Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.
The LGBTQISA2ss+ Pride Activities, and Social Events Center of Elmira, NY.
The only Church in Central New York founded and fostered by the GLBTQSIA2ss+ community for 39 years. October 31, 2022 - 39th Anniversary now in our 40th year in Ministry.
Recoding March 12, 2023
Page updated
3/19/23
11:06 p.m.
Worship was held Sunday, March 19, 2023, at Ray Of Hope Church @ 10:30 a.m. in person and interactively on the Internet using Skype as we celebrated the fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare - Joy - Rose Sunday and the third Sunday of Women's History Month. Download the Order of Worship with weekly announcements: RIGHT CLICK HERE. View the recording of the Facebook Live video recording: RIGHT CLICK HERE.
All online presentations are covered by our Onelicense Print Permission and Streaming License A-741278, our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121, and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
Return to Video Index Page: CLICK HERE.
There are three points to start with. 1) We come to worship to pray. Everyone is an equal and active partner in every aspect of the worship event. Worship is not a spectator's event to hear good music and a good message. The definition of the word liturgy is the prayer-work of the people. The people lead, serve, organize, and facilitate every aspect of our time together.
2) We are celebrating the third Sunday of Women's History. We looked at the Government's Women's History website: (https://womenshistorymonth.gov/ ) We discussed the magazine: "Women's History, National Women's History Alliance | 2023." (https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/ ) (download the Women's History magazine here: (https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/NWHA-Magazine-2023b.pdf ) Veronica Floyd looked up "Julia" and "Martha" in a book titled The Top 100 Women of the Bible. In this recording, Veronica summarizes both entries. Julia is the name of Veronica's grandmother. Martha is the name of one of our Elmira Chapel Foundresses: Martha Cummings. We paid tribute to both women. Lisa Frost noted the wealth of information on the National Women's Alliance website. The website featured an article on Anne Hutchinson (née Marbury July 1591 - August 1643) a controversial religious reformer during the Puritan period of U.S. records. Lisa referred to the Wikipedia site on Anne Hutchinson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Hutchinson . The theological discussions from this period are known as the Antinomian Controversy.
3) From the readings today, we discussed the doctrine that all people have equal access to God's spiritual wisdom. We discussed this theme through the readings of the day. In the first reading we talked about the love of David and Jonathan in the Bible and how important that was for David to become King of Israel. The psalm is 23 and is rendered in the first person in this version, making it a personal prayer. The second reading shows us the availability of God's wisdom metaphorically represented as light. The Gospel presents Jesus explaining he came to the world to spiritually bring God's wisdom to anyone who will receive it. His conflict with the clergy of his day is furthered by his healing of the man born blind. The clergy of his day is portrayed as overly concerned with certification and rules of religion to even see the glory of God before them.
The Music in today's worship event included:
"Heal Me" Words and Music by Terry MacAlmon © 2001 TMMI Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)CCLI Song # 3480760 For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com Used with permission through our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121 and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
"As The Deer" Words and Music Martin Nystrom© 1984 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) CCLI Song # 1431 For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com Used with permission through our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121 and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
Joyful People Come and Worship Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Text: June Norris, © 1987; alt. with permission. The Hymnal Project, © 1990 MCC San Francisco Used by permission. Used with permission through our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121 and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
Turn To Me (G&P 342) Words and Music John B. Foley, S.J. Text: Based on Isaiah 45:22-23; 51:12, 4, 6. Text and music © 1975, John B. Foley, S.J. and OCP. All rights reserved. Onelicense Song #81205 Used with Print Permission and Streaming License A-741278
"He Is Exalted" words and Music Twila Paris © 1985 Jubilee Communications Inc. (Admin. by Capitol C.M.G. Publishing) Mountain Spring Music (Admin. by Capitol C.M.G. Publishing) CCLI Song # 17827 Used with permission through our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121 and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
"REMEMBER ME" Words and Music by Gerrit Gustafson and Martin J. Nystrom © 1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. c/o Integrity Music, Inc., P.O. Box 16813, Mobile, AL, 36695. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. CCLI Song # 451177 Used with permission through our Christian Copyright License Incorporated License Number 706121 and Christian Copyright License Incorporated Streaming Plus License 21787152.
***WOKE*** Conservatives have taken over the expression "woke" popularized by African-American young men. African-Americans used the word to mean staying awake and alert, to have been "woke" up and paying attention to the cultural and religious movements of the past, present, and potential futures. The Ray Of Hope Church Statement of Purpose calls us to stay "woke" at all times, paying attention to the world of religion, politics, and society.
We did not start a new kind of Christianity. In fact, Ray Of Hope Church teaches the same Christian faith of ancient ecumenical consensus. St. Vincent of Lerins, a fifth-century monk and theologian, described it as "what has been believed always, everywhere, and by all."
To our LGBTQSIA2ss+++ friends out there, we like to say: We are the church made by you, and for you, because we ARE YOU! You are as welcome here as Christ Jesus, Himself. Today you will find persons of every sexual orientation and every gender expression in our congregation and in our leadership.
To donate and assist with our expenses, use our secure PayPal link: http://rayofhopechurch.com/DONATE_RAYOFHOPE.htm. You may also donate by sending your donation to Ray Of Hope Church 380 W. 1st St. Elmira, NY 14901, with the attention Treasurer. We always say give what you can but never give your last. Thank you and God bless you.
