Bulletin – Sunday, April 24, 2022 – Earth Day

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Earth Day

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Welcome, dear friends, as we enter into a time praising the Divine Creator, we light this candle to remind us of the one who is always in our midst, declaring the gospel of hope and peace.

Call to Worship

One:   We are one flock,
All:      we are called to be one in community.

One:   We have boldness before God
All:      because we know we are loved and known.

One:   and so, in the same way, let us love each other, siblings and cousins.
All:      not only in word or speech

One:   but in truth and action—let us join together as one flock to worship the one God.
All:      Let us worship in word, song, and deed today and every day. Amen.

Hymn – “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”

Joyful, joyful we adore you
God of glory, life and love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before you,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

All you works with joy surround you,
Earth and heaven reflect your rays,
Stars and angels sing around you,
Centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Sound their praise eternally.

You are giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, every blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
Let your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Holy One, Heart of Creation, you know us and call us into bold service. We come together this day to celebrate your creation, the beautiful streams that surround us and provide us with food and water, and that are often the centre of our communities. We come to hear hard stories of where our still waters have been lost, communities broken. Open our hearts to hear the cries of our family, of partners in Canada and abroad so that we may be empowered to act in love for one another, for you are our shepherd, who leads us toward green pastures.

Holy One, we are blessed to live in a land of plentiful natural resources. We are blessed to have rules of law that protect our human dignity. We recognize that these blessings are not extended to others, we recognize that our privilege allows us to exploit others. We recognize that, in this country and overseas, mining has allowed us to reap the rewards of natural resources while also harming your creation and fracturing communities. We recognize the harm caused by our want for more. Heal us in our desire for ever more resources; forgive those times when we do not speak up against injustice and embolden us to be agents of your change in this world. For the building of the kin-dom. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “Mother Earth, Our Mother Birthing:

Mother Earth, our Mother birthing
Every creature from the ground.
Jesus too was flesh and breathing,
Kin to all that’s green and brown.
Celebrate with all creation:
God has formed the web of life.

Sister Air, our Sister lifting
Every creature born with wings;
Jesus shared the breath of forests,
Breath that makes our spirits sing.
Celebrate with all creation:
God has formed the web of life.

Brother Water, Brother pulsing
Deep through every vein and sea,
Jesus drank the very raindrops
For our wine and in our tea.
Celebrate with all creation:
God has formed the web of life.

Father Fire, our Father burning
With the sacred urge to live.
Jesus’ death completes the cycle,
Bringing life beyond the grave.
Celebrate with all creation:
God has formed the web of life.

Time for All ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Psalm 23

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; ³ he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

Scripture Reading:           1 John 3:16-24

¹⁶ We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷ How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

¹⁸ Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. ¹⁹ And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him ²⁰ whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; ²² and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

²³ And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴ All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “In Truth and Action”

(from the United Church of Canada resource “In Truth and Action”)

Anthem – “O Beautiful Gaia”

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Everlasting God, today we give great thanks for the world around us. For the trees swaying in the breeze. For the sun warming the waters. For the rain nourishing the land. All these gifts are from you, promises of your love, and we are blessed. Hear our gratitude for the wonder of creation and the abundance of life. O God, hear our prayers.
All:      And in your love answer.

One:   Healing and Comforting God, we pray for the church in our world. We remember that we are connected all around the Earth through the love of Jesus Christ. Be with those seeking to share a message, an alternative to corrupt governments and violent societies. May we strive to show loving support, as well as seek the true gift of creation and community. O God, hear our prayers.
All:      And in your love answer.

One:   Compassionate God, we fail to live up to being co-creators with you. We recognize the burdens on creation sometimes seem to heavy for us to carry. Help us learn the needs of the Earth when we hear it groaning. Help us care for sisters and brothers in other lands so that they may fully live. Help us learn from them so we also may fully live. Nudge us to the path of deep listening. O God, hear our prayers.
All:      And in your love answer.

One:   Tender God, be with us in pain and suffering, loss, and grief. Today we remember victims of natural disasters that devastate our world. We think of those overseas facing incredible droughts and famine. We remember those closer to us who are facing illness, loss, or struggle as we lift up to you those in this community who are on our hearts today…Be near and remind them of your lasting presence. O God, hear our prayers.
All:      And in your love answer.

One:   In silence now, we offer our concerns and prayers of our hearts, knowing you are always there to listen even when we may not have the words. O God, hear our prayers.
All:      And in your love answer.

One:   Let us pray now, with the words Jesus taught us, saying;
All:      Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

(adapted from Miriam Spies)

Hymn – “Touch the Earth Lightly”

Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,
Nourish the life of the world in our care;
Gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
Trust for the children tomorrow will bear.

We who endanger, who create hunger,
Agents of death for all creatures that live,
We who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!

Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
Water that blesses and air that is sweet,
Health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
Regeneration that peace will complete.

God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
Teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,
Using us gently and making us one.

Benediction

Let us go out with joy. Let us be ever mindful of the gift of God’s creation. Let us share the blessing of love with all we meet.

May God’s radiant face shine upon you. May Jesus continue to walk with you. May the love of the Holy Spirit fill you. Today and forevermore. Amen.

(adapted from Miriam Spies)

Response

Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!