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The following are prayers, liturgies, and service elements suitable for a church worship service on May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You<\/a>, a traditional Star Wars Day). <\/p>\n Enjoy the lightheartedness of the day, even as the rest of the world is heavy.<\/p>\n All liturgies are Creative Commons<\/a>, meaning YES you can print, project, adapt, anything without permission, but please share attribution (\u201cRev. Jeremy Smith, HackingChristianity.net\u201d) in some manner. Thanks! <\/em><\/p>\n Beginning of Service<\/p>\n \u201cThe Force will be with you, always.\u201d O Force, Binder of the Universe, God of Light and Love, You have called together rebels and dreamers, By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, Shine your light among us, O God, In your mercy, gather us, We come tired. You gather us \u2014 By your Spirit, surround us and bind us and make us one: Shine through us, sermon and message<\/p>\n For lectionary churches, consider the following sermon prompts for the lectionary for the Third Sunday of Easter (readings here<\/a>). For non-lectionary churches, enjoy the inspiration!<\/p>\n 1. \u201cBlinded by the Light: Learning to Be Again\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. \u201cThe Cost of Hope\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. \u201cFeed My Sheep: Choosing Love\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n hymns and music<\/p>\n This is the silliest section \u2013 skip it if you are looking for serious contributions. <\/em><\/strong>These are parodies of traditional hymns that would work for bulletin or projection titles. <\/em>For familiarity\u2019s sake, these pay homage to Episode IV-VI. These are only the titles: it is up<\/em> to you to either rewrite the lyrics in your own way or simply sing the correct words with a fandom title. \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n Processional Hymn<\/strong> [celebrating the true<\/em> beginning of the story\u00a0\u2013 A New Hope<\/em>]<\/p>\n Responsive Hymn<\/strong> [remembering the conflict of\u00a0The Empire Strikes Back<\/em>]<\/p>\n Recessional Hymn<\/strong> [commemorating the triumph of\u00a0The Return of the Jedi<\/em>]<\/p>\n Celebration of the Prequels<\/strong>. There are some\u00a0congregations that celebrate the heresy of the Prequels (Episode 1-3). While these are mostly schismatic Gungans, they do have a legitimate oral tradition and we should have a reconciliatory spirit. Thus, consider offering hymns such as:<\/p>\n responses<\/p>\n Depending on the bent of your congregation, you may want to pick one of the Jedi or Sith codes.<\/em><\/p>\n Jedi Worship service:\u00a0There is no emotion, there is peace.\u00a0There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.\u00a0There is no passion, there is serenity.\u00a0There is no death, there is the Force.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sith Worship service:\u00a0Peace is a lie, there is only passion.\u00a0Through passion, I gain strength.\u00a0Through strength, I gain power.\u00a0Through power, I gain victory.\u00a0Through victory, my chains are broken.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFor Luke so loved the Force that he gave his only begotten hand, Holy communion<\/p>\n The following is in the United Methodist tradition; feel free to adapt it to your tradition\u2019s required liturgical elements.<\/em><\/p>\n The Lord be with you. And also with you<\/strong>. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, When galaxies drifted from your ways, From the Republic\u2019s hollow height to the Empire\u2019s depths, In the fullness of time, you sent your Son, Jesus, born of Mary. Your Spirit anointed Him Through His life, death, and resurrection, And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, Holy, holy, holy Lord, Use the traditional liturgy here, or one familiar to your congregation. Even though the rest of the service is fun and imaginative, it\u2019s important to be rooted in your tradition at this point. <\/em><\/p>\n Eternal God, Send us now into the world \u2014 Where darkness rises, let us stand. Guide us, O God, Amen.<\/p>\n sending forth<\/p>\n Honestly, the best benediction and call to action in Star Wars so far is from Maarva in Andor<\/a>. So it\u2019s in that style that we have the words of benediction, sending forth.<\/em><\/p>\n Go now, awake and alive.<\/p>\n We have slept; Today, we remember: The time for sleeping is over. Go now \u2014 Go now \u2014 Amen.<\/p>\n Thoughts?<\/p>\n Thanks for reading, commenting, subscribing<\/a>, and sharing on social media.<\/p>\n (Some elements repurposed from 2014 Star Wars Day<\/a>)<\/p>\nCall to Worship (Traditional)<\/h2>\n
We know our God is guiding us through the challenges of life.<\/strong>
Even though we know \u201cFear is the path to the dark side.\u201d In times of uncertainty, we \u201cdo or do not, there is no try.\u201d
We choose love and faith over fear and distrust.
