Hummelstown UCC Podcast

Acts 2:1-8, 12-14, 22-24, 43-47; 

OPENING MEDITATION From the Constitution of the UCC
Preamble
The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of Godand Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. Itlooks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of theHoly Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as itsown the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimedin the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of theChurch in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honestyof thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God.

Article III. Covenantal Relationships
Within the United Church of Christ, the various expressions of the church relate toeach other in a covenantal manner. Each expression of the church hasresponsibilities and rights in relation to the others, to the end that the whole churchwill seek God’s will and be faithful to God’s mission. Decisions are made inconsultation and collaboration among the various parts of the structure. As membersof the Body of Christ, each expression of the church is called to honor and respectthe work and ministry of each other part. Each expression of the church listens, hears,and carefully considers the advice, counsel, and requests of others. In this covenant,the various expressions of the United Church of Christ seek to walk together in allGod’s ways.

Esther 4:13-17; Leviticus 19:9-13; Mark 12:28-31

OPENING MEDITATION Proverbs & Psalms“Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind tothe needy honor God.” (Proverbs 14:31)“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and will be repaid in full.”(Proverbs 19:17)“Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with thepoor.” (Proverbs 22:9)“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.”(Proverbs 31:8)“It is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire strong drink, lest theydrink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all theafflicted. Give strong drink to one who is perishing and wine to those inbitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember theirmisery no more. Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of allthe destitute. Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poorand needy.” (Proverbs 31:4-9)“The Lord watches over the strangers; upholds the orphan and the widow,but the way of the wicked, brings to ruin.” (Psalm 146:9)

Isaiah 56:6-8; Samuel 16:7; Galatians 3:26-29

OPENING MEDITATION Ephesians 4:14-16“We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about byevery wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitfulscheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every wayinto him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joinedand knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as eachpart is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up inlove.”

From “Balloons Belong in Church”, Ann Weems

OPENING MEDITATION Imagine TogetherTry to write or draw for the whole prelude, without stopping. Work to getall of your thoughts on the page, without worrying about what you arewriting, or how. Follow wherever your mind leads.1. Think of something that exists in and/or moves through the sky. A featureof nature or something manufactured, or something not even visible tohumans.2. Write from the point of view of the thing moving through the sky.Imagine a specific part of the earth. What does it see? What does ittouch? How does it affect what exists on the ground?3. Then write the perspective of someone or something, or multiplesomeone’s or somethings, on the ground. What is your experience of whatis in the sky?

Leviticus 25:1-7; John 1:1-5

OPENING MEDITATION Psalm 148: Praise for God’s Universal GloryPraise God! Praise from the heavens; in the heights! Praise God, all angels;all the host! Praise God, sun and moon; all you shining stars! Praise God,you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens! Let them praisethe name of God for God commanded and they were created. Godestablished them forever and ever; fixed their bounds, which cannot bepassed. Praise God from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fireand hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling the command! Mountainsand all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creepingthings and flying birds! Rulers of the earth and all peoples! Young peoplealike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of God, forgod’s name alone is exalted; glory is above earth and heaven. God hasraised up a horn for the people, praise for all faithful people. Praise theLord!

Matthew 6:9-15; Luke 6:27-30, 36-38, Colossians 3:12-14

OPENING MEDITATION Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my sibling sins against me, howoften should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Notseven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

Acts 4:31-35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

OPENING MEDITATION Mark 12:30
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul 
and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Matthew 28:1-10 

OPENING MEDITATION Sarah Speed 
Every morning the sun rises, majestic and steady. She is greeted in all her strength 
with the joyous cacophony of birdsong. I like to believe this holy chorus is the birds 
telling each other— I’m here. We made it through the night. You’re not alone. What 
good, good news. I think the resurrection is a bit like that. God is here. We made it 
through the night. We are not alone. What good, good news.

Mark 11:1-11

“If you possess enough courage to speak out what you are, you will find you are not 
alone.” - Richard Wright

John 8:2-11

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cuminand have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. Itis these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.How do you see justice, mercy, and faithfulness prioritized in your laws and religiouspolicies? In what ways are these values neglected?