As You Arrive

Prelude

Draw the Circle Wide

Refrain

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side — draw the circle wide.

Verse 1

God the still-point of the circle, round you all creation turns. Nothing lost but held forever in God’s gracious arms.

Refrain

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side — draw the circle wide.

Verse 2

Let our hearts touch far horizons, so encompass great and small. Let our loving know no borders, faithful to God’s call.

Refrain

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side — draw the circle wide.

Verse 3

Let the dreams we dream be larger than we’ve ever dreamed before. Let the dream of Christ be in us, open every door.

Refrain

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still. Let this be our song: no one stands alone. Standing side by side — draw the circle wide.

Opening

Welcome

Rev. Kelly Dotson

Music

Gathering Music

For Everyone Born

Words: Shirley Erena Murray · Music: Lori True · © Hope Publishing / GBGMusik

Verse 1

For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead.

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!

Verse 2

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

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!

Verse 3

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

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!

Verse 4

For gay and for straight, a place at the table, a covenant shared, a welcoming space, a rainbow of race and gender and color, for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace.

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!

Responsive

Call to Worship

Rev. Beth Hall

LeaderGod who created galaxies and oceans—

PeopleYou created humanity in your image.

LeaderNot in sameness, but in breathtaking diversity.

PeopleFearfully and wonderfully made.

LeaderToday we celebrate the sacred dignity of every person.

PeopleEspecially our transgender and nonbinary siblings.

LeaderIn a world where many are targeted—

PeopleYour love remains wider than fear.

AllLet us worship the God who calls every life sacred.

Prayer

Opening Prayer

Rev. Stephen Walker

Holy Creator,

You knit each of us together in love. Before the world told us who we were allowed to be, you already called us beloved.

Forgive the church when fear has silenced compassion. Forgive us when we have drawn lines you never drew.

Today we lift up our transgender and nonbinary siblings. Protect those who are targeted. Strengthen those who are weary. Surround them with communities of courage and care.

Transform your church into a place where every identity is honored and every person is recognized as sacred.

Amen.

Memorial

Remembrance of Helen Ryde

Rev. Kelly Dotson · Candle Lighting

Friends, we pause to remember Helen Ryde. We gather carrying both conviction and grief. Helen’s life and leadership helped shape this movement toward justice, inclusion, and sacred belonging.

As we remember them, we recall how they showed us how to live: with courage to have difficult conversations, with a commitment to education and growth, with a deep belief in intersectionality and justice, with a willingness to meet people where they are, and with a spirit that listened—truly listened—with compassion.

✦We light this candle in memory of Helen—a light that reminds us that love continues beyond death.

✦We light a second candle for courage—the courage Helen lived and called forth in others.

✦We light a third candle for justice—the work Helen carried and now entrusts to us.

✦We light a fourth candle for belonging—the truth that every life is sacred.

PeopleEvery life reflects the light of God.

— A moment of silence —

LeaderFor the life of Helen Ryde—for their witness, their courage, and their love—

PeopleWe give thanks to God.

LeaderAnd we commit to carrying their work forward.

PeopleWith God’s help, we will.

The Word

Scripture Readings

Rev. Remy Styers

Old TestamentPsalm 139:13–14

New TestamentActs 8:26–40

Message

What Is to Prevent Us?

Rev. Kelly Dotson

Stories of Faith

Testimony

Beck Saunders and Lauren Scruggs

Music

Response Song

Plowshare Prayer

Dear blessed creator, dear mother, dear savior, dear father, dear brother, dear holy other, dear sibling, dear baby, dear patiently waiting, dear sad and confused, dear stuck and abused, dear end-of-your-rope, dear worn out and broke, dear go-it-alone, dear running from home, dear righteously angry, forsaken by family, dear jaded and quiet, dear tough and defiant—

Chorus

I pray that I’m heard. And I pray that this works.

I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword against you and your heart, against you and your word, I pray that this prayer is a plowshare of sorts— that it might break you open, it might help you grow.

I pray that your body gets all that it needs, and if you don’t want healing, I just pray for peace. I pray that your burden gets lighter each day. I pray the mean voice in your head goes away. I pray that you honor the grief as it comes. I pray you can feel all the life in your lungs. I pray that if you go all day being brave, that you can go home, go to bed feeling safe.

I pray you’re forgiven. I pray you forgive. I pray you set boundaries and openly live. I pray that you feel you are worth never leaving. I pray that you know I will always believe you.

Chorus

I pray that I’m heard. And I pray that this works.

Closing Amens

Amen on behalf of the last and the least, on behalf of the anxious, depressed and unseen. Amen for the queers and their closeted peers, amen for the bullied who hold in their tears. Amen for the ones who want life to be over— may goodness and grace be your constant reminder that you are beloved, you are seen, you belong.

Prayer

Prayer of the People

Rev. Lauren Scruggs

God of compassion,

We pray for transgender and nonbinary people everywhere. Strengthen them. Protect them. Surround them with communities of courage.

Make us a church that reflects your love.

Amen.

Responsive

Commissioning

Rev. Kelly Dotson

LeaderDo you commit to creating churches of belonging?

PeopleWith God’s help, we will.

LeaderDo you commit to protecting those whose dignity is under attack?

PeopleWith God’s help, we will.

LeaderDo you commit to listening, learning, and acting with courage?

PeopleWith God’s help, we will.

Music

Sending Song

The Goodness of God

Verse 1

I love You Lord, for Your mercy never fails me. All my days I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Chorus

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, and all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Verse 2

I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire. In darkest nights You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend, and I have lived in the goodness of God.

Chorus

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, and all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Bridge

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.

Chorus

‘Cause all my life You have been faithful, and all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Sending

Benediction

Brittany Bethel

Go into the world remembering:

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Every person you meet bears the image of God.

Go in courage. Go in love.

Amen

Wonderfully Made,
Courageously Loved

Welcome

Call to Worship

Opening Prayer

Remembrance of Helen Ryde

Scripture Readings

What Is to Prevent Us?

Testimony

Prayer of the People

Commissioning

Benediction

Light of Christ Church

Information

Follow