For those of you sitting in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church of Lincoln, Maine, welcome. What you are seeing is just a small fraction of a virtual world known as Second Life. Everyone you see here is "piloted" by a real person sitting at a computer. It has been my experience that they are just as excited to be in community with you in this way as we are to be in community with them, wherever they may be physically tonight. For those of you in Second Life, the worship service will be in voice and text. If you'd like a copy of the worship service, they are in the red book holder in the back of the sanctuary. Worship music will be in the media player. If you don't know how to turn on media in your viewer, please say something, someone will be able to help, I'm sure! Thank you for not touching the media player--it is cranky and does not like to be poked! (What happens is that it stops working entirely, and that's no fun for anyone!) Links for each will be provided just in case you have issues with media, so you can watch in your own browser. Where possible, links to lyrics will also be provided for those of us who would like to read along. If you have any announcements, during the gathering music would be a great time to type those into Local Chat. Frequently in my worship service, folk end up dancing right here in the aisles or in the back of the sanctuary, so if the mood strikes you--I say go for it! Today we'll be celebrating Holy Hiliarity! The idea was that the Resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate practical joke on the forces of evil. It was celebrated with jokes, practical and otherwise, right up until Pope No-Fun X decided that it was out of hand and put an end to it. But it has been making a slow comeback, and I for one am all for it! GATHERING: "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival" ~Ray Stevens Lyrics: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/raystevens/themississippisquirrelrevival.html YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU WELCOME Welcome to First United Church of Christ and Conference Center, Second Life. We have official standing with the Eastern Association of the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ as a Real Life church located in Second Life. And I still think that's pretty cool, because I have sat in South Central Pennsylvania--I have sat in Southeastern Connecticut-- and I am currently standing in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church of Lincoln, Maine-- and I still think it's pretty cool that we can partner with my brothers and sisters all across the country in the Southern California Nevada Conference and all of you wherever you are! Speaking of wherever you are: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." Now, part of what it means to have full standing in the UCC is that our church is connected to the wider church and the world. That means we support the wonderful work of the UCC financially, as do all our churches. If you would like to help, there is a donation bowl at the rear of the sanctuary. If you have a question about the United Church of Christ, here or in real life, or wish to speak with someone about this ministry, or want to read scripture in worship, or want to become an official member of the church, please be in touch with any minister or staff member. And to answer one of my most frequently asked questions, yes, anyone with a 1st UCC Minister tag is ordained clergy irl! Also, the Islands are always open, so please feel free to explore when you have a chance, there's a lot here! SCRIPTURE Um. Nah. Let's do this instead. SERMON The following is a retelling of the entire book of Jonah from The Message translation of the Bible and reimagined by Pilgrim Fellowship (the youth of First Congregational Church of Lincoln, Maine.) The sound is a little low, so you might want to turn up your volume! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItZ8mmtEBII PRAYER PREPARATION: "Jonah Was A Prophet" ~Archibald Asparagus & The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything Lyrics: http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/veggie_tales/jonah_was_a_prophet-lyrics-212402.html YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qLhAdA5ZXI We have come to our time in worship that I really do believe is the core of what we do here together, and that is where we uplift our joys and concerns with one another in prayer. Please type those into chat, or if you need to use voice simply emote raising your hand, or if you're in the RL sanctuary raise your hand so everybody can have a voice. And as we pray together, you may wish to respond to others with words like, "God hear our prayer," or with any other words the Spirit leads to you use. COMMUNITY PRAYER If there was a prayer inside of you that you couldn't quite get out, it's ok. Because the Psalmist tells us that God knows what we are going to say before the words can even form on our tongues. And so we know. We _know_ that God has heard our prayers. Those spoken out loud, those typed into SL chat, and those spoken only in the silence of our hearts. And that we pray them in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. PASTORAL PRAYER Let us praise God. Oh Lord, oooh you are so big. So absolutely huge. Gosh, we’re all really impressed down here I can tell you. Forgive us, O Lord, for this dreadful toadying and barefaced flattery. But you are so strong and, well, just so super. Fantastic. Amen. BENEDICTION And now it really is just this simple: God loves you. And it's ok to laugh about it! Be good to each other. Go with God, go in peace, and Amen! CLOSING: "Jonah: Blooper Reel" ~FCC Lincoln Youth (turn your sound back up!) YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OMFfwfGrmI