Call to Worship: Colossians 1: 15-17

Come and worship Christ,

the visible image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of creation,

the eternal God:

the one through whom all things were created,

and in whom all things are held together.

This is our God!

Let’s worship together.

Worship Resources for Earth Day (April 22)

If your congregation is planning on observing Earth Day (April 22) this year, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank offers a variety of helpful worship resources on that theme.

There are four full-length worship services for Earth Day on that website. I’ve listed them here, along with their key scripture passages.

To access these services, just click on the links below.

All Creation Sings! 

Psalm 148

   “Let all creation praise God’s name!”

Isaiah 40:12-31

   “To whom will you compare me?”

Colossians 1:15-23

   “In him, all things were created”

Revelation 4:9-11

   “You are worthy, Lord our God”

“New Heaven, New Earth”

Psalm 104       

    “When you send forth your spirit, they are created,

    and you renew the face of the ground.”

Isaiah 65:17-25

    “For I am about to create a new heavens and a new earth….”

John 1:1-14     

    “All things came into being through him….”

Colossians 1:13-20

    “Through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,

    whether on earth or in heaven,

    by making peace through the blood of his cross.”

Revelation 21:1-8

    “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth….”

“Creation Covenant”

Genesis 9:8-17

    God’s covenant with Noah

Isaiah 42:5-8

    I have given you as a covenant to the people

Jeremiah 31:31-34

    A new covenant, written on hearts instead of stone

2 Corinthians 3

    Ministers of a new covenant, acting with boldness

Psalm 8

    Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth

Matthew 13:1-9

    Parable of the farmer

“And God saw that it was good”

Genesis 1:1-2:4

    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth….

Psalm 8

    O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth….

John 1:1-5

    In the beginning was the Word….

Colossians 1:15-23

    For in Him, all things in heaven and on earth were created….

You can also find a wide variety of individual prayers and worship elements related to creation care on that website. Just visit the Worship Resources pages, and use the search function.

Call to Worship: When God Imagined Me

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by the creation story in Genesis 1-2. It was written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.

Call to Worship:

When God Imagined Me

In the midst of darkness & chaos…
God imagined.

In the fury & darkness…
God imagined a world filled with trees,

and blue skies

and fluffy white clouds.

In the meadow, God stood and…
imagined foxes, bluebirds, and slithering snakes.

In a world of rainstorms and wildlife

and cattle and grasses blowing in the breeze…
God imagined humanity.

God imagined the continuum from man to woman. 

In a world teeming with billions of people…
God imagined me. 

God imagined you and God imagined me.

We are created in the image of God.
God imagined us all. God loves each of us. 

Let us worship with the same imagination

as the creating One!
Amen.

~ written by Tim Graves, and posted on LiturgyBits. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com

Reflection on Psalm 19

Roddy Hamilton has written given Psalm 19 a thoughtful treatment.  He suggests:  “You need to read this real slow and have an instrumental version of Fields of Gold playing in the background. It is indeed a thing of beauty. Voice A is reading the Psalm and Voice B is interpreting it. Take your time with this one. Enjoy the beauty of the psalmist’s poetry and make space for wonder. Don't let it pass. It’s too valuable.”

Responsive Reading of Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork.
Look to the mountains and see everlastingness…
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
Search both day and night and watch for the glory of it…
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
Listen to the silence and hear wonder speak…
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Look to the horizon to hear a word about eternity…
In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a beloved from a wedding canopy,
and like a strong athlete runs its course with joy.
Look to the sunrise and enjoy God’s forever-promise…
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
Look to the seasons and live God’s rhythm…
The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple;
Look to creation’s order and accept its wisdom…
the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of God is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
Look to justice and truth and feel their light…
the fear of God is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of God are true
and righteous altogether.
Look to the word and recognise its call…
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Look to God’s commandments and taste their sweetness…
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Look to creation’s order and know justice…
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Look to grace and know its forgiveness…
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Look to what brings life and live its example…
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Look to God’s covenant and know its love…
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer.
The heavens are telling the glory of God.

