July 16,2023
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE His Eye is On the Sparrow arr.Carl Haywood
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
*OPENING PRAYER Adapted from St. Francis’ Prayer for All Creatures
Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe;
You created all creatures, including us
and you call us to serve as stewards
over everything that walks, crawls, slithers, swims, or flies.
O God, how wonderful are the works of your hands.
Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe;
for the sake of our comfort
you give us animals as companions and animals to provide food,
for the sake of our awe and wonder
You give animals to remain wild and protected.
O God, how wonderful are the works of your hands.
Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe; you care for us
even as you care for the birds of the air.
O God, how wonderful are the works of your hands.
Blessed are you, O Lord of the Universe;
you sent your Son and called him the lamb
and in him willed that we should be called your children.
O God, how wonderful are the works of your hands.
Let us Worship God
*HYMN “All Creatures Worship God Most High” LASST UNS EFREUEN
All creatures worship God most high,
lift up your voice in earth and sky,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy God to hear,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest all both warmth and light,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION from Desmond Tutu Jessica Riviere
Creator God, You have called us to be keepers of your Earth;
through greed, we have established an economy that destroys the web of life.
We have changed our climate, destroyed habitat, and drown in despair.
Let oceans of justice flow,
May we learn to sustain and renew the life of our Mother Earth and our sister and brother creatures.
We pray for our leaders, custodians of Mother Earth;
as they gather at the climate talks.
May they negotiate with wisdom and fairness,
May they act with compassion and courage,
and lead us in the path of justice for the sake of our children and our children’s children.
And may we all work to turn from our destructive ways, to ways that promote life.
Hear each of our prayers…
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 582 “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me” GLORY TO GOD (Vasile)
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Be Thou My Vision” arr. Alice Parker
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Genesis 1:20-25 MSG
God spoke: “Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!
Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!”
God created the huge whales,
all the swarm of life in the waters,
And every kind and species of flying birds.
God saw that it was good.
God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean!
Birds, reproduce on Earth!”
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Five.
God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:
cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds.”
And there it was:
wild animals of every kind,
Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug.
God saw that it was good.
One: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word All: Thanks be to GoD
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Mary Rebekah Fortman
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
*HYMN “O God, Your Creatures Fill the Earth “ ELLACOMBE
O God, your creatures fill the earth with wonder and delight,
And every living thing has worth and beauty in your sight.
So playful dolphins dance and swim; Your sheep bow down and graze.
Your songbirds share a morning hymn To offer you their praise.
You made the pets we welcome in — They're wondrous blessings, too.
With paws and whiskers, wings and fins, They offer praise to you.
O Lord, you call us to embrace These creatures in our care.
May we show kindness, love and grace To all pets everywhere.
You made the creatures on each farm; You know the things they need.
May they grow healthy, safe from harm, And safe from human greed.
Just as a shepherd loves the sheep, You know their joy, their pain.
Lord, bless the animals we keep; May all farms be humane.
Your creatures live in every land; They fill the sky and sea.
O Lord, you give us your command To love them tenderly.
We're called to have dominion here — To care for them always.
By loving creatures you hold dear, We offer you our praise.
Text: Copyright © 2011 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE with The Lord’s Prayer using debts and debtors
TIME OF OFFERING The Bee Helen Louise Quig
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE #710 “We Lift Our Voices” OFFERING
*HYMN “All Creatures Worship God Most High” LASST UNS EFREUEN
All creatures worship God most high,
lift up your voice in earth and sky,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day,
unfoldest blessings on our way,
alleluia, alleluia!
The flow’rs and fruits that in thee grow,
let them God’s glory also show,
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship God in humbleness,
alleluia, alleluia!
To God all thanks and praise belong!
Join in the everlasting song:
O sing ye, O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE For the Beauty of the Earth arr. John Stallsmith
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452