Order of Service / Creation Time 3 / September 28, 2025

*Gathering Hymn This Is God’s Wondrous World (#296 VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Our hearts ponder the beauty of God’s majesty!

All: It’s a poem of love for Creation.

One: Our pens are ready to write, our brushes are ready to paint

  All: the wonders of God’s work!

One: The firmament displays the sea and sky—

  All: proclaiming the majesty of God’s presence.

One: A God of awe and wonder is worthy of all praise!

All: May the Creator God come bless our hearts,

One: that we may show compassion, love, and care—

All: for all good gifts made for God’s pleasure and our delight!

One: May we be humble, respectful, and grateful

All: for Creation and for a God who keeps creating.

*Keith Mayers, Gathering Pentecost 2 2025. Page 25.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn The Earth and All Who Breathe (#295 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Creator God, Source of all that is, we rejoice in the majesty and complexity of your creation. You have provided abundantly for human needs. Yet, we know that too many experience the fears and discouragement of not having enough. In the human desire for “more,” this beautiful earth has been desecrated. Believing that resources are becoming scarce, among some there is hoarding. More than a fair share is taken. But there is enough. There is enough for all. Forgive humans, Loving God, for a lack of faith in your abundance. Forgive the greed and sense of entitlement. Forgive the lack of action in stewarding all that you have created. But more than forgive, stir up, O God, a transformation so that all may share in the abundance of your earth. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Anne Mathewson, Gathering Pentecost 2 2025. Page 28.

Words of Assurance

One: The Creator has blessed the world with abundance for body, mind, and spirit.

  All: We are recipients of God’s astounding mercy and grace.

One: Through God’s grace, may we also receive what we need to nourish and care for our bodies.

All: Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Anne Mathewson, Gathering Pentecost 2 2025. Page 28.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (Hymn – Like a Rock, #92 MV)

Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet

Like the starry night sky, God is over our head

Like the sun on the horizon, God is ever before

Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore.

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 (VU p. 807) God will raise you up on eagle’s wings.

Luke 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Teach Me, God, to Wonder (#299 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#542 VU, We Give You But Your Own)

We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may be,

all that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

Loving God, as we bring our offerings today, we pray for an end to waste and harm in your Creation. May the earth’s gifts be shared fairly so that everyone has what they need. Help us to use your Creation wisely and care for it with love. We thank you with these gifts and with our praise. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (VU 509)

*Commissioning

One: Rejoice in the one true God.

All: We will praise God, creator and originator of our planet, our galaxy. We will worship God, who has given life to humankind. We will respond to God, at work among peoples everywhere caring for Creation. We will acknowledge God, in the days of rejoicing and the days of hard testing. We will serve God with compassion and patience. We will honour God with courage and hard questions.

One: Rejoice in the one true God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

*David Sparks. Gathering Pentecost 2 2025, page 29.

*Commissioning Song Peace Be With You (#215 MV)

Peace be with you, peace forever, peace be with you my friends.

Till we meet again, may God be with you. Peace, peace, peace. 

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