[LITURGY] Rest

Intro: Hey South Bend City Church, Mariah here, the Director of Art and Worship. This weekend in our gathering, Zach and the team led us through a meaningful liturgy of rest. Our hope for this episode of the podcast is that wherever you are in the world, you’re able to take a minute to disconnect from the distractions. Whether that be waiting until after the kids are asleep to listen to this, or maybe you normally listen while you’re driving, but this week you choose to take a minute and sit in a chair in your house.

We hope that today this liturgy is meaningful for you. We’ll spend some time through songs, some reading, the lectionary reading, and we’ll also hear from some of our community in an open floor time. We’re so thankful that you chose to join us. Before we get started, let’s just take a deep breath in and out, and then Zach and the team will lead us.

Lectionary Reading:
“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Shepherd by John Tibbs and Michael Farren
Verse 1
You meet me here and I need nothing
You have covered me, I will not fear
I will rest by these waters
You’ve delivered me, I will not fear

PreChorus
You are with me… Oh, You are with me

Chorus
What a shepherd, ever keeping me, oh
Ever leading me with love and mercy
What a shepherd, ever keeping me, oh
Ever leading me and I will follow

Verse 2
Though I walk through the valley
Of the shadows I will not fear
Though I stand in the company
Of the enemy I will not fear

Chorus

Bridge
You are with me, oh, You are with me
You are with me Your rod and your staff they comfort me
You are with me breaking bread in front of my enemies
You are with me You anoint my head, my head with oil
You are with me my cup overflowing

Chorus

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Getaway by Taya
Verse 1
Are you burnt out
On religious things
Are you worn down
Lacking inner peace
Take a real rest
Walk along with Me
In the pastures of My presence
You can be yourself and you can

Chorus
Say what’s on your heart
I already know it all
Doesn’t matter what you say
Come and getaway with Me
I know where you are
Where you’ve been, what you’ve seen
Doesn’t matter how you come
Come and get away with Me
Getaway, getaway with Me

Verse 2
Are you burdened
From all the heavy days
It’s not your job
To shoulder all the weight
Let Me do it
Let Me come and take
The lies you’ve been believing in
The truth is that you have a place to

Chorus

Bridge
Grace upon grace
Upon grace let it lead
Getaway, getaway with Me

Chorus
Say what’s on your heart
I already know it all
Doesn’t matter what you say
Come and say it all to Me
I know where you are
Where you’ve been, what you’ve seen
Doesn’t matter how you come
Come and get away with Me
Come away, come away with Me
Getaway, getaway with Me

God Who Rests by Cole Arthur Riley
God who rests,
It is difficult for us to imagine a Christ who, having all power and capacity to heal others, still at times walked away. Who tapped unapologetically in the face of danger. Give us the courage to rest. The holy audacity to do absolutely nothing at all. And as we do, allow us to hold vigil for the tombs of this world while honoring that we are neither savior nor space. Grant us a slowness that allows us to feel what hurts and makes healing possible. Let our rest be our liberation.

Zach: And the people of God said.

Jason: I think some of us are especially weary. There are things that leave us longing for rest. It might just be that the kids are in an especially challenging season and you haven’t had a full night’s sleep in approximately 47 years. At least it feels that way. And maybe that work is just really trying you.

Maybe that you’re weary of a situation that hasn’t resolved itself and it just keeps drawing down Your vitality your energy and I wondered for a moment if we wanted to be a little bit brave and express some solidarity if anybody Just wants to name something that you’re weary of Something that has you longing for rest anybody want to name something for us

*open floor*

Well, thanks for naming those. I actually just thought I would want to air those out and then pray for you before we move into what we have next on the agenda today. Because I just, sitting through that liturgy, was thinking, I think there’s a lot of weariness in us, and it would be good for that to be held for a moment together. And so if you would join me, I’ll pray for these things, and then we’ll move into what’s next.

Loving God, we thank you for the scriptures and prayers that we’ve just heard. for the promise that it’s goodness that chases us, not just scarcity or risk, that it’s goodness that chases us all the days of our lives.

I pray for everything that’s been named, family dynamics and violence in the headlines and the secret burdens that we carry that make us weary that nobody sees them. And I pray that today and each day that you would just help us to learn little by little perhaps how to rest, how to trust. How to carve out a space in our hearts with you where we know that there is no striving required, no perfection demanded that we simply find ourselves held and loved and seen without an ounce of effort or performance. I pray from that place of rest with you that we would live lives that are good and trusting. I pray that from that place of rest with you that we would find some strength to keep persevering.

I pray these things to Christ. And we all said amen. Thank you for sharing those things.