Season of Creation: Rivers

You can watch some parts of the service in this video here (mostly bible readings and the message) or scroll down and read the prayers and songs in the order they happened.

GATHERING THE PEOPLE

Welcome and Announcements

Today is River Sunday, a time to honour the waters that sustain life, shape landscapes, and connect communities. Rivers are more than channels of water; they are lifelines that nourish forests, wetlands, farms, towns, and countless creatures. In Scripture, rivers are signs of God’s generosity and renewal, flowing from the garden of creation to the river of life in the new creation. They remind us that life is sustained not by standing still but by continual movement, generosity, and connection.

Acknowledgement of country

As we look upon the hills and valleys, we see the love poured out upon this Land by those who have cared for this Land since time beyond measure. We honour those who have gone before and those who are yet to come. May we be mindful of the calling God places on humanity to care for Creation. May we take the lead from the Dharawal People, whose stories are entwined with the stewarding of this place. May we learn from them and walk with them.

All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Call to worship

The river of life flows from God.
Its waters bring healing to the nations.
The trees clap their hands beside its banks.
Its waters bring healing to the nations.
Christ is risen and new creation has begun.
Its waters bring healing to the nations.
Come and drink deeply of hope.
We come to worship the God of living water.

Prayer Of Invocation/Welcome

God of rivers and rainfall,

you move through creation
bringing life where there was dryness,
hope where there was grief,
and healing where there was harm.

Move us to flow toward life,
to nourish what is fragile,
and to become streams of grace
for a thirsty world.

Amen.

Hymn