Bob Dylan Folk Mass

This vespers service was arranged for the Community of Travelers (an emerging service that meets at 5pm at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in San Francisco) on 2/20/2010. Since this was the first time the mass was attempted, I'll be making some changes to the service for it's use the next time. Namely I wanted to include the traditional words of the Lord's Prayer into the Eucharist. What you see below was what happened at the on 2/20/2010. Feel free to use the service in other places with attribution. And let me know, I love when the Spirit is infectious!

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Don't matter how much money you got, there's only two kinds of people: there's saved people and there's lost people. – Bob Dylan

Gathering Song

To The Tune of: Times They Are A-Changin': Capo 2

G Em C G
G Am C D
G Em C G
G Am D
D D7 G D
G C D G

Come gather 'round people wherever you roam
And admit all the trials and troubles you’ve sown
we gather together, but still feel alone
our hearts and our minds are ragin’
we were all dust, till God put breath in our bones
so our lives, they are a chang - in'

Come prophets and skeptics and all who dream dreams
the last will be first and the bound shall be free
through bread, wine and water, what’s promised shall be
We all equally need savin’
Christ died on the cross for you and for me
so our lives, they are a-changin'

Come listen to the Gospel please heed the call
It’s promise is truth and pardon for all
We must take that message outside of these walls
To counter all the hatin’
Let’s sing so loud, they hear us in the hall
Because our lives, they are a-changin'

Prayer of the Day

Gospel Acclamation

To the tune of Blowin’ in the Wind: Capo 2

C D G Em
Ha lle halle halle lujah
C D G
Halle halle lujah


G C G
Praise the creator of all that is
G C D
Earth, sea, sky and sand
G C G
Praise be to Christ who came to earth
G C D
In the form of a man
G C G
Praise be to Spirit who is like the wind
GC D
Blowing over the land



C D G Em
Ha lle halle halle lujah
C D G
Halle halle lujah



The Gospel is Read

Reflections Are Offered by Those Gathered

Prayers of the People

To the tune of To Make You Feel My Love: Capo 2

G D
F C
Cm G
A7 D7 (the last time G)

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
All you need is a little grace
To help you feel God’s love.

For all the hungry, and the black and blue
All who live on sidewalks and avenues
When it feels like there is nothing we can do
May you feel God’s love.

When death and illness turns life to gray
and there’s nothing left to do but pray
We’ll come together and always say
May you feel God’s love

C G
When you think no there’s no love left for me
B7 C G
Or you can only think of life’s regret
C G
The winds of change are blowing wild and free.
A7 D7
There’s even more forgiveness for you yet

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
All you need is a little grace
To help you feel God’s love.



The Offering is Collected
 

The Meal

“Being noticed can be a burden. Jesus got himself crucified because he got himself noticed. So I disappear a lot.” – Bob Dylan

To the tune of The House of the Rising Sun: No Capo

Am C Dm F
Am C Em
Am C Dm F
Am Em Am

The peace of Christ be with you all
And also with you
Lift your hearts, breathe the breath of life
O God, we sing to you

It’s right, and good and we know we should
Give thanks and praise to God
Who made the earth, the sea and stars
And declares that we are good

This song we sing, is an echoing
From our ancestors of faith
Holy, holy holy are you
And Blessed be your name

On the night in which he was betrayed
Jesus took the bread
gave thanks and gave it to all to eat
a taste of the feast to come

After supper, he took the cup
A new covenant in blood (he said)
Each time you drink, remember me,
And pray as I was taught:

God in heaven, we raise your name
And work towards your kingdom now
May we follow you, with hearts that are true
Protect us all our days

These are the gifts of God for all
God, put your Spirit here
And on all who’ve gathered for this in this space
May we eat and drink our fill

Beatles Mass

For the 4th Sunday in Advent I created a Beatles Mass for the Community of Travelers (an emerging service that meets at 5pm at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in San Francisco). The scripture reading is about how God is born into the world, the Beatles Mass, reminds us that God is continually born into the world and that ordinary things can become spiritual when we use them in worship together.

In the spirit of Martin Luther who changed the words of pub tunes for use in church, this Beatles Mass seeks to get people excited (we had at least 8 people who don't typically attend who came to sing Beatles tunes), and enable those who don't read music to participate.

I'll be adding audio and video of the service, so you can hear how the songs sound as I get a chance.

