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Season of Creation Theme: Let Justice and Peace Flow
Welcome: (Suzanne) The Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.
Opening Song: Peace Is Flowing Like a River by Carie Landry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ00H4Tavdo
Communal Transformation Rite
(Suzanne): Aware of God’s presence in creation, we take up our common responsibility for caring for the earth, the environment and all its living creatures.
(place your hand over your heart and pause in silent prayer)
Opening Prayer: (Kathryn)
Holy One, you called your people out of Egypt to new purpose and responsibility in the Promised Land. Bind us together in care for each other and deepen in us our vocation
to care for the community of life through the teachings of Jesus, our blessed brother.
Amen
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: (Joan P) A Poem by Tanaya Winder
Stone Mother
I.
I was born in the desert
learned to cherish water
like it was created from tears.
I grew up hearing the legend, the lesson
of the Stone Mother who cried
enough cries to make an entire lake
from sadness. From her, we learned
what must be done and that the sacrifices
you make for your people are sacred.
We are all related
and sometimes it takes
a revolution to be awakened.
You see, the power of a single tear lies in the story.
It’s birthed from feeling and following
the pain as it echoes into the canyon of grieving.
It’s the path you stumble and walk
until you push and claw your way through to acceptance.
For us, stories have always been for lessons.
I.
I remember my grandmother was well versed in dirt,
the way the earth clung to her hands as if it were a part of her.
We come from the earth. So she tended the seeds
as living beings, planted her garden full of foods
traditional to the land and handled them with care.
Every tree, plant, or rock has a spirit, she said “hear it.”
I.
I listen.
When my mother says words are seeds and to be careful
of the words you say, I pray. For I know each seed
carries a story.
My mother taught me that water is the source
of all living things and to honor life like the circle
we sit in for ceremony. From the doorway in
to the doorway out, life is about all our relations.
IV.
Before I was born, they tried to silence us,
pierced our tongues with needles then taught
our then-girl-grandmothers how to sew like machines.
You see, colonialism has always been
about them not seeing us as human but as object,
a thing. Conquest meant they saw our bodies as land,
full of resources waiting to be extracted and exploited.
Our land was stolen.
Our language. Our grandmothers, grandfathers, fathers, sisters, mothers, brothers, daughters, sons, children, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and ancestors.
Our Mother Earth holds our histories in her dirt.
But today, she burns not in the traditional ways once taught,
controlled and deliberate. Today she burns desperate,
for all to resist fossil fuels, the drilling, and the black snake named
greed that swallows everything.
V.
When you lose something, you hope it will be found.
When something is stolen, you want it returned.
We’ve had our land stolen and we’re losing it again
unless we all take action for the climate to change.
VI.
Land back is a demand, a stand
against the Age of Exploration and Extraction,
a call for the Time of Reconciliation, the Now of Restoration
Land back is an understanding
that tomorrow isn’t promised, but today we can return
the power to the earth and her stewards.
And those who wish to stand with us
must take action beyond the performative
where Indigenous consulting isn’t just a costume of free
and informed consent, where consulting with tribal nations
isn’t just a box one checks without due diligence, where co-management isn’t co-opted
just for the optics of equity, diversity, and justice.
Stand with us as accomplices.
Follow our lead for we have always been well versed in survival.
We were shaped by fire, made from lightning and
dirt-covered hands that know when to ignite healing.
Now is the time. Let us not drown in Mother Earth’s tears.
Mother Earth has a spirit and she’s asking us to listen.
These are the inspired words of the poet and songwriter, Tanaya Winder, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Response to Reading: The Earth, The Air, The Fire, The Water, Return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CnUGaH51IA
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:25-33 from The Message by Eugene Peterson
(Joan M) Do Not Worry
"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?
All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop,
but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving.
People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
These are the inspired words of the Gospel writer known as Matthew and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Homily Starter: Kathryn
Today is also the Feast of St. Hildegard of Bingen and I would like to begin with one of her quotes:
“We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion.” Hildegard of Bingen
So, after reflecting on her quote for a while, the words “be good stewards of the Earth” came to mind. And I wondered what would it look like if all of Earth’s inhabitants were good stewards of the Earth?
In my Internet searching, I found that theChurch’s social teaching on stewardship of creation is focused on the goods of the earth as gifts from God and how God intends them for the benefit of everyone. The Church teaches that there is a "social mortgage" that guides our use of the world's goods, and that we have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, a sign of our respect for the Creator.
The basis of the stewardship tradition is to be found in Genesis 2:15 where God establishes man and woman in the garden and tells them to “cultivate and take care of it”. The implication is that human beings are called into a relationship with God and are called to care for creation. In Biblical times a steward was someone whose task it was to take care of another person’s property. They were caretakers or custodians.
The the people of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, who are followers of Christ, support stewardship* of the Earth
They define Stewardship as--to hold something in trust for another. Stewardship of the Earth, or environmental stewardship, is the responsible care and use of this planet’s resources, recognizing that they belong to God and that our Holy One has given us the privilege of enjoying and caring for what God has created. They created this pledge:
We delight in and celebrate the beauty and diversity of creation and invite others to join in this celebration.
We recognize ourselves as participants in God’s story of redemption and reconciliation, which includes all creation.
We acknowledge our God-given responsibility and privilege to care for the Earth and we share in our Creator’s love and concern for all God’s creatures. God’s Word is our authority and guide for wise stewardship in all things.
We acknowledge that many of those most affected by environmental issues are among the poor and least powerful. Many of these people are part of the minority language communities with whom we serve.
