Listening to the Mystery
Women’s Week Service Two
This service uses a traditional model of Word and Sacrament , but employs social media 
to open the service to participants at a distance.

Welcome: Gathering Time

Both Facilitators:		In lieu of a musical prelude, 
welcome the people entering  both parts of the community (in person and online) 
by having them introduce themselves by making/posting videos of introduction 
along with a short description of the item that reminds them of God’s presence. 
If those online are not comfortable posting video, invite each online participant to post, 
“I am listening  in … *name their city/state/country*.”

Bringing the Light of Christ
Onsite Facilitator or designee: 	Light the candles in the physical space.
Online Facilitator: 			Invite the online participants to light their candle in their own worship space, 
then invite online participants to post photos of their altar spaces.

Call to Worship 
Onsite Facilitator:		Read aloud.
Online Facilitator: 		Paste this litany into a post.
		Divine Mystery blowing through us in the swirling wind …
We are Listening. 
Breath of Life lifting us in peals of laughter …
We are Listening.
Peaceful Presence washing over us in gently crashing waves …
We are Listening.
Giver of Joy flowing through voices raised in song …
We are Listening.
Lover of Grace wrapped in a well-timed hug …
We are Listening.
Still Speaking God …
We ARE Listening!

Both Facilitators: 		I invite you now to speak or type a word or phrase 
naming somewhere you’ve seen God’s mystery revealed to you this week …

Onsite Facilitator:	 	At the conclusion, do an extemporaneous prayer that includes the ideas and themes 
that were named in the words and phrases uttered.

Breath Prayer of Confession (allow about seven minutes)
Onsite Facilitator:  	Speak this prayer.  
Online Facilitator:		Paste text into a post.
Sisters and Brothers, we come to this space 
not because we ‘have it all together,’ 
but because we need God to help us ‘keep it together.’ 
I invite you to settle yourself in your chair or on the floor. 
Ground your hips down, while extending your spine long and tall. 
Your hands should rest easily on your thighs. Close your eyes. 
Take deep, cleansing breaths. Inhale through your nose 
and exhale through your nose. (Keep repeating for several breaths.)

Now imagine something, anything with which you’ve been struggling — conflict with a friend or co-worker, your temper with your children, 
your anxiety about pleasing your friends, 
the temptation to eat or drink too much — 
Visualize that thing and take a deep, cleansing breath 
of God’s forgiveness, 
exhaling away the fear, anxiety, guilt or shame 
you feel about that thing that troubles you. (Repeat several times.)

Open your eyes. The good news, sisters and brothers, 
is that God is as close to you as your breath. 
That breath has already transformed you. 
Has already forgiven you.
Has already accepted you just as you. 
And is calling you to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. 
If you accept this extravagant gift of grace, please say (or type online). Amen.

Scripture Reading 	Matthew 17: 1-9

Onsite Reader: 		Read aloud 
Online Facilitator:		Post scripture 

Sermon	
(See Kate Huey’s Sermon Seeds reflection to help prepare and get ideas):
Onsite Facilitator:	 	Offers sermon. 
Online Facilitator:	 	Posts sermon online either via video or written post.

Offering (We strongly encourage that this offering be given either to the National Ministries of the UCC, or to a mission focus such as the UCC’s One Great Hour of Sharing, which officially is taken on March 30. This reinforces the connection with a wider world).

Onsite Facilitator: 		As we have heard and seen, 
God’s glory and greatness has been revealed to us 
in breath, words, images, songs and silence. 
These gifts are not for us alone. 
They are for the transformation of the whole world. 
We want to give you two ways to offer yourselves today. 
Say out loud (or post online)one gift you would like to offer the world this week. 
We also invite you to give a small portion of your financial resources 
in the baskets we will collect here.

Online Facilitator: 		Paste the above text into a post 
and then invite participants to post something they’d like to give of themselves 
in the coming week. Invite them to Donate to a mission focus 
or to National Ministries of the United Church of Christ through 
the online donation link: https://secure3.convio.net/ucc/site/Donation2?df_id=2581&amp;2581.donation=form1

Holy Communion

Invitation to Table: 	Come to the Table of Grace #112 Sing! Prayer and Praise  
(legal Youtube recording of tune made by the composer available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek7Zm4AOpRk)

Onsite Facilitator: 		Invite people to the table. 
Invite them to bring forward the bread they brought to share. 
Ask them to stand around the table, if you have a small enough group.

Online Facilitator: 	Make a post inviting participants to prepare their plate, cup, bread and juice on their altar space. Invite them to post, as they are ready, “I have come to the table.” 
Pictures of their altar space and communion elements are also very welcome.  

Onsite Facilitator: 		Lead the prayer below.

Online Facilitator:		Post the prayer below.

On this Day of Transfiguration, 
the division between the human and divine is thinner. 
We see Jesus as he truly is, and we see our community as it truly is—
not limited by time or space, but connected here at this table. 
We know that every time we come to this table
to share this sacred meal, we remember:

That Jesus lived among us, sharing in our joys and suffering.
We have come to the table.
That Jesus took his disciples to the mountain.
We have come to the table.
That Jesus gave us a glimpse of the Divine.
We have come to the table.
That Jesus told us not to be afraid.
We have come to the table.
That Jesus remains alive and present through the sharing of this meal.
We have come to the table.
That Jesus reminds us that the power of the Holy Spirit knows 
not the bounds of time and space.
We have come to the table.

In the same way as we have come to the table with friends, 
Jesus also gathered with his disciples — 
including the one who would betray him, 
another who would deny him and the many others who would run away in fear. 
Among them were some women who stayed with him to the end, 
and who discovered first the promise of his empty tomb!

As I say this blessing over the bread and the cup,
I invite all participants here in the space or at home, 
to extend their hands in a blessing upon these elements.

When the Passover meal was ended, Jesus took what remained of the bread, 
he blessed it and broke it saying, 
“This is my body, given freely for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, he took the leftover drink, the fruit of the vine, 
poured it into a cup saying, 
“This is the cup of blessing, poured out freely for you. Do this to remember me.”

Let us pray. God of mysterious abundance, we ask your blessing on this table, 
on this meal, on each of  your beloved who are gathered here — 
both near and far. 
Bless these simple offerings of bread and drink and transform them  … 
and each of us … so that we may reveal your wonder and your love and your grace 
wherever we may go. Amen.

Receiving Communion Together

Onsite Facilitator: 		Instruct onsite participants that bread and juice will be distributed via intinction 
in the physical space. 
Ask that each person take their bread, dip it in the cup and hold it until all have been served 
and the whole body of Christ — both physically present and digitally gathered 
can receive the elements together. 
Online Facilitator:	As they wait while the onsite folks receive communion, invite online participants to post a few words about the significance of the bread or cup they have chosen during this shared meal.  When they are ready, invite those online to take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup to be ready to receive together. 

Both Facilitators:		After all have been served,  say or post,
 		“Beloved of God, take and eat and know God’s unsurpassed love.”  

All will consume the elements together.

Both Facilitators:	Let us pray. 
As these elements sustain and nurture our bodies, 
may we become a more complete vessel of God’s love and grace in the world. Amen.

Benediction and Peace

Both Facilitators: 	Invite everyone present to offer each other a blessing to each other by saying or posting, 
“Peace to you, Beloved of God.” 
Appropriate closing music can be playing in the background.

Service for Women’s Week 2014 Service One was written by the Rev. Nicole Havelka, with the assistance of the Rev. Kimberly Knight.

Copyright 2014 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.