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Call to Worship: Gathering in Hope

Here’s a call to worship which draws on Genesis 1, Revelation 21:5 and Mark 12:30-31. It was posted on The Minor Keys blog.

Call to Worship

As followers of Christ, we are called to bring
a hopeful understanding of our world

declaring that God called the created universe "good."

We are called to bring this hope in God
with us wherever we go

declaring that God makes all things new again.

Jesus taught that we should love God and love one another.

So let's join together in our love of God 

to worship and give thanks.

~ posted on The Minor Keys. http://theminorkeys.blogspot.ca/

Confession: Psalm 124

Here’s a confession inspired by Psalm 124. It was written by Stephen M. Fearing and posted on Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  

Invitation to Confession

God saves us despite us being unworthy of that salvation.
In response to that grace, let us confess the ways we have fallen short.

Prayer of Confession

God of Endless Mercy,
we have often been swallowed up by our greed and selfishness,
desiring that which we do not have,
filling our lives with things that do not save us.
We have often been swept away by the floods of our own making,
polluting your creation,

neglecting to be faithful stewards of the earth.
We have often attacked one another and led lives of violence,
sending missiles instead of accepting refugees,

ignoring your commandments.
Lord have mercy,

for we have sinned and fallen short of your glory.
Christ have mercy,

for we are broken and need your salvation.
Lord have mercy upon us and hear us

as we pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

~ written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing and posted on Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  http://www.stephenmfearing.com/ Permission is given for use in congregational worship.  Please give the following credit:  "Written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing - www.stephenmfearing.com"

A Prayer of Lament: Psalm 4

Here’s a prayer of lament inspired by Psalm 4, written by Ruth Jarman.  In it, she envisions “’the enemy’ being climate change or ‘the power that be’ that are causing it.”

Prayer of Lament

(Psalm 4)

“Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

How long, O men and women,

will you turn the glory of the earth into dangerous pollution?

How long will we love the delusion of consumerism

and seek the false gods of money and possessions?

Help us to remember that you have set apart the godly for yourself;
that you will hear us when we call to you.

In our exasperation and anxiety do not let us lose hope;
when we have quiet times in the day,
let us search our hearts and be silent.
Help us to live our lives sacrificially and to trust in the Lord.

Many are asking,

“What is the point? The earth is finished.

Who can save us now?”

“Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.
You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.”

~ written by Ruth Jarman and posted on the Christian Ecology Link website.

http://www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/1055

Prayer of Thanksgiving

O God,

We thank you for this earth, our home;

for the wide sky and the blessed sun,

for the ocean and streams,

for the towering hills and the whispering wind,

for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses

by which we hear the songs of birds,

and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat,

and taste autumn's fruit,

rejoice in the feel of snow,

and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart opened wide to all this beauty;

and save us from being so blind

that we pass unseeing

when even the common thorn bush

is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities

for new beginnings and new discoveries.

Life is constantly changing and renewing itself.

In this new day of new beginnings with God,

all things are possible.

We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening

to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be. Amen.  

~ written by Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)

Opening Prayer of Praise

Here is an opening prayer (or call to worship) from the Third Space website.

Responsive Prayer of Praise

O Divine Voice,

You sing and the universe comes into being;

O Divine Breath,

You breathe and all things spring to life;

O Divine Word,

You call and creation is sustained;

O Divine Flesh,

You are born among us,

and the Creator is clothed in creation;

O Divine Spirit,

You fill all that has been formed;

O Divine Life,

You are the pulse of all that is.

And so, in amazement and awe, in wonder and celebration

we marvel at this mystery:

In you all things live and move and have being,

In all things, you live and move and express your Divine artistry;

And so we join with creation

in the eternal song of worship and wonder…

~ posted on Third Space. http://third-space.org.uk/

Responsive Reading for Mothers Day

Here’s a responsive litany for Mother’s Day inspired by Genesis 1.  It was written by Jann Aldridge-Clanton, and posted on BPFNA ~ Bautistas por la Paz.

