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Music: Howard Hughes @1973, 1979 GIA Publications
Reprinted with Permission under One License # A-737632
*THE PEACE
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you!
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
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.
SENDING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing GtG 547
Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river, I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
Words - ©1983 Concordia Publishing House # 110843
Contributors: Jaroslav J Vajda, Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Reprinted with Permission under One License # A-737632
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Psalm 104: 1-33
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent;
3 you set the beams of your[chambers on the waters;
you make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind;
4 you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations,
so that it shall never be shaken.
6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they flee;
at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.
8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys,
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills,
11 giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle
and plants for people to cultivate,
to bring forth food from the earth
15 and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
16 The trees of the field are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;
the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.
19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
23 People go out to their work
and to their labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, great and wide;
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
28 when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
SCRIPTURE Colossians 1:15-20
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
CHORAL ANTHEM For the Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter (Music)
(Sanctuary Choir) and F.S. Pierpoint (1835-1917)
SCRIPTURE Genesis 2:4b-10, 15
Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE “Keeper” of the Garden Pastor Karen
*HYMN I Sing the Mighty Power of God PH 288
I sing the mighty power of God
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command,
And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord
That filled the earth with food;
God formed the creatures with a word
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where’er I turn my eyes;
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the skies!
There’s not a plant or flower below
But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God, art present there.
Contributors: Isaac Watts, Traditional
Tune: Public Domain Text: Public Domain
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.22.
New life in Christ takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Holy One, Holy Three, God of all Creation:
Yours is the womb of all life.
Yours is the fountain of living water.
Yours is the voice that breaks down walls.
Yours is the love that cannot be contained.
For the thirsty, you give the water of life…
…Empower us to hear your prophets in the croaks of evening frogs,
to read your gospel in the webs of writing spiders.
Yours is the womb of all life, O God.
Yours is the fountain of living water.
Yours is the voice that breaks down walls.
Yours is the love that cannot be contained.
In your great mercy you call us to care for your creation…
…For those who suffer, those whose needs are known to us,
and those whose needs are known only to you . . .
A time of silence is kept.
With confidence that you hear our prayers,
we offer ourselves for your good purposes,
watching and waiting for the healing of your creation
as we work toward your coming reign.
Through Christ our Savior,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and praise to you now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY Improvisation for the Care of Creation by Dr. Pablo Lavandera
(Organ Solo)
*HYMN OF RESPONSE Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! PH 145 (Refrain only)
Rejoice! rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
Contributors: Public Domain
Tune: Attr. John F. Wade (1711-1786) Text: Edward H. Plumptre (1821-1891), alt.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING/DEDICATION
Gracious God, we give you thanks that you created the world in love, redeemed the world in love, and maintain the world by your love. Thank you for showing us the meaning of love through Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. Help us to give our love to you and share Christ’s love by giving our lives for one another; to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
*HYMN All Things Bright and Beautiful PH 267
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings:
God made their glowing colors,
God made their tiny wings. (Refrain)
The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky, (Refrain)
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
God made them every one. (Refrain)
God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well. (Refrain)
Cecil Francis H. Alexander, 1818-1895, alt. Music: Trad. English melody; adapt. by Martin Shaw, 1875-1958.
Contributors: ROYAL OAK, Cecil Alexander
*CHARGE/BENEDICTION
May the One who creates us, go with and before us,
May the One who saves us, lead us into everlasting life,
May the One who gives us wisdom, guide us in the way of peace.
Alleluia!
Go and join the song of creation, singing out in praise to God.
Go and join the cries of creation, yearning for healing.
Go and work for the healing and wholeness of all the earth.
Amen.
*CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION RESPONSE May the Love of the Lord GtG 549
May the love of the Lord rest up-on your soul.
May God’s love dwell with you,
through-out ev’ry day.
May God’s coun-te-nance shine up-on you
And be gra-cious to you.
May God’s Spir-it be up-on you
as you leave this place.
Words © 2000 Maria Ling Poh Choo. Music © 2000 Lim Swee Hong. Used by permission. Administered worldwide except for the continent of Asia by the General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308. All rights reserved.
Contributors: Choo / Hong; CCLI Song #7128481; CCLI License #20795767
POSTLUDE Earth and All Stars by Herbert Frederick Brokering
(Violin and Organ) and David N. Johnson
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