Happy Earth Day 2019! Here is a worship service liturgy for Earth Day, excerpted from my book Wild Faith, for use with adults, youth, or intergenerational groups. Blessings, Cindy
Liturgy, Equipping the Saints for Creation Care
Speaker #1 A Prayer for Use of the Land*:
Lord Christ, when you came upon us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places: Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land. Grant that all the people of our nation and of the world may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come. All this we ask in your holy Name. Amen.
*modified from a prayer For Towns and Rural Areas, Book of Common Prayer 1979, page 825
Speaker #2:
A Reading from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 55
(Read Isaiah 55:6-13)
The Word of the Lord!
All: Thanks be to God.
Speaker #3:
A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew
(Read Matthew 13:1-9)
The Word of the Lord!
All:Thanks be to God!
Speaker #4:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Let us listen to God in silence, meditating on how we might plant the seeds of creation care in our homes, our schools, and in our churches.
A short period of silence should be observed.
Songs may be sung after this period of silence.
Recommended: “For the Beauty of the Earth,”#416 in The Hymnal 1982
Speaker #5:
Let us prayer together for care of God’s creation. Please repeat the words, “Help us Lord, to plant the seeds of creation care throughout the world” after each of these prayers.
We pray, Lord, to notice each day the beauty of nature which You have created.
All: Help us Lord, to plant the seeds of creation care throughout the world.
We pray to consider each day the consequences of our use of land, of water, of plants and animals, and of all natural resources.
All: Help us Lord, to plant the seeds of creation care throughout the world.
We pray to actively reduce our consumption of all natural resources, remembering those who live in need of clean water, fruitful soil, abundant food, and adequate shelter.
All: Help us Lord, to plant the seeds of creation care throughout the world.
We pray to live in harmony with all of creation that you have declared good, helping us also to see the good of creation in our daily lives. We pray to live daily as wise and careful stewards of Earth, our garden home.
All: Help us Lord, to plant the seeds of creation care throughout the world.
Speaker #6:
We invite prayers for all gathered here and for others for whom we care and love.
Let us say together the Lord’s Prayer.
(Pray together the Lord’s Prayer)
Speaker #7:
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This liturgy is excerpted from Wild Faith: A Creation Care Curriculum for Youth by Cynthia Coe. Copyright 2016 Cynthia Coe, All Rights Reserved (except for portions from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979).
Wild Faith is available in both paperback and Kindle editions exclusively on Amazon.com.
Sycamore Cove 