We accept personal and corporate responsibility for care of the Earth through wise attitudes and actions concerning our use of resources and our impact on the environment.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to be both servants and stewards, in awareness of and attendance to the holistic needs of Earth’s peoples and their environment.
And to this, we say AMEN!
Community Sharing
Community Sharing: What did you hear in our readings today?
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Statement of Faith:
(Marty): Please join in proclaiming our Statement of Faith.
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Prayers for the Community
(Jerry): As we prepare for this sacred meal we bring to this table our blessings, our gratitude, our cares and concernsbeginning with the words:
I bring to the table…
Today, our collective community, brings to the table:
And, for what else do we pray? “I bring to the table…”
Jerry: We pray for these and all unspoken prayers. Amen.
Preparation of the Gifts:
(Suzanne): Blessed are You, Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this bread, to share, the Bread of Life.
Suzanne and All: Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
(Kathryn)
Blessed are You, O Loving One through Your divine providence we have this wine to share, our spiritual drink.
Kathryn and All: Blessed are, You, Holy One, forever.
Spirit Sophia, we are united in this sacrament by the love of Christ, whose presence we are as we proclaim your glory in the beauty of creation.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
(Marty) Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up with joy.
Give thanks for the gifts of Spirit Love
Marty and All: Alleluia!
(Jerry):
Christ of the Cosmos, we celebrate our oneness with all creatures great and small in Your precious family.
As one with You, we gather as a community to celebrate Your gift of life pulsating within and around us and in the glories of nature everywhere.
You stirred the waters of creation; You dwell on earth, and in every living being. We lift up our hearts to you and with thanks and praise we sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here in this Place – with lyrics – Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ
(Joan M): Christ of the Cosmos, we thank you that there are 18 galaxies for every person, that our bodies are made of stardust. Every place we turn, you are present, loving us. You call us, “beloved” and invite us to join the dance of creation in a mystical celebration of our oneness with all living things in Your divine love.
All: Please extend your hands in blessing and pray:
(Joan P):
As we bless this bread and wine, we are ever aware of Your Spirit in us and among us at this Eucharistic table.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus, who showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.
Lift plate as the community prays the following:
(Suzanne):
On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying,
Take and eat; this is my very self.
Lift the cup as community prays the following:
He then raised high the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying: Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.
What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives, as we share communion, we become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Spirit! Embracing Presence, we remember all the companions who have gone before us: Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala, and all holy women and men- who have cared for the natural world. We pause now to remember our family and loved ones in the communion of saints. (pause)
(Presiders and all hold bread and wine)
(Jerry):
For it is through living as Jesus lived, and loving as he loved, that we awaken to Your Spirit empowering us to work for the flourishing of life on for all people and for planet Earth.
All: Great Amen (Sung) Linda Lee Miller
https://youtu.be/Dy76fpfkNsg
The Prayer of Jesus
(Marty):
Let us pray the prayer Jesus:
O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,
We celebrate your many names.
Your Wisdom come.
Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us,
Each day you give us all we need;
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us
and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen
(Miriam Therese Winter)
(Marty): Sign of Peace: Please bow to each other and pray: Namaste, namaste, namaste
Communion
(Suzanne):
Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread
All: Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
(Kathryn):
This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to the Feast.
We are the Body and Blood of Christ for the world. Please receive/share Eucharist now.
Please receive communion with the words: I am / You are a steward of creation.
Communion Song: Wade in the Water: Live | The Spirituals (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZ4H-gq_lc
Thanksgivings, Introduction and Announcements
Concluding Rite
(Suzanne): Please raise your hands in blessing and pray together.
All: May we be full of awe at the extravagant love flowing through us and through all living things.
May we immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature that surrounds us each day.
May the blessing of the Holy One be upon us as we go in peace to care for all creation.
Amen.
Closing Song: Bubbles Up by Jimmy Buffett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j3jDTOG7yI
Additional Resources
Organizations To Sustain, Heal and Create a Healthy Planet
Defenders of Wildlife-75 years old
On Twitter, FB, YouTube.
Wolves, polar bears, wild creatures.
Earthjustice “Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer”
Arose from the Sierra Club
“Using the Power of the Law to Safeguard --Our Health, Our Environment—and Our Future”
On Twitter, FB
EDF-Environmental Defense Fund-present focus: Climate Change and Sustainability
On FB, Twitter, Blog www.edf.org/blog
Greenpeace-Known for “Uses peaceful direct action and creative communication to exposé global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future”
https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/
On FB, Twitter, YouTube, https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/blog/
League of Conservation Voters
Support legislators who support a healthy and sustainable environment and issues for a healthy sustainable environment
https://www.lcv.org/ On FB and Twitter
National Parks Conservation Association
Supporting all the National Parks of the USA
On FB, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram
The Nature Conservancy
It buys land or is given land which TNC manages or works with local/state/federal/international agencies to conserve for the next generations and sustainability of all life on earth
On FB, Twitter, Linked In, YouTube
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
“At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, we are building a nation connected by trails. We reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors.”
Using once-used railroad track land across the country, community by community transforming these into “Linear parks” since 1986.
https://www.railstotrails.org/
On FB, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram
Sierra Club Founded in 1966
The Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the independent fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.
https://www.sierraclubfoundation.org/
Goals:
· Solve the climate crisis primarily through a successful transition to a resource-efficient, clean energy economy that better serves people and nature;
· Secure protections for public lands and waters, promote healthy ecosystems and communities, and fight for clean air and water;
· Expand opportunities for more people to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet by supporting programs and policies that reach across economic, cultural, and community lines to get people outdoors; and
· Build a diverse, inclusive environmental movement that reflects and represents today’s American public, and prioritizes important connections between environmental health and social justice.
On FB, Twitter, Instagram