<\/strong>When we face trials, we remind each other, \u201cNever tell me the odds.\u201d We know that \u201cthe greatest teacher, failure is,\u201d as we learn from our mistakes and grow in faith and understanding.
With God, all possibilities are present, and we persevere with hope.
<\/strong>\u201cYou must unlearn what you have learned\u201d as we let go of past burdens. We won\u2019t be the church by \u201cfighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.\u201d
We embrace new life and transformation in Christ.
<\/strong>\u201cRebellions are built on hope,\u201d and our hope is in God\u2019s persistent love. Empower us to be agents of change in the world, striving for justice, peace, and love in God\u2019s holy name. \u201cThis is the Way.\u201d
We gather in peace, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
<\/strong>God says to us, \u201cI love you.\u201d
The people reply, \u201cI know.\u201d
May the Faith Be With You\u2026Always. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\nGathering Collect<\/h2>\n
Who gave life to us\u00a0and sustained us through every Emperor\u2019s dark reign,
Do continually spur us to\u00a0offer something more than a hokey religion and ancient weapons to a world without wonder,
Through the Redeemed Anakin Skywalker we pray, Amen.<\/p>\nOpening Unison Prayer<\/h2>\n
we come to you from many places,
some weary, some hopeful,
some longing for a spark to guide the way.<\/p>\n
the faithful and the wandering,
the burdened and the bold,
to be your people in a broken world.<\/p>\n
one with each other,
one with all creation groaning for redemption,
one with all who seek the good, resist the evil, and dare to hope.<\/p>\n
that we may walk in your ways,
and bear your peace into every place of fear.<\/p>\n
in your grace, send us,
in your love, make us whole.
Amen.<\/p>\nContemporary Service Prayer<\/h2>\n
We come hopeful.
We come looking for a spark in the dark.<\/p>\n
the dreamers, the warriors, the ones still holding on.<\/p>\n
one with Christ,
one with each other,
one with every broken piece of your beautiful world and galaxies unending.<\/p>\n
send us out,
and help us never lose sight of your light.
Amen.<\/p>\n\n
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Unison Prayers of Response<\/h2>\n
Offertory Prayer<\/h2>\n
may we also sacrifice in our own way to emulate his devotion.
May our faith always be found disturbing. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\nHoly Communion<\/h2>\n
Part 1: The Great Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord<\/strong>.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.<\/strong><\/p>\n
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Out of the dust of stars, you shaped worlds unseen
even in a galaxy far, far away.
You formed light to shine in every darkness,
calling all creation to dance in harmony with you.<\/p>\n
when hearts, like twin suns, burned with pride and fear,
you spoke through desert and forest sages,
through dreamers and warriors,
through unexpected voices in unexpected times.<\/p>\n
from broken temples to hidden rebellions,
you planted seeds of hope,
a remnant always faithful to your promise.<\/p>\n
He came among us, not with blasters or armies or even the Force,
but with mercy, healing, and peace.
He taught of Your reign where the meek inherit the stars,
where the last are first, and love is stronger than fear.
When betrayal loomed like a dark side unseen,
He remained steadfast.<\/p>\n
to proclaim freedom to captives,
sight to those emerging from Carbonite,
peace to those caught in endless wars, local and galactic.<\/p>\n
You broke the power of darkness.
You forged a new covenant \u2014
stronger than beskar,
wider than the galaxy\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n
with Leia\u2019s courage, Luke\u2019s hope, Rey\u2019s longing,
with Mando\u2019s steadfast care, Grogu\u2019s silent wonder,
with Ahsoka\u2019s unwavering grace, and Andor\u2019s spark of rebellion,
we praise Your name and join their unending hymn:<\/p>\n
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.<\/strong><\/p>\nPart 2: Remembering the Night, Blessing the Elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Part 3: Prayer After Communion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
we give you thanks for this holy mystery
in which you have given yourself to us.<\/p>\n
not as wielders of might,
but as bearers of light,
guardians of hope,
seekers of peace.<\/p>\n
Where fear reigns, let us endure.
Where the way is uncertain, may we trust in you,
the true and everlasting Light.<\/p>\n
until the stars themselves sing of your glory,
and every galaxy reflects your reign of love.<\/p>\nBenediction<\/h2>\n
we have turned away;
we have trusted comfort over courage.
But the darkness has grown in our silence,
a wound spreading across all we love.<\/p>\n
There is a Light no darkness can overcome.
There is a hope no fear can silence.
There is a call no evil can erase.<\/p>\n
The time for turning away has passed.<\/p>\n
to seek the good,
to resist the darkness,
to fight with all the gifts God has placed in your hands.<\/p>\n
awake, alive, and unafraid.<\/p>\nYour Turn<\/h2>\n