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Beatles Mass

Lyrics by Rev. Megan Rohrer, Advent 2010

for the Community of Travelers service at St. Aidan’s Episcopal in San Francisco, CA

"God has preached the Gospel through music."

- Martin Luther

“We sing because in singing we join together in common breath and melody in a manner that no other medium can duplicate. Public corporate reading simply cannot match what occurs when people sing together. And when we sing, our song is joined to the saints and angels of all times and places. We become an assembly unified in purpose and thought. And by our singing, we hear God’s Word for us, and the world hears it loud and clear.”

– Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Call to Worship

[to the tune of Blackbird – capo 1]

Welcome to worship this Sunday night
God is here and the time is right
breathe the breath of life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Welcome to worship this Sunday night
Breathing as one, together we will sing
Let the church bells ring
You were only waiting for this moment to free.

Prepare your hearts
Prepare your hearts
For the words of God bring change

Prayer

The prayer of the day is read.

Word

[to the tune of Yellow Submarine – capo 1]

Hallelujah and praise be to Christ
praise be to Christ, praise be to Christ
Hallelujah and praise be to Christ
praise be to Christ, praise be to Christ

The Gospel of the day is read.

Hallelujah and praise be to Christ
praise be to Christ, praise be to Christ
Hallelujah and praise be to Christ
praise be to Christ, praise be to Christ

Reflection

A few words from the pastor, followed by group reflection on the reading.

Prayers of the People

[to the tune of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE –capo 2]

let prayers raise like incense through the church while we repent
spread forgiveness, unbind made-up-minds and wallets across the universe     
bless our leaders, of all kinds, bishops, pastors, civic minds
Families, pets, all human kind across the universe



CHORUS:
And so we pray together
God is gonna change the world
God is gonna change the world
God is gonna change the world
God is gonna change the world

we pray for those who are pain, and those who bring back health again
prayers to end poverty and war across the universe
end destruction waste and greed, so we can help out those in need
restore peace and prosperity across the universe 

...CHORUS


protect all children, save the earth help us understand the true worth
of all who live and breathe across the universe
help us remember we are loved by the holy trinity above
who calls us to be stewards of, all the universe 

...CHORUS 

Passing of the Peace

[to the tune of “I wanna hold your hand” – no capo]

Oh please, say to me -
We are all kin in Christ
And please, say to me -
I wanna shake your hand
I wanna shake your hand.
I wanna shake your hand.

The peace, of Christ is with you
And also with you,
So please, get off your seat
Share a sign of God’s peace
Share a sign of God’s peace.
Share a sign of God’s peace.

Oh please, say to me -
We are all kin in Christ
And please, say to me -
I wanna shake your hand
I wanna shake your hand.
I wanna shake your hand.

Offering

The offering is collected at the table is prepared.

The Meal

[To the tune of “Hey Jude” Capo 3]

Na na na na-na na na, na-na na na,

Je- sus (repeat)

Je-sus, he took the bread
Gave thanks and said: take and eat
this is my body, I’m giving to you
Yes this is true, bead of heaven

Je-sus, he blessed the cup
his blood creates for us holy kinship
so we remember God’s promises to us all
despite the fall, we are all God’s children

And every time you drink this cup

Think of Christ and remember

All your sins are forgiven

Na na na na-na na na, na-na na na,

Je- sus (repeat)

Holy one, hosannas to you

Blessed are all who come to your table

we remember the Saints from other times

In this bread and wine, pour out your Spirit

Creator God, who lives among us
we lift your name, above all others

and we remember your sacrifice for our sins
let your reign begin and continue forever, and ever and ever

[silence for the breaking of the bread]

Na na na na-na na na, na-na na na,

Je- sus (repeat)

Blessing

Eucharistic blessing is spoken.

Dismissal

[to the tune of “Let it Be” – capo 2]

May God’s face shine upon you. And clear a path before your feet
praying for tomorrow, Go in peace

Blessed and forgiven, Children of God you’ll always be
claim your wholeness, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace

in service, love and wisdom Go in peace

And when the bay is foggy. And suffering is all we see
May joy replace our sorrows, Go in peace

May we be light in darkness.   For the whole world’s in need.
Help us bring justice, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace

in service, love and wisdom Go in peace

Transgender Religious Leaders say "It Get's Better"

Jerky Saints Sunday

This sermon preached at First Congregational in San Francisco is the most I've ever been interrupted during a sermon. But you'll notice at the beginning of the sermon I say that this is a sign of God's in breaking into the world... so I guess God's a bit of a prankster.

