Organ prelude:
Johann Sebastian Bach: Chorale Partita: Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig (BWV 768)

Reading: Genesis 21:9-21 (Reader: Katherine Masa)
[Recorded outdoors in Uganda with wind and background noises lending greater authenticity!]

Hymn: Spirit of truth and grace (Church Hymnary, No. 608)

Reflection and Prayer: “Hagar – an all-too human story”

Hymn: Now the green blade rises (Church Hymnary, No. 417)

Blessing: A New Day is Dawning

Notices:

Texts by Dolores S. Williams including her essay Womanist Theology: Black Women’s Voices can be read on the internet at Religion Online: http://www.religion-online.org/author/delores-s-williams/

The Closing Prayer at the end of today’s reflection is inspired by the reggae song Stick By Me, which you can hear sung by its composer John Holt at: https://youtu.be/dMVmPqmrCzY

The Blessing is one of the many resources on the Prayer Matters website hosted by Revd Irene Bom of the International Presbytery: https://www.irenebom.com/prayer_matters/category/benediction/

The Scottish-based online ministry Sanctuary First continues to offer daily worship as well as pastoral support for many life situations: https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/daily-worship

The World Council of Churches’ ecumenical prayer cycle for this week focuses on Kenya and Tanzania: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/prayer-cycle/week-20-kenya-tanzania

The Pauluskirche is still not open for gathered worship, but it remains open from Tuesday to Friday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. till noon for individual and private prayer. Please observe standard precautions such as physical distancing when you enter the church.

Our weekly offerings during worship are our congregation’s main source of income. The corona crisis has put a stop to this, so please consider making donations by bank transfer in order that the ECC may continue to cover ongoing costs. Bank account details are shown below. Thank you.