Worship Notes - May 11, 2025
Imago DEI - God's Equity and Justice
Part of Worship Service Notes
May 11, 2025

Series Art:

The art piece at the front of our worship space is a collaboration between Creator’s Space participants and people from Wednesday night groups at Hope. The window frame was originally left for the garbage, repaired, broken, repaired again, and then augmented to include the extra new artwork. The construction of this multilayered/multiparticipant piece is similar to the way the church mends its own brokenness while creating new and expansive spaces for new expressions of faith.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Today’s Music:

Spotify Playlist

Come All Who Are Weary
This song that uses the words of Jesus (from Matthew 11:28-30) to welcome people into the new community of of love and justice is how we open our service today.

Your Love is Strong
This musical setting setting of the Lord’s Prayer is a great way to tune our hearts toward our personal roles in justice and mercy.

I Shall Not Fear/See the Love
This song remonds me that love, justice, and peace are always coupeld with will and desire to see them born in the world.

Draw the Circle Wide
This song has been used in many United Methodist Churches all over the world to celebrate the expansive and welcoming nature of Jesus’ ministry.

Today’s Words for Worship

Call to Worship
Leader:
Come, people of God,
gather as one—
diverse, beloved, and called.

People:
We come,
created in the image of God,
each one cherished,
each one needed.

Leader:
God calls us not just to believe,
but to participate—
in building a world where justice flows,
where fairness is practiced,
and access is shared.

People:
We come,
ready to be shaped by the Spirit,
to stand in the gap,
to lift every voice,
to open every door.

Leader:
Let us worship the God who is equity,
who brings sight to the blind and release to the captive,
who proclaims the year of the Lord’s favor.

People:
We worship not with empty words,
but with open hands and faithful hearts,
committed to a kingdom
where all God’s children can thrive.

All Together:
Let us worship the Living God—
just, generous, and inclusive.
Amen.

Prayer of Confession
All:
God of justice and mercy,
you have created each of us in your image,
and called us to reflect your love in the world.

But we confess:
we have not always seen your image in our neighbors.
We have benefited from systems that exclude,
and ignored the cries of those denied fairness and access.
We have closed our ears to wisdom that challenged us,
and hardened our hearts to the pain of others.

Forgive us, O God.
When we have chosen silence over solidarity,
comfort over compassion,
privilege over participation—
forgive us.

Disrupt us where we are too at ease,
and stir us where we have grown complacent.
Make us brave enough to do the work of justice,
tender enough to walk with the hurting,
and humble enough to learn what we do not yet see.

Renew in us the desire
to build a world where all your children can thrive—
with dignity, with access, with joy.

In the name of Jesus,
who stood with the outcast and lifted the lowly,
we pray.
Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Leader:
Hear the good news:
You are created in the image of a just and merciful God—
a God who does not leave us in our failure,
but lifts us up with love and restores us with grace.

In Christ, you are forgiven.
Not because you have done enough,
but because God’s love is enough.

So rise—
not with shame, but with purpose.
Step into the sacred work
of justice, fairness, and access
for all God’s children.

All:
Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven,
we are beloved,
we are called.
Amen.