Click hear to download the sermon (mp3)
Click hear to listen to the sermon online (play now)

Jerky Saints Sunday
Date:	11-07-2010
Description:	A different take on All Saints Sunday to grasp the unjust actions that our just God has promised to prevent.
Key words:	jesus,justice,suffering,saints
Pastor :	Megan Rohrer
Sermon :	First Congregational, San Francisco
Scripture :	Job 19:23-27a; Psalm 17:1-9 ; Luke 20:27-38

You Feed Them.

Download the sermon: (mp3)
Play the sermon now: (listen now)

You Feed Them.
Date:	10-28-2010
Description:	Jesus' command to feed the poor....
Key words:	jesus,mark,hunger,feed
Pastor :	Megan Rohrer
Sermon :	SPS Synod Hunger Group
Scripture :	Mark 6:23

Reformation manifesto against poverty & homelessness and for pastor self care

10/22/2010
Times Square New York

My last night indoors before my 7 days and 7 nights on the street this year I'm spending in Times Square. It wasn't planned to be an intentionally poetic thing. I'm doing a panel talk at CUNY's Graduate Center tonight for Out History. I fly back in the early morning and then head immediately to Davis, CA to preside at the closing worship of the Sierra Pacific Hunger Network's gathering. Then, I'll head immediately to Old First Presbyterian for the Saturday Community Dinner which will feed about 300 people. Afterwards I'll be joining the group of fools (no really, that's what we call ourselves - Faithful Fools after St. Francis of Assisi) and I'll be one of the huddled masses sleeping on the concrete outside of First Unitarian Universalist Church.

This street retreat, I'll be working on and off while I sleep on the streets at night. While this is a little different from past years, I think it will be a revelatory experience. First, I always find it helpful to feel how it feels in my bones to participate in the typical activities that I regularly ask homeless volunteers to participate in. Experiencing it helps me to understand what are unhelpful rules or just make life more difficult and painful for folk.

Another purpose of my continuing to work is to highlight the struggles of the working poor. This time in our economy more than ever, there are so many people working jobs that don't pay all their bills. Even I, someone very well off compared to the lives of those living on the streets, is currently working more than one job in order to get out from under debt, to pay my exceedingly high mortgage and because I haven't had a raise in three years.

And though there are a million reasons that my working while on street retreat can be illuminating, the final one I'll give here, is that during this week before the anniversary of the Reformation I want to highlight the way that pastors that chose to serve those with the least are consistently overworked and underpaid.

Without the ability to get good self care (through vacations, time off to think, time away from crisis and time away from bill worries both at work and home.

So for all these reasons, and all those that will come to me along the way, I officially declare my street retreat (from October 23 - 30) a call for a reformation to: solve domestic poverty; to pay living wages for individuals and families; and to provide self care and support with our prayers, money and priorities for pastors, particularly those engaged in community ministry or the diaconate, to get the self care they need.

Join me on my street retreat/reformation at: mystreetretreat.blogspot.com

And since I will beg on the streets, and in most of these notes, you might as well get used to me begging you to support the vital work that I'm able to do at Welcome. (via the mail: 1751 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94109 or via the interwebs at: www.sfwelcome.org).

I get the privilege of developing creative ways for folk to respond to poverty - whether they live in it or not. If you feel like my blog will entertain you as much as a movie, give $11. If it makes you think like a book would, give $25. If it feels like church, consider tithing %15 of next weeks salary. If you learn as much as a college class consider donating $255. If it changes your life, or at least your perspective, how much is that worth to you?

Since most of my time is spent finding ways to make things free that people in poverty can't afford, I won't be upset if you don't give. But, anything you do give will help me spend less time begging (and more time helping those living in poverty improving their quality of life) when my street retreat is over.

Blessings upon blessings to you and yours. May you be warm and fed, today and all the days of your life.

Pastor Megan

Location:Time Square, NY, NY,United States

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child

Listen to today's sermon.

Download: http://sfwelcome.sermon.net/da/2515421
Playback: http://sfwelcome.sermon.net/da/2515421/play

Sermon : Bethlehem Lutheran, Oakland
Scripture : 1 Kings 3:16-28; Acts 16:11-15; Matthew 26:7-13

A sermon about the fullness of women.