May 18, 2025

asbcsite
May 14
4 min read

Guest Preacher: Abigail Hastings

Please use this Order of Service to easily follow the service online.

CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS (or scroll to the bottom)

Prelude Debbie Deane

Chalice Lighting Opening to the Light

by SarahRuth Wekoye Davis

We light this chalice with an open heart;

We light this chalice with resolve.

We light this chalice with tears still fresh on our cheeks.

We light this chalice in hope, a tiny flame we nurture.

We light this chalice with reverence, for this place, for these people, for this time.

We light this chalice with all our soul’s longing, to be who we are,

to be who we will become, to be ourselves.

We light this chalice in self-love, in giving love, in holy love.

Opening Hymn: “We Sing of Golden Mornings” SLT 44

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship: Psalm 19 More Than Gold (alt)

by Christine Robinson in Psalms for a New World https://doubterpsalms.blogspot.com

One: The beauty of the universe declares the Glory of God.

Silence guides us. Nature revives our souls.

All: When we view this as unspoken teaching, we are wise.

When we align ourselves with Love, our hearts rejoice.

One: This enlightenment is more to be desired than gold.

It is sweeter than honey, and our great reward.

Cleanse us of our secret faults and presumptuous sins.

All: And let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts

Be acceptable in thy sight, O God our strength and our redeemer.

Prayer of Invocation

Sacred Reading: Revelation 21:1-5 A New Heaven and A New Earth

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding. I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among all people, living with them as God’s people, wiping away all tears from their eyes—and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!”

John 13:34-35 Love one another

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Passing of the Peace

Sharing of our Joys and Concerns: Open to the Congregation

Prayers of the People/Pastoral Prayer

Offering

Doxology: “Tis a Gift to Be Simple” SLT 16

Reading: The Upswing: How We Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again

by Robert Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett (2020)

In his book The Upswing, political scientist Robert Putnam analyzed the economic, social, and political trends of the past century showing how we went from an individualistic “I” society to a more “We” society and then back again. During the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, America was highly individualistic, starkly unequal, fiercely polarized, and deeply fragmented, just as it is today. And just as it is today, that era was accompanied by unprecedented technological advances and unimaginable prosperity—but only for some.

But as the twentieth century opened, America became—slowly, unevenly, but steadily—more egalitarian, more cooperative, more generous; a society on the upswing, more focused on our responsibilities to one another and less focused on our narrower self-interest. Sometime during the 1960s, however, these trends reversed, leaving us in today’s disarray—with deep and accelerating inequality; unprecedented political polarization; vitriolic public discourse; a fraying social fabric; and public and private narcissism. Americans today seem to agree on only one thing: This is the worst of times.

Reading: Joy Is the Compass on the Hero’s Journey

Joy is a choice, accessible in every moment and in every breath. At heart, we are connection seekers and joy enthusiasts, actively shaping the infinite game through our choices, thoughts, and actions. The closer we get to our purpose—helping the universe evolve—the happier we become. It’s by illuminating the star within, we explore the stars above.

Hymn of Reflection: “Soon the Day Will Arrive” SLT 146

Sermon: All That’s Gilded Isn’t Gold Abigail Hastings

Closing Hymn: “Wonders Still the World Shall Witness” SLT 139

v.2 “Sons and daughters” can be sung “And our children…”

Benediction

Postlude Debbie Deane

All Souls Bethlehem Church

An Open and Affirming Congregation

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo

Ministers: All Members of ASBC

Minister Emeritus: Rev. Bill Nye

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