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United Church of Christ

Pharaoh by A Sanctified Art

Eighth Sunday After

Pentecost

July 26, 2020 Zoom Worship

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

PRELUDE Go Down, Moses arr. Anthony Giamanco

WELCOME & ANNOUCEMENTS Rev. Todd Atkins-Whitley

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CALL TO WORSHIP Jack Stickler

Listen. I have a story to tell— A story of a God who longed for justice. A story of a God who pushed back the waters to make dry land. A story of a God who would not take “no” for an answer when it came to the safety of God’s own. For God’s people were suffering. God’s people were crying out. God’s people were shackled and bound by oppression. So God said to Moses, “Speak.” “Let my people Go.” And Moses spoke— Over and over again. Moses stood up for justice, But over and over again, Pharaoh said no. Power said no. The path to justice is never easy, is it? The path to change is never a straight line, is it?

So like Rosa, who sat on the bus, and Martin who had a dream, Moses kept trying. God kept speaking. Moses kept listening. Hope kept breathing. And when power tried to unravel justice, the people kept dreaming.

God longed for justice. God still longs for justice. So let us worship God— For human injustice will never be strong enough to unravel God’s dream that all might be free, And all might know love. Let us worship holy God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rev. Mariah Callison One: God, you have asked us to be like Moses—

Standing up for your people, standing up for justice. All: But too often we are like Pharaoh—

Holding onto power, or holding onto privilege. One: God, you ask us to be like Aaron—

Who stood by his brother to unravel systems of oppression. All: But too often we align with Pharaoh—

Saying “no” to change and unraveling your vision for justice and peace. One: Forgive us for all the ways we stand on the wrong side of history. All: Forgive us for the harm we do to your planet, and for the harm we do to your children. One: Help us to be like Moses. All: Forgive us when we’re like Pharaoh. Amen.

PASSING OF THE PEACE One: Peace be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us greet one another with waves and smiles

and pass the peace of Christ using the chat feature.

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OPENING HYMN

TIME WITH CHILDREN Kim Michaud & Karen Kawaguchi

SCRIPTURE LESSON Exodus 5:1–2; 7:8–23 Piper Stickler

SERMON When Humans Unravel God’s Plan for Justice Pastor Todd

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ANTHEM Go Down, Moses Michael Tippett Genesis Sixteen; Harry Christophers, director See Worship Notes, page 5.

Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land; Tell old Pharaoh, to let my people go.

When Israel was in Egypt's land, (Let my people go) Oppressed so hard they could not stand. (Let my people go)

"Thus spake the Lord," bold Moses said, (Let my people go) "If not, I'll smite your first-born dead.” (Let my people go)

Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land; Tell old Pharaoh, to let my people go.

TIME OF PRAYER Rev. Mariah Sharing our Joys and Concerns (Email your requests to Pastor Eric or type them in the chat window.)

All: Hear our prayer

Pastoral Prayer The Lord’s Prayer (using these words or the words most familiar to you)

Our Loving God, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

TIME OF GIVING Jim & Shii Stickler Invitation to Giving

During this time of virtual worship, we invite you to give online via our web site and clicking “Donate” in the upper right of the screen.

Offertory Go Down, Moses African-American Spiritual Gospel for Teens (director unlisted)

Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen

Offertory Prayer

CLOSING HYMN Woyaya See Worship Notes, page 5.

We are going, heaven knows where we are going, But we’ll know we’re there And we will get there, heaven knows how we will get there, But know we will. It will be hard we know And the road will be muddy and rough, But we’ll get there, heaven knows how we will get there, But We know we will. Woyaya, woyaya, woyaya, woyaya, woyaya, woyaya, woyaya, woyaya

BENEDICTION Pastor Todd

POSTLUDE Go Down, Moses Bradley Sowash

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Worship Notes

This summer, we will dive deep into this topic Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart. We will explore nine different stories found in scripture about unraveled shame, identity, fear, grief, dreams, and expectations. These are stories where God meets us in the unraveling—the loss of control—and creates something new. We hope you will join us this summer.

