One Body in Christ and “Covenant of Rainbow – Campaign Toward a Truly Inclusive Church” 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Worship
One Body in Christ and “Covenant of Rainbow – Campaign Toward a Truly Inclusive Church”
10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Worship
(12th Sunday after Pentecost)
“Covenant of Rainbow – Campaign Toward a Truly Inclusive Church” Initiative is composed of various Christian groups, including congregations, organizations, and theological student groups. We believe that people of any skin color, gender, language, age, occupation, sexual orientation, identity, or abilities are loved by the Lord; therefore, the church should strive to create an environment of equality, mutual acceptance, and loving fellowship, where the gospel of Christ’s love replaces harm.
Date: August 11, 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Kowloon Union Church
Theme: Diversity, Faith & Togetherness (Celebrate with gratitude, faith and togetherness)
| Liturgist | Revd Grad Bok | Drama | BMCC |
| Sharing
|
Priscilla Wong
Paul Lucas Nocus |
Intercessory Prayer | Sai Sai
Teresa Anthony Man |
| Scripture Reading | Yee On | Pianist | Ronny |
| Holy Communion | Revd Phyllis Wong | Projection | Bob |
| Holy Communion
Assistant |
Revd Esther Yu
Pastor Hong Paster CP |
Sound | Yat |
| Prayer
Service |
Revd. Grace Bok
Chaplain Vicky Shiu |
Ushers | Yoyo、Anita
(Collect Offering for Covenant of Rainbow) |
| Translation | Amber、June | Greeting | Jackie、Yvonne Kam
(Collect Offering for One Body in Christ) |
| Venue | Alex、Barry | Counting of Offering | Jackie、Mimi
Yoyo、Revd Esther Yu |
| Photography | Michel | FB Live | Monica |
| Video Production | Amber、Michel、Nocus |
Preparation
Lighting of candle
Approach
- Welcome and introduction by Revd Grace Bok
- Video: 10 mins
Song: Because of Faith
Call to Worship
O Lord! Our wise and wonderful Creator fills the earth with wonder. This is God’s world of diversity.
Response: We make a covenant with our Creator and each other to celebrate this diversity.
Countless creatures fill the earth, which is beyond our ability to understand or classify.
Response: We make a covenant with our Creator and each other to celebrate this diversity.
Mountains and valleys, forests and oceans, all singing the richness of creation.
Response: We make a covenant with our Creator and each other to celebrate this diversity.
Humanity in rich colors and forms expresses the creativity of our Creator.
Response: We make a covenant with our Creator and with each other to celebrate this diversity.
Our Creator loves diversity and therefore has created people to express sexual desires in different ways
Response: We make a covenant with our Creator and with each other to celebrate this diversity.
In the holy name of the Trinity, we begin today’s “Covenant of Rainbow – Campaign Toward a Truly Inclusive Church” Thanksgiving Worship
Response: Amen!
(Adapted from Jann Aldredge Clanton (USA))
The Word
- Drama by BMCC
- Scripture Reading by Yee On
Thessalonians 1:3-12
We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing.
Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.
For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Sharing
Message by Revd Grace Bok
Message by Priscila Wong
Message by Paul Lucas
Message by Nocus
Sing “Ubi Carita” 3 times after message by each guest
- Confession
The Creed of Inclusivity
We believe in the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth and all things, and declares that all things are beautiful, indeed extremely beautiful. He created us completely according to His imagination, and every part of us, including our sex and gender, reflects the above. Divine image of the Lord.
We believe in Jesus Christ, who embodies God’s love and justice, who properly manages the heaven, earth, and all things created by God, and becomes our model, calling us to live abundantly and fully, and to embrace everything that God has entrusted to us.
We believe in the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit), the power of God’s work in the world. He gives us the courage to love ourselves and others, and to tear down the walls that separate us, making us a new and integrated faith community, committed to Change the world so that the value of God is revealed. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, called to be a hospitable community, reaching out with healing love and welcoming all to the feast of Christ, just as the Lord welcomes us. Amen.
