Order of Service / Earth Sunday & Easter 4 / April 21, 2024

*Gathering Hymn God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness (#260 VU)

Welcome& Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Whether we live near mountains or in the prairies—

  All: We are one in Christ.

One: Whether our winters are balmy or our summers are cool—

  All: We are one in Christ.

One: Whether we live near the Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic Ocean or somewhere in the middle—

  All: We are one in Christ.

One: Whether we live in urban dwellings, nestled in the suburbs, or surrounded by a rural landscape—

  All: We are one in Christ.

One: In a spirit of unity, caring for each other and the whole of creation—

  All: We are one in Christ.

*United Church of Canada, Earth Sunday Service 2024.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

As we gather, we are thankful for your Creation: for light and darkness; for air, wind, and sky; for earth and sea; for seeds, harvests, and plant life; for sunlight, moonlight, and starlight; for every living creature, swarming, flying, creeping, and grazing; for our lives. In our actions, meditations, and prayers, may we honour and celebrate your very good Creation, as we seek wisdom on how to share our gratitude and love in good and healing ways. Amen.

*United Church of Canada, Earth Sunday Service 2024.

*Passing the Peace (Inlgeside Only)

One: When we share “Peace be with you,” we are offering the very same words with which Jesus greeted his disciples after the resurrection. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus once again engages with us through these words of blessing and comfort.

“Peace be with you.”

  All: And also with you.

*Opening Hymn For the Beauty of the Earth (#226 VU | tune VU 81)

Welcoming New Members (Long Sault Only)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Creator God, we come before you in a time of crisis. We know that much of your creation struggles; we begin to see and acknowledge the changes around us; we search for the causes and the cures and the collaborative ways we can commit to care for creation. We want to do what’s right, but we don’t always know what that is or agree how best to do it. Help us learn what we must, listening to the diverse voices of creation itself. Help us understand and love what you have loved and called “very good.” Enliven that understanding, we ask, to allow ourselves to be moved to act as we should and to halt actions that harm. Guide us as we try to discern how best to truly listen to each other as well as creation and heed your call. We ask for forgiveness where we have taken too much or cared too little, for hearts willing to listen and change and will to follow through. May the knowledge of your presence and the assurance of your love shape our time here and always. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*United Church of Canada, Earth Sunday Service 2024.

Words of Assurance

One: The Creator has blessed us in abundance.  Jesus has instructed us to respect the Creator and to love each other. The Holy Spirit sparks our hearts to live out what our minds have memorized: Do for others what you would have them do for you.

  All: Through the generosity of the Triune God, we learn that we can be generous ourselves. The Triune God gives grace in abundance, compassion in faith, and mercy in action. Thanks be to God!

*Ruthanne McLagan, Gathering L/E 2024, page 52.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (Draw the Circle Wide (MV 145), Refrain)

Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song: no one stands alone.

Standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

1 John 3:16–24 Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Psalm 23 (VU p. 749) God is my shepherd.

John 10:11–18 Jesus is the good shepherd.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky (MV 143)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#541VU| Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise God, all creatures high and low;

give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit, One.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Generous and Loving God, you gave us this world and all that we have. Jesus, you gave us all of you, even to the point of laying down your life for us. Now we give what we have decided in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but cheerfully as an act of worship. For you, God, love a cheerful giver. Receive and bless our offering. Amen.

*Lynn McCaw, Gathering L/E 2024, page 48.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn All Creatures of Our God and King (#217 VU | vs. 1,2,3)

*Commissioning

One: As we experience each tree, each flower, each bird, each bee, and each human, we feel our God reflected in creation.

  All: As we love one another, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength we need to care for each and every part of creation.

One: May the care of God enfold you, the passion of the Risen Christ embolden you, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit empower you, now and forever, Amen.

*United Church of Canada, Earth Sunday Service 2024.

*Commissioning Song God Now in Peace (#211 MV)

Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ.

So you may be, nourished by the Word of Life. (x2) 

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