The African American spiritual Go Down, Moses dates from before the Civil War and is said to have been sung by abolitionists to signal escape or rebellion. Like many other spirituals, “Go Down, Moses” includes a forceful indictment of the entire system of slavery. It was originally published as O! Let My People Go.” Though it is generally thought of as a spiritual, it was first recorded as sheet music after having been heard as a rallying cry for the ex-slaves at Fort Monroe in Virginia. The original sheet music, available at the Library of Congress website, has the year 1861 handwritten on the front, and on the fifth page informs that “This Song has been sung for about nine years by the Slaves of Virginia.”It was published in the Jubilee Songs (1872), made popular by the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in their concert tours. Known by its refrain line, "Go down, Moses," the spiritual was also published in J. B. T. Marsh’s The Story of the Jubilee Singers with their Songs (1876). “When Israel Was in Egypt's Land” originally had twenty-four stanzas of which the Psalter Hymnal (as well as other modern hymnals) include four narrative stanzas and one stanza of application. Commenting on the spiritual’s message, John Lovell, Jr., writes: “Go Down, Moses does not employ the undercurrent symbolism of Steal Away to Jesus and other such poems. Only a very obtuse listener can miss its point. It says flatly that Moses freed these Egyptian slaves boldly and justly because slavery is wrong. It clearly projects the principles of this experience to all the world: wherever men are held in bondage, they must and shall be freed. The “Let my people go!” refrain is thunderous. It does not argue economic, sociological, historical, and racial points….It wastes no words and moves relentlessly toward its goal of filling every listener with a pervasive contempt for oppression and a resounding enthusiasm for freedom.” (from Black Song, 1972, pp. 326-327). [This hymn] is a prayer to God for freedom for all who are oppressed, a petition for liberation in Christ. The version by the UK’s Genesis Sixteen, a group of 18–23 year olds participating in a program designed to nuture the next generation of talented ensemble singers, was performed live in 2013, conducted by Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan. The version by Gospel for Teens, a two-time Emmy award winning Gospel youth ensemble and arts education program in Harlem featuring youth between ages 13 and 19, was performed at their spring concert and aired on 60 Minutes in 2011 as a part of Lesley Stahl’s segment titled How ‘Gospel for Teens’ is Saving the Music.

Frequently heard in work camps throughout central West Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, Woyaya—which means “we keep going” in a Ghanaian language called Ga—was written by Annie Masembe from Uganda and composed by seven musicians from the Afro-pop band Osibisa. The original line-up consisted of Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh, and Sol Amarfio (all three from Ghana), plus Loughty Lassisi Amao from Nigeria, Robert Bailey from Trinidad, Spartacus R from Grenada, and Wendell Richardson from Antigua. Together they were also known as

“the beautiful seven.” Woyaya was recorded by Sweet Honey in the Rock and was also covered by Art Garfunkel on his debut solo album.

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Announcements

If you would like to submit a prayer concern or joy for next Sunday’s Zoom Worship, please email it to Pastor Eric at eric@danvillechurch.org.

To keep up-to-date on news and announcements during this time of social distancing, please read your email from DCC thoroughly! All communication related to church news and events will be communicated via email!

Visitor Info Session: Thursday, July 30 On Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. DCC will host a virtual “Visitor Information Session” via Zoom for anyone who is new to the church and interested in learning more about the DCC community and membership at DCC. Within the DCC community, we have three groups of people that make up our community • visitors • friends of DCC (regular attendees) • members The difference between those who are friends of DCC and members can be summed up in one word: commitment. In our individual lives, we commit ourselves to a lease or

mortgage; we commit to complete a training program; we commit to a lifelong partner; we commit to a contract. Membership is a commitment to God’s local church.

If you consider yourself a “visitor” or “friend of DCC” and are interested in learning more about membership, we hope you’ll join us. If you attended the visitor information session back in March before shelter-in-place, and would like to attend this session, you are invited too! We hope to have a joining ceremony to welcome new members during one of our upcoming virtual worship services later in August! Please RSVP to Karen Kawaguchi and Joyce Klassen, our Community Life Co-Commissioners.

DCC’s Summer Backpack and School Supplies Drive Extended to August 7

We’re extending our Summer Backpack and School Supplies Drive to provide new backpacks stuffed with school supplies for children of homeless, formerly-homeless and at-risk families now living in Hope Solutions (formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing) and Shelter, Inc. facilities who we want to help get a good start in school this year. We don’t know when they will physically be returning to school, but we want them to be ready when they do.