Responsive Litany for Mother’s Day

(inspired by Genesis 1:1)

In the beginning our Divine Mother gave birth to the universe.

She gave birth to light.

And She said, “That’s good!”

God gave birth to the earth, and She saw that it was good.

She gave birth to the grass and trees

and plants of all kinds and said, “That’s good!”

Our Mother gave birth to all the fish,

both large and small, that swim in the oceans

and to all the winged birds that fly above the earth.

And She said, “They are good!”

God gave birth to the cattle and to all kinds of animals,

and She saw how good they are.

Then our Divine Mother gave birth to female and male human beings.

And She blessed female and male human beings

with responsibility for the earth

and all the other living beings that She had birthed.

We come to celebrate all these gifts from our Divine Mother.

We come to learn again what it means

to be entrusted with these gifts.

We join together with our Mother

and with one another in giving birth to beauty, peace, and kindness.

We join Her and one another in nurturing the earth and all living beings.

Our Mother gives us all power to give birth and to nurture life.

God, our Mother, you continually give life to us.

Nourish us and teach us to become all you created us to be

in your divine image.

Help us to receive your power and love

so that others may draw life from us.

May we join you in giving birth to new life

and in nurturing creation. So be it!

~ written by Jann Aldridge-Clanton, and posted on BPFNA ~ Bautistas por la Paz. http://www.bpfna.org/

Pastoral Prayer: United in Christ

Here’s a prayer of confession and petition from the World Council of Churches. It was posted on the Starters for Sunday website.

Prayer

God of grace,

together we turn to you in prayer,

for it is you who unite us:

you are the one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit –

in whom we believe,

you alone empower us for good,

you send us out across the earth

in mission and service in the name of Christ.

We confess before you and all people:

We have been unworthy servants.

We have misused and abused the creation.

We have wounded one another by divisions everywhere.

We have often failed to take decisive action

against environmental destruction, poverty, racism,

caste-ism, war and genocide.

We are not only victims but also perpetrators of violence.

In all this, we have fallen short as disciples of Jesus Christ

who in his incarnation came to save us and teach us how to love.

Forgive us, God, and teach us to forgive one another.

God, in your grace, transform the world.

God, hear the cries of all creation,

the cries of the waters, the air, the land and all living things;

the cries of all who are exploited, marginalized, abused and victimized,

all who are dispossessed and silenced, their humanity ignored,

all who suffer from any form of disease, from war

and from the crimes of the arrogant

who hide from the truth, distort memory

and deny the possibility of reconciliation.

God, guide all in seats of authority

towards decisions of moral integrity.

God, in your grace, transform the world.

We give thanks for your blessings and signs of hope

that are already present in the world,

in people of all ages and in those who have gone before us in faith;

in movements to overcome violence in all its forms,

not just for a decade but for always;

in the deep and open dialogues that have begun

both within our own churches and with those of other faiths

in the search for mutual understanding and respect;

in all those working together for justice and peace –

both in exceptional circumstances and every day.

We thank you for the good news of Jesus Christ,

and the assurance of resurrection.

God, in your grace, transform the world.

By the power and guidance of your Holy Spirit, O God,

may our prayers never be empty words

but an urgent response to your living Word –

in non-violent direct action for positive change,

in bold, clear, specific acts of solidarity,

liberation, healing and compassion,

readily sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Open our hearts to love

and to see that all people are made in your image,

to care for creation and affirm life in all its wondrous diversity.

Transform us in the offering of ourselves

so that we may be your partners in transformation

to strive for the full, visible unity

of the one Church of Jesus Christ,

to become neighbours to all,

as we await with eager longing

the full revelation of your rule

in the coming of a new heaven and a new earth.

God, in your grace, transform the world.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

~  written for the 2006 Assembly of the World Council of Churches. Posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.  http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Prayer of Intercession: Colossians 1: 15-20

Here’s a prayer of intercession inspired by Colossians 1: 15-20.  It comes from the Iona Community.

