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 friend
s into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: Lord… Let every ray of sunshine on my face, every touch of warmth upon my back, every cooling breeze upon my cheek, every bloom along my path, every splash of green across blue skies: tell me of your beauty, reveal your awesome glory, herald your good news and remind me to raise a joyful prayer of praise for the beauty of the earth… Amen.
Gathering Music: Sailing (by Christopher Cross) -Michelle Currie
Welcome: As we begin our celebration in this
Season of Creation, let’s enter into the quiet of our spirits…
conscious of Earth, our Common Home … aware of the
dramatic and destructive changes in our climate … the
more frequent and too-often deadly crises of floods and fires,
storms, hurricanes and tornadoes, droughts and more …
and let us pray for all who are suffering as a result of these changes.
Call To Worship: Opening (words from Job 12, Luke 21)
L: Just ask the animals, and they will teach you…
All: birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
L: speak to all living creatures upon the Earth, they will instruct you,
All: let the fish in the sea inform you.
L: And look to all the trees, for
All: Which of all these does not know
that to God belongs wisdom and power.
Opening Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth #14 vs. 1-4
Gathering Prayer:
Loving Creator God, giver of every good gift that
has ever been, is now, and ever will be. We praise you for
your goodness, visible in all the diversity of your beautiful
Creation. We sometimes lose hope in the face of the widespread
damage to our climate and the extreme weather we continue to see across our nation. You remind us that the crises brings so much
suffering to our beloved earth and so we pray that you may guide us to act boldly and with compassion for all living creatures. Open our minds and hearts to understand how we must act to protect this precious gift of earth. We ask this through your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Rainbow Connection ( by Kenneth Ascher/Paul Williams)
-Michelle Currie
Scripture Reading: Genesis 8:8-22, 9: 8-17, John 1: 1-9, 29-34
-Rich Westley
After the reading, you may respond, “Thanks be to God.”
Sermon: Looking for the Rainbow Rev. Paula Norbert
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: Rainbow (by Kasey Musgraves) -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:
All that we have and all that we are
Is from God and given for the Good of the Earth.
So here we return a portion of these gifts, asking that all that passes through our hands be used to lift up this community and allow us to continue to be nurtured in faith. Amen.
Closing Hymn: God of the Sparrow #22
Benediction:
Creator God—as we depart this holy space,
may Your Spirit open our eyes anew
to the vastness and splendor of Your beauty all around us.
May we hear, and smell, and see, and touch
Your glory evident in all of Your creation.
May we go now to love and serve our Lord—Amen.
Postlude: Go In Peace
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you this day.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
celebrate and share the joy. Celebrate new life.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
Thank you, always, to our wonderful Music Director,
Michelle Currie and to our Deacons and Reader today.
Cover Photo and Focus:
http://www.intothedeepblog.net/