Response
- Concerns of the Church by Revd Bok
- Intercessory Prayer
- For the progress of LGBTI equality movements around the world, and for places where sexual minorities are oppressed. (Sai Sai)
- For Hong Kong LGBTI equality movement (Teresa)
- To make the Hong Kong church a more inclusive and accepting church (Brother Anthony Man)
- Offering
Express our determination to build an inclusive church with money and actions
Holy Communion by Revd Phyllis Wong
- Reconciliation
“How wonderful it is, how pleasant for God’s children live in unity” (Psalm 133:1)
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or be afraid.” (John 14:27)
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Response: And also be with you.
Passing of peace
- Song: A place at the table
For woman and man, a place at the table,revising the roles, deciding the share,with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,for woman and man, a system that’s fair, (Refrain) Refrain: and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy! For young and for old, a place at the table,a voice to be heard, a part in the song,the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,for young and for old, the right to belong, (Refrain) Refrain: and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy! For everyone born, a place at the table,to live without fear, and simply to be,to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)
- Institution
Eternal Lord, you created all things and consider them beautiful. You allow us to manifest your glory and majesty in the Lord’s divine creation.
Loving Lord, you became flesh and allowed Jesus to come into the world to walk with the marginalized and the suffering. Jesus ate with tax collectors, healed the woman with the issue of blood and the leper, defended the condemned woman, and shared theology with the woman at the well. Jesus Christ lived out a faith in communion and radical love.
The Holy Communion instituted by the Lord Jesus allows those who receive the Holy Communion to blend in and blend with the Lord through His body and precious blood, have their souls healed, relationships reconciled, and lives rebuilt. So, all of us, creations of all sexual orientations and gender identities, along with all the saints and all the angels, celebrate together.
Response: Holy, Holy, Holy! Glorious Lord, your diverse creations and your love and power are endless. Amen.
On the night when he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you; this is what you must do in remembrance of me.” After the meal, the Lord also took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Drink this, all of you; this cup is my blood of the new covenant, which I poured out for you. Your sins are forgiven. Whenever you drink, do this in remembrance of me.”
Response: We eat this bread, drink this wine, and enter into the Holy Communion and connection with the Lord Jesus.
Lord, please fill us with the Spirit of life and be present in this bread and wine. Let this bread and wine become our bread of life, heal our wounds, restore our brokenness, and establish our unity.
Response: Gracious Lord, thank you for feeding us the bread of life. Amen.
- Sing: Lamb of God
- Distribution
The Lord Jesus said: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they all may be one.” (John 17:20-21)
The Communion emphasizes unity and communion. We are members of each other and become one.
- Post-communion prayer
Eternally loving Lord, thank you for giving us life, and thank you for feeding us through your body, reorganizing our faith, affirming our calling, and practicing unity in the Lord Christ. Jesus’ self-sacrifice reminds us to care for the weak, accept the diverse world created by God with a humble heart, embrace life, and build a Kingdom of God that is harmonious but different, respects equality, and is friendly and peaceful. May the Lord’s Holy Spirit give us strength to walk with each other, bear witness to Christ, and glorify the Lord’s name. Amen!
Commission/Blessing
- Blessing
May the kindness and faithfulness of the Lord, the radical love of Jesus Christ, and the wisdom and goodness of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever, Amen!
- Sending
Dear sisters and brothers, go to the world in peace, with humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace, and build a truly inclusive church and society. Witness the unity and communion of Christ among the crowd and demonstrate the richness of God’s diverse creation.
- Closing hymn
I have shown you my great love, I have given it up, I have been broken apart I have borne the pain and walked through the cross willingly. The love of the Lord is sublime and the grace is as deep as the sea.
Being able to love each other is all because of being loved. Being able to wake up needs to be torn down and changed.
Be able to put on salvation, step in the footsteps of Christ, extend the Lord’s love, and enter the sea of humanity.
I am determined to spread the word about Jesus and use my gifts to give my best.
Let me be humble as your servant and serve God with reverence. It is all covered by your grace. Every step is a bright light. In your graceful hands, it is filled with clouds. I imitate the love of Christ and my vision changes.
May the doves descend from the sky and mold me to contain the abundant love of God.