April 23, 2023

 

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Welcome

*Call to Worship

The world around us is full of beauty;
we praise your name, O God!
For the gift of life on earth:
we praise your name, O God!
Open our eyes to see your artistry,
your image in all that you have made.
Here we join creation's song:
we praise your name, O God!

 

*Opening Hymn "The Earth Is the Lord's

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."
Creation reminds us, O God, of your love.
By grace we are learning, as year leads to year,
We're called to be stewards, your caretakers here.

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Your rainforests nurture the world that we share.
Your wetlands give animals shelter and care.
Your coral reefs cradle the life of the sea.
You've shown us, in love, what your good world can be.

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Too often, O God, we abuse your good earth.
We fail to remember its beauty and worth.
We take from creation much more than we need,
We threaten your world through indifference and greed.

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May we be good stewards of all that you give,
Protecting creation wherever we live.
May we be a church that renews and restores
And lovingly cares for this earth that is yours.
 

 

Prayer of Confession                                              

Awesome God, creator of all things from no thing, we confess how we would rather live lives of convenience rather than care. We have grown dependent on artificially conditioned living environments and ignore their terrible impact on the real environment. We would not know how to live in your creation without the modern luxuries that put it at risk. Curb our appetites for ourselves, O God, and give us hearts full of compassion for the birds, animals, fish and plants that you have created as companions for us. 

(time of silence)

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.  Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon

 

Children’s Time

Sung Response "Jesus Loves Me" 

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

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Special Music  "Look at the World"

 

Scripture Reading  Exodus 16:9-26 and Acts 9:1-19

Sermon  “A Fundamental Swerve”

 

Responsive Hymn #14 "For the Beauty of the Earth"

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

For thyself, best gift divine
to the world so freely given;
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
 

Pastoral Prayer 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.

 

Invitation to Offering

   Offertory "Love the Lord" 

  *Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
 

   Prayer of Dedication

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*Closing Hymn #20 “All Things Bright and Beautiful”

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

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Each little flower that opens,

each little bird that sings,

God made their glowing colors;

God made their tiny wings.

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All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

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The purple headed mountain,

the river running by,

the sunset, and the morning

that brightens up the sky:

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All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

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The cold wind in the winter,

the pleasant summer sun,

the ripe fruits in the garden,

God made them every one.

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All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

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God gave us eyes to see them,

and lips that we might tell

how great is God Almighty,

who has made all things well.

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All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

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*Benediction

Postlude

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Portions of liturgy for this worship have come from Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) and "A Heart for Creation" (Wild Goose Publications)