Fanfare on TRURO arr. Hal Hopson
Welcome and Call to Worship
Come, let us dwell in God's shelter.
Let us dwell in God's work of art.
Come, because the earth is the Lord's, and God's earth is our home.
We live in communion with God; we are never alone.
We share this life with the heavens and the earth, with the waters and the land, with trees and grasses, with fish, birds, and animals, with minerals and creatures of every form, and with all our sisters and brothers.
God is good and everything God makes is good!
Let us worship God, tender and just.
Gathering Hymn No. 17, verses 1, 2 & 4
Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!
Call to Confession
As image-bearers of God, we are called to live in loving communion with all creation: meeting our needs, loving our neighbors and stewarding the earth. God relies on us to maintain the well-being of the world. Yet often we neglect our call. Let us confess our sin and seek God's forgiveness and renewal, first in silent prayer.
Prayer of Confession
God of all creation, you loved us into being, yet we often flee our place in your creation. We confess that we exploit the gifts you give us and dominate the richness of the natural order. Forgive our greedy grasping. We confess our part in the devastation of our planet home, mirrored in the violence of cities, and the brokenness of hearts. Forgive and restore us, O God. Remind us of other ways to live and of a place called home, where creation reflects your goodness and each thing lives in balance with all others. Bring us back in deep communion with you, set us right again, and take us home. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Someday, somehow and some way God will be all in all, righteousness and peace will join hands and everything will be made new. Someday wildfires and hurricanes and pandemics and disparities will be no more. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel as we work toward that day: a world renewed by God one small step at a time.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Our Common Life
Scripture - Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31
Sermon Rev. Jeff Lehn
"Together While Apart: Communion with All Creation"
Hymn of Response No. 21
Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works
Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People and The Lord's Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Offering
On this day, we are invited to participate in the kingdom emerging all around us. May we offer ourselves to God with glad and generous hearts, freely giving our tithes and offerings to the ministry of this congregation. In lieu of passing the plate, we invite you to give through our church website, our smartphone app, by texting the word "Wilmette" to the number 77977, or by sending a check to the church office. As we gather our gifts together and offer them to God, may we do so in gratitude and praise.
Doxology No. 606
Prayer of Dedication
Sending Hymn No. 713, verses 1, 2 & 4
Touch the Earth Lightly
Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty arr. John Carter