Thank you to everyone who donated backpacks, school supplies and gift cards to Shelter, Inc.’s drive. We delivered your donations to Shelter, Inc. on their Friday, July 24 deadline. And thank you to everyone who has already donated a backpack kit to Hope Solutions’ drive.

Hope Solutions has extended its backpack drive and invites us to select and purchase complete backpack kits, including a standard selection of school supplies, with Preschool kits @ $20, Elementary School kits @ $30, and Middle/High School kits @ $40. The assembled backpacks with school supplies will be delivered directly to Hope Solutions. Shop and purchase online by Friday, August 7th at Hope Solutions 2020 Backpack Drive web page.

If you have questions, or want to report your participation in DCC’s back-to-school backpack project, please email Doug Leich.

Compassion Camp: Wednesdays through August 5, 10:30am–11:30am Open to kids incoming Kindergarten through grade 5, Compassion Camp will help us explore what it means to have compassion for others, ourselves, and the world. The theme of the first week was “At the Table” looking at one of Jesus’ stories found in Luke 15:11-35. Remaining weeks include: • July 22—For Myself: Mark 12:28-31 and Deuteronomy 6 • July 29—Along the Way: Ruth 1:1-22 • August 5—With the World: Leviticus 25 Kids can join any of the weeks that fit their/your schedule. Click here to register or email Pastor Todd to receive the Zoom link.

Parents and youth should also check their email for information about upcoming hikes this month with Pastor T!

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“This pandemic has made me realize how much I have and I want to help others who don’t have as much as me.” —Luci Beaver

Youth Group Summer Clothing Drive

As we find ourselves still sheltered-in-place, Youth Group 8th grader Luci Beaver is organizing a summer clothing drive. She writes:

Hi! We are collecting clothes, shoes, jackets, and possibly books. Please make sure the y are all in good condition, clean, and folded. We are on the lookout for good organizations to give things to during this pandemic and we already have some in mind.

Once we determine the best organizations to give to, we will be in touch with more information about drop-off and where to bring it to. In the meantime, please collect some of the things below that you would like to give:

• shoes • clothes • jackets • possibly books

Please, again a reminder, have the items clean, folded, and in good condition. Please make sure everything is ready to donate—we will not be going through clothes.

If you have any questions about participating in this opportunity to exhibit DCC’s hallmarks of generosity and hospitality, you can reach Luci through her mother, Laura at lauradbeaver@gmail.com.

Fall Good News

Submissions for the Fall edition of the DCC Good News newsletter are due August 14. If you have an article or piece you’d like submitted in our Fall Good News, please submit it to Chris Rauen (chris_rauen@yahoo.com) no later than Friday, August 14! The Fall Good News will be published before Labor Day.

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Upcoming Virtual Gatherings

Worship at DCC, Sundays at 9:30am https://zoom.us/j/492975948?pwd=blJqZTNpNGo3S1o0YkNFM3FWQ1dIQT09

or by Zoom app: 492 975 948, password 322 or by phone: dial 669-900-6833

and enter 492 975 948 as the Meeting ID and 322 as the password.

Youth Group, Sundays at 5:00pm Email Pastor Todd for the link.

Compassion Camp, Wednesdays at 10:30am through August 5 Email Pastor Todd for the link.

Youth Group Antiracism Book Chat, Thursdays at 5:15pm Email Pastor Todd for the link.

Ministers—The Entire Congregation

Church Staff The Rev. Eric Sherlock, Senior Pastor

The Rev. Todd Atkins-Whitley, Associate Pastor John Kendall Bailey, Music Director

Mary-Marie Deauclaire, Handbell Director Elizabeth Setlak-von Thury, Office Manager

Nicole Doyle, Nursery Attendant

The DCC Prayer Team prays daily for those in need of prayers. If you would like to submit a prayer request for yourself or someone else,

contact a pastor or send an email to prayers@danvillechurch.org. All requests are kept confidential unless specified otherwise.

Kelley Mangels, Dayspring Preschool Director dayspringpreschool.org

Danville Congregational Church United Church of Christ

989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville, CA 94526-4020 Phone: (925) 837-6944

danvillechurch.org