Prayer for Others

(inspired by Colossians 1: 15-20)

O Christ, your cross speaks both to us and to our world.

In your dying for us

You accepted the pain and hurt of the whole of creation.

The arms of your cross stretch out  

Across the broken world in reconciliation.

You have made peace with us.

Helps us to make peace with you

By sharing in your reconciling work.

May we recognize your spirit

Disturbing and challenging us to care for creation

And for the poor who most feel the effects of its abuse.

O Christ, the whole of creation groans.

Set us free and make us whole. Amen.

~ from the Iona Community’s Iona Abbey Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community, 2001). Posted on the Yale Divinity website. http://www.yale.edu/divinity/fb/5thSundayprayers.pdf

Prayer: With Thanks for Creativity

Here’s a prayer to our Creator God from Jennifer G. Brownell. It was posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayer of Thanksgiving to a Creator God

(inspired by Genesis 1)

Creator God,

As we are made in Your image,

we give You thanks for the seed of creativity 

You planted within each person.

We praise the clean lines of the sculpture,

the complexity of the concerto,

the beauty of the poet’s words.

Grant us, we pray,

the capacity to appreciate creativity where we don’t always notice it:

the perfectly clean and useful lines of a row of coat hangers, say,

or the complexity of a computer that crashes (some days)

but most days does not,

or the beauty in a text message carrying everyday news.

Forgive, us we pray,

for those times we have squandered with aimless disregard

our capacity to create,

and for those times we have used our creativity

as a force for destruction rather than reparation.

Help us truly to live in appreciative awe of the creativity

that you have planted within.

Give us the patience and courage to nourish that creativity,

and the strength and persistence to express it.

In Your name we pray,

Amen

~ written by Jennifer G. Brownell and posted on RevGalBlogPals.

http://revgalblogpals.org/2016/01/23/with-thanks-for-creativity-saturday-prayer/

Prayer of Confession: Reconciliation

Here’s a prayer of confession from the Starters for Sunday website.

 

Prayer of Confession

 

Eternal God,

Creator of all that is,

In you we live and move and have our being.

You have placed us on earth

and sustained our being through the produce of the land

and the cleanness of the air we breathe.

You have made us for each

to tend and care for the weak

and ensure a just sharing of the earth’s resources.

 

But we are part of a proud and hard-hearted people

who hoard what the earth provides

and seem loathe to share the fruits of our labours,

who live for today with little thought for tomorrow

who are afraid to let pain and suffering affect us.

 

Incarnate God, you know us in our inner being.

In your grace you offer us forgiveness

even before we have the chance to articulate our sorrow.

You embrace us in all our sinfulness

and in doing so give us the chance to start again

to learn from the example you have given us in Jesus,

who chose the way of the Cross

that all might know the depth of your love for all you have made.

 

Spirit of God

open our hearts and minds

that we may grasp your forgiveness,

and forgiven seek to forgive others

and to live a life of reconciling love

modelled on the example of Jesus Christ

in whose name we make this prayer. Amen

~ from the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday suggestions for Lent 4C, from the Very Rev. Dr. Sheilagh Kesting.  http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Closing Commission: Walk Gently Upon the Earth

Here’s a closing commission for a day of thanksgiving, or a service that focuses on our relationship with creation.  It was posted on the Third Space blog.

Closing Commission and Prayer

May we always walk gently upon the Earth,

in right relationship,

nurtured by your love,

open to the wind of the Spirit,

taking only what we need,

always open to the needs of others,

making choices that bring wellbeing,

living with generosity,

striving for justice,

honouring all with reverence,

reconciling and peacemaking,

mindful of those who will come after,

recognising our proper place as part of your creation.

Grant us the strength and courage, Lord,

for such a radical transformation into your Kingdom.

Amen.

~ from Christian Aid and Christian Ecology Link.  Posted on Third Space blog. http://third-space.org.uk/blog