Oakhurst Presbyterian Church USA
Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
May 22, 2022 Worship
Order of Worship
Prelude Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen-McLaurin
WE GATHER
Welcome and Announcements Rev. Heather Chase
Call to Worship (words from Hymn 387 - Let us Come to Worship God, I-to Loh)
Let us come to worship God, bless the holy name.
Enter God’s house with thanks and reverence for the Lord is good.
God’s love endures forever. Let us sing and praise the Lord.
Make a joyful noise, sing to the Rock of our Salvation.
The Lord is full of grace and love for all. Praise the Lord.
Invocation
Opening Hymn We Come to You for Healing, Lord #796 Stuempfle
OUR HUMANITY
Prayer of Confession Rev. Heather Chase
Gracious God,
we confess that we have failed our Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings.
We have bought into the “model minority” and “honorary white” myth
while treating our siblings as perpetual foreigners.
We fail to learn about the many different peoples, cultures, and nations
you have created and you love.
We fail to seek out and tell the stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
in our schools, colleges, seminaries, and churches.
Forgive us, God.
Forgive our neglect and indifference.
Forgive our stereotyping, prejudice, and racism.
Forgive us for making our Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings invisible.
Inspire us to turn around,
to build connections,
to stop “othering” our siblings,
to embrace one another in love,
and to make your beloved Asian American and Pacific Islander children visible.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer of Pardon - Embodied Prayer of Healing Rev. Heather Chase
At a protest against anti-Asian racism, Black and Asian ministers shared stories of embodied hurt and a form of an embodied movement as non-verbal gestures of healing and blessing. In solidarity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings in Christ, I invite you to join me in this embodied blessing and healing.
Take a deep breath. Exhale.
Place hands on heart.
Bow.
Bow.
Look around.
Cup hands to ears.
Fold arms across chest.
Open hands, palm up, with a breath.
Touch your heart with one hand and extend the other hand to another person.
Amen.
THE WORD
Prayer of Illumination Rev. Amantha Barbee
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 67 Rev. Amantha Barbee
May God Bless You and Keep You
Anthem Revelation 19:1 LaValley
New Testament Reading: John 5:1-9 Alfred Appiah
Sermon: Why are you here? Alfred Appiah
IN RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Prayers of the People Text Your Prayer Requests to: 404-551-3791 Rev. Heather Chase
The Lord’s Prayer
Tithes and Offerings
You may give online at oakhurstpcusa.org/give ~ PayPal oakhurstpcusa@gmail.com ~ CashApp $oakhurstpcusa ~ Mail 118 2nd Ave. Decatur, GA 30030.
Song of Praise Hallelujah, You’re Worthy to Be Praised
Doxology - Prayer of Thanksgiving
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Christ all people here below
Praise Holy Spirit ever more
Praise Triune God, whom we adore
Final Blessing
Sending Song Sweet, Sweet Spirit
There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Worship Leaders today include: Alfred Appiah, Preacher;
Rev. Amantha Barbee, Senior Pastor; Rev. Heather Chase, Associate Pastor;
Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen McLaurin, Musician
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church (USA)
118 Second Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
Prayer of Confession by THE REV. DR. GRACE JI-SUN KIM
Embodied Blessing created by the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity for an anti-Asian violence protest in Oakland, Calif. on February 13-14, 2021. Asian and black leaders and the entire community gathered embodied this blessing for healing.
