems.
- Music: Being moved by the emotional depth and complexity of music, whether it’s a soaring symphony or a simple melody.
- Visual design: Encountering awe-inspiring architecture, art, or other visually stunning creations that evoke wonder and admiration.
- Spirituality: Feeling connected to something divine, sacred, or transcendent through faith, meditation, or contemplation.
- Epiphanies: Grasping profound concepts, scientific discoveries, or philosophical insights that expand your understanding of the universe.
- Cycle of life: Reflecting on the mysteries of birth, fragility of existence, preciousness of life, and inevitability of death.
Take a moment to reflect on (and share, if you’re with others) the following questions:
- When and where was the last time you experienced awe & wonder?
- How are you hoping to experience God through awe & wonder in the coming days?
Wholehearted
Wholehearted
Help me dance like a little child
Help me go just a little wild
I’ve become far too civilized
Give me eyes wide with wonder
and a heart of praise
Give me passion down in my soul
Give me fire from the Holy Ghost
Now it’s time to start letting go
Give me eyes wide with wonder
And a heart of praise
I wanna be wholehearted
I wanna be wholehearted
I wanna be wholehearted
I wanna be Yours
Set me free from the cynical
Set me free, break down every wall
How my heart needs a miracle
Give me eyes wide with wonder
And a heart of praise
In the shadows I’ll find You there
I won’t give into the despair
Let this be my defining prayer
Give me eyes wide with wonder
And a heart of praise
A heart of praise
Closing Blessing
Adapted from Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley
Go into God’s world and behold the beautiful,
in both the majestic and the mundane,
in the holy and ordinary,
and in all the spaces in-between.
May the Spirit meet you in your attentiveness,
may you see Jesus in the face of your neighbor,
and may your faith be held together by wonder.
Amen.
Anchor & Hope Church 