Reinhold Niebuhr's brother, H. Richard, argued for faithfulness to the example of Jesus's nonviolence, while Reinhold believed this was naive and unrealistic in an imperfect world. H. Richard was the purist to the Christian faith, believing that following the Golden Rule, no matter the consequences, is what Jesus and God called us to do -- the success of the mission being in God's hands rather than our own. Reinhold, however, looked at the more practical side of things, substituting his or the world's idea of what was possible and changing his ethics accordingly. H. Richard thus trusted more in the providential moral arc of history as M.L. King, Jr. , would call it rather than a realist's version of what humans believe is attainable given their corrupt nature. In essence, H. Richard focused on the power of God's grace to transform our spirits and the world for the better, while Reinhold accepted a more cynical view of our ability to be radically changed as a specie.

One: A Blessing on you who are poor Many Yours is the household of God One A blessing on you who mourn Many: you shall be comforted

One: May God the World Maker bless you; Many: Let us delight in sunlight and starlight and surprises of the turning earth.

Leader: Creator God to you we pray; - All: Help us hear your children's cry. Leader: Most joyful God to you we pray; ‑ All: Help us share your children's joy.

Drawn by God’s presence. . . . . .we gather Inspired by God’s spirit. . . . . .we worship

Hungry for meaning? Welcome home. Thirsty for purpose? Welcome home.

Leader: Blessed be God, the Source of all Being. People: Blessed be God, the Breath of the Universe, the Wisdom behind Nature and the Scriptures. Leader: Blessed be God, the Way of Reconciliation and Healing.

We are here to praise and enjoy God with body and soul, mind and heart, with song and word, with hands and feet. We are here to give because of the abundance God has given us, to share with each other, and to receive, because God has created us to depend on each other. We are here to celebrate the differences that otherwise might divide us: differences of age, of body, of culture, of opinion, of ability, of religious conviction. We are here to put things in perspective: to celebrate what matters, to laugh about things we take too seriously, to cry about things that truly touch our hearts. So may it be this morning: Amen!

God in our distant places Draw us closer

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.

We have a vision of the world not yet realised All: Where they will beat their swords into ploughshares

We are community Embraced by the mystery of God’s love for all creation

All: If I could say one word, I would say Amen

Leader: Give thanks for the Lord’s goodness, God’s love is steadfast and forever. People: God has gathered us from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and rescued us from trouble.

...a review by Jim Burklo of "We All Breathe" by Gretta Vosper

Together we hold a place where each can find voice as they long to reflect the Christ for our time.

God is all without being any thing, while being the all in every thing.

Leader: The presence of God is surely in this place. People: The presence of God is everywhere.