September 2, 2012
Creation Time: Planet Earth Sunday & Sacrament of Baptism
*
please stand as able
Thoughts
around which to gather as we worship: Today
is Planet Earth Sunday. Earth refers to the fragile aqua-green
planet, a chunk of stardust in the solar system we call home. Earth
provides us with a source of nurture, inspiration and renewal, and is
filled with God’s glory and presence. This week we worship with our
planet home, celebrate God’s relationship with creation, and
cultivate our own relationship with, and appreciation for, our
home Earth.
Copyright ©
Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2011 Seasons
of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION
p. 39
Season
of Creation • Pentecost 2 2012
Announcements The
Work of Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Welcome
and greeting one another with the Peace of Christ.
One: The peace of
Christ be with you.
Response:
And with your spirit.
*
Introit O Great Earth
O Great
Earth so green and so blue, This is the promise that I’ll make to
you: To care for your waters, for waters can hear the rhythm of your
heartbeat.
Words
unknown, tune Linnea Good.
Copyright
© 1995 Borealis Music. Used by permission.
* Call
to Worship
One:
I am the circling hawk dancing
with joy for life.
All:
God, you invite us to join in the dance!
One:
I am the faithful soil nourishing each life I touch.
All:
You invite us to join in the caring.
One:
I am the swift stream singing my thanks for life.
All:
You invite us to join in the song.
One:
I am the blazing star bringing wonder to life.
All:
You invite us to join in the wonder.
One: I am the
voice of creation praising the God who shapes life: All:
You invite us to join in the praise.
*
Hymn: Out of Deep, Unordered
Water VU453
Opening Prayer
Generous God, creation is your song of love. May we stop to listen
and open our hearts to the melody so that we might join in the
singing. Amen.
Prayer
of Confession
One:
For times when we have viewed Planet Earth as a source of endless
resources All:
Forgive.
One:
We
have polluted Earth’s waters with toxins All:
Forgive.
One:
For times when we have cared more about progress than Planet Earth
All:
Forgive.
Words of Affirmation
One: Planet Earth is our sanctuary home. All:
We celebrate Earth as our home, and live in the goodness of
God’s forgiveness. Amen.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Genesis
1:1–25 A wind from God swept over the waters
One:
This is the witness of the Hebrew people. All:
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 33 Let
all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe VU760
Sacrament of
Baptism (insert) (St. D.)
Received today by
Baptism and Profession of Faith:
Travis
Stephen Parsons
Received by
Transfer of Membership:
Margaret
(Ripley) MacIntyre
Baptism Hymn I Was There to Hear Your
Borning Cry VU644
Hymn (St. M.) Peace is Flowing Like a
River Printed
The
Gospel Acclamation
John
1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word.
One: This
is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection
on the Word
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*
Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth VU226
Offering Our Gifts to God
*
Offering Song/Doxology VU 541
Prayers
of Thanksgiving and Intercession
The
Lord’s Prayer
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
* Hymn: Let All Things Now Living VU242
*Commissioning
and Benediction
One:
May the joy of soaring birds
be yours. May the peace of star-filled nights be yours. May the hope
of sprouting seeds be yours. May the strength of flowing rivers be
yours. May God’s love for all creation be yours.
*
Choral Amen
