Awakening to the Table

AWAKENING TO TABLE
(Native American Ministries Sunday)

ENTRANCE

A large dining table should be placed in front of the Lord’s Table (if possible), but not obstructing it. Three chairs or stools may be placed around it, one in the center, one on each side (left and right).

The service begins with drumbeats (Native American or Djembe) at a walking pace. Invite a Native American drummer if you choose the Native American option. A procession of worship leaders, older adults, and children travels through the congregation during the singing.

“Shawnee Traveling Song” Book of Worship, 197 OR
“We Walk His Way” (Ewe Thina) Worship & Song, 3073

The oldest adult in the procession joins hands with the youngest child, comes to the center of the worship space, and leads the congregation in the prayer for illumination.

Prayer for Illumination
Eldest and youngest, together:
Let us pray.

ALL:
Great Spirit, Creator,
walking with us on the way,
you open us and all our senses
to knowledge and awe
through all you have made.
Open us now to wisdom
in the proclaiming and hearing
of your Word. Amen.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Choir or ensemble: “Hamba Nathi” (1x) Download sheet music from musicthatmakescommunity.org »
Watch on YouTube »
About this song from musicthatmakescommunity.org »

As the choir or ensemble sings, a Facebook Live feed (or a prerecorded video) may appear on the screens. The video shows two people walking toward the church, but still at some distance from it (the church may not be seen in the first clip). Voiceover (new translation by Taylor Burton-Edwards, based on Luke 24:13-32):

Now there were two disciples on that day who were walking toward the village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about all that had taken place.

Screen goes dark. All sing, softly and somewhat more slowly: “Hamba Nathi”
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Redeemer, redeemer, redeemer we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Redeemer, redeemer, redeemer we pray,
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray.

Live feed now shows three people approaching the doors of the church.

Voiceover: While they were talking and trying to understand what it all meant, Jesus himself came near and started journeying with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Jesus: What are these concerns you are going back and forth about as you’re walking?

Voiceover: They just stood there, looking sad.

Cleopas: Are you the only person around Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there these past few days?

Jesus: What things?

Cleopas: What happened to Jesus of Nazareth, a man, a prophet, who was powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

Other disciple: And how the chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and crucified him.

Cleopas: We were hoping he was the one who was coming to deliver Israel. But now it’s been three days since the day all that happened.

Other disciple: And then, some of the women of our number, they arrived at his tomb early this morning, and when they didn’t find his body, came to us and said they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.

Arriving at the doors of the worship space:

Cleopas: So some of the others went to the tomb and found it as the women had said. They didn’t see him there.

Entering the worship space. Live feed ends. Invite congregation to turn to follow the journey of the readers now among them.

Jesus: O how unaware and slow of heart to believe everything the prophets spoke! Wasn’t it necessary for Messiah to suffer and then go into his glory?

Voiceover: So beginning with Moses, and the prophets, he started to interpret for them everything that had been written about him.

They were now approaching Emmaus, and Jesus was going ahead as if to journey on further. But the disciples urged him.

Cleopas and the other: Hey! Stay with us!

Cleopas: It’s already evening. The daylight is over.

Voiceover: So he went to stay with them.

All sing, softly but livelier “Hamba Nathi” (Xhosa version)
Stay with us, our redeemer, we pray
Stay with us, our redeemer, we pray
Stay with us, our redeemer, we pray
Stay with us, our redeemer, we pray
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu
Redeemer, redeemer, redeemer we pray,
Stay with us, our redeemer, we pray.

During the singing, the readers take seats around the table, Jesus in the middle. On the refrain, he takes bread, breaks it, and gives it to them.

Voiceover: Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him! Just then, he vanished.

Cleopas: Weren’t our hearts burning as he talked to us on the road?

Other disciple: Yes, and as he opened the Scriptures to us!

All sing, several times, full voice and speed “Hamba Nathi”
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu
Redeemer, redeemer, redeemer we pray,
Walk with us, our redeemer, we pray.

Sermon Awakening… to Table

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Call to the Table

Deacon or Worship Leader:
In the midst of our intense conversations
in the social bubbles we create for ourselves
Christ comes among us,
and walks with us,
listens to us,
and opens our consciousness
to recognize him,
and his claim on us,
anew.

We confess our ignorance,
our slowness of heart,
and our sinful neglect
of what Jesus, Moses, and the prophets
have taught us.

Silence

Pastor:
This moment is like the evening,
the daylight, and our sin, in God’s mercy,
gone.

And Jesus
stays with us.

The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

The peace is exchanged and the offering is collected.

Offering Music: “Christ Beside Me” The Faith We Sing, 2166

The Great Thanksgiving A Native American Celebration of Holy Communion
(starting with the Song of Praise) OR

BOW 66-67

The pastor breaks the bread in the sight of the people, then serves the servers, who serve the people.

Music During Communion
“Love Has Come” CCLI# 5423196
“Open the Eyes of My Heart” Worship & Song, 3008 OR

(Choir) “Daw-Kee, Aim Daw-Tsi-Taw” United Methodist Hymnal, 330
“Heleluyan” United Methodist Hymnal, 78
“Here, O My Lord, I See Thee” United Methodist Hymnal, 623

Thanksgiving after Communion

Deacon or Pastor and People:

Risen Jesus,
thank you for you joining us in our journeys,
giving us yourself in bread and cup.
and opening our awareness.
We have seen, felt, and tasted
your presence.
Now send us forth in the power of the Spirit
to carry your presence
to all we go to see. Amen.

SENDING FORTH

“Hamba Nathi”

You walk with us, to freedom you lead,
You walk with us, to freedom you lead,
You walk with us, to freedom you lead,
You walk with us, to freedom you lead.

To freedom, to freedom, to freedom you lead,
To freedom, to freedom, to freedom you lead,
To freedom, to freedom, to freedom you lead,
To freedom, to freedom, to freedom you lead.

Deacon or Pastor:
At that very moment, they got up and turned back toward Jerusalem, and they found the eleven gathered together, and they said:

All: He was made known to us in the breaking of the bread!

Go in peace, filled with the love and presence of the Risen Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

“Hamba Nathi” (Reprise, in Xhosa)
Hamba nathi, Mkhululi wethu,
Hamba nathi, Mkhululi wethu,
Hamba nathi, Mkhululi wethu,
Hamba nathi, Mkhululi wethu.
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu,
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu,
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu,
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu.