GATHERING

Opening Hymns

(Sing in your own setting while signing in to OGHS Live!)

 All suggested hymns are from the New Century Hymnal

“Thank you God”                                              NCH  No. 559

“Through All the World, A Hungry Christ”          NCH No.  587

“Spirit of Jesus, If I Love My Neighbor”             NCH  No. 590

Introduction & Instructions

Call to Worship

One:      Wake up soul, come and praise your God,

Many:  Wake up spirit for your God deserves thanks

One:      All the animals wake up to praise God.

Many:  All those who fly wake up to praise God

ALL:    Human soul spring up and praise your God.

(Mercy Amba Oduyoye, Hearing and Knowing:  Theological Reflections on Christianity in Africa, 47,  from Methodist Church of Ghana)

The WORD

Scripture Reading      Ezekial 34: 11-16

Reflection                   Global Ministries’ Area Executive, Africa

Rev. Sandra Gourdet

RESPONSE & COMMITMENT

Offering Dedication (ALL)
Oh God, who has changed our future because of your love, may these gifts through One Great Hour of Sharing help change the future of your beloved children in need throughout the world. May the people these monies help, feel your love and presence, and our love. Amen.

 (2010 OGHS Worship Resources, www.ucc.org/oghs)

Affirming Faith

One:     You stood at the center of a cloud,

Your hands outstretched like a forest,

Your warm face visible from the circular edge

Of a broken valley.

Many:  Playing children ran beside you,

They danced for the rebirth of your seasons.

One:     Yes, it is children who die in wars.

Their minds molded for death, they sing the songs of death.

They sing the songs of war.

They imitate the footsteps of the soldier.

They declaim the poems of greatness.

Many:  Peace has cured me of all bitter memories

One:     It has filled the mountain-cave with wisdom,

It has nourished life with a happy dream;

Knowledge comes from a state of awakening.

It is embedded in the softness of the vision.

Many:  We must repent.  We must sing of life.

One:      The lightning eye bores into the earth,

 The children have arrived.

 From them we must learn to create the unending movement.

 By their birth we must swim through the turbulence like a bird.

Many:  Our peace is born from their innocence.

 It is a song that praises the earth.

(Mazisi Kunene, Ancestors and the Sacred Mountain, 118  Anne hope Torch in the Night:  Worship Resources from South Africa) 

Commissioning and Benediction  

Walk boldly into the future as a changed person because of Jesus’ love for you. Work with God to change the future of the world for good, because you love Jesus.

(2010 OGHS Worship Resources, www.ucc.org/oghs)