Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: “Earth rejoices in our words, breathing and peaceful steps. Let every breath, every word and every step make the mother earth proud of us.”― Amit Ray
Gathering Music: Mercy, Mercy Me (by Marvin Gaye)
-Michelle Currie
Welcome:
Call To Worship:
(L) Let us hear God’s call to cherish the earth. Let us dream of our world where the species are infinite
(P) and our dreams will be delicate.
(L) Let us sing in a world with all voices in harmony
(P) and our song will be delicate
(L) Let us walk in our world of warm light and fragility
(P) and our tread will be delicate.
(L) Let us go gently into a delicate world.
(P) Let us worship God.
Opening Hymn: God of the Sparrow #22
Opening Prayer:
O God, we thank you for this earth, our home; For the wide sky and the blessed sun,
For the salt sea and the running water, For the everlasting hills And the never-resting winds, For trees and the common grass underfoot. We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, And see the splendor of the summer fields, And taste of the autumn fruits, And rejoice in the feel of the snow and smell the breath of the spring. Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty; And save our souls from being so blind That we pass Unseeing When even the common thorn bush Is aflame with your glory, O God our creator, Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
– Walter Rauschenbusch
Lord’s Prayer:
Awakening: Big Yellow Taxi (by Joni Mitchell)
-Michelle Currie
Readings and Scripture: Creation is Waiting for Us, Creation Justice Ministry, 1 John 3:16-24 -Cris Hudson
Sermon: What then Must We Do? Rev. Paula Norbert
Meditative Instrumental: (arr. Michelle Currie)
-Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: Sunshine On My Shoulders (by John Denver)
-Michelle Currie
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication:
Closing Hymn: For The Beauty of the Earth #14 vs 1-4
Benediction:
As we go forth from this sacred space,
May we celebrate Earth and our shared lives,
May we recognize our connections to all that is in and on the Earth, May we value the inherent worth of all creation
In this awesome interconnected web of existence,
May we commit ourselves to a new way, And may we
hold our commitments and each other
Gently yet firmly. Blessed be and Amen.
Postlude: Go In Peace
With great thanks to Michelle Currie, our Music Director, and to our Reader and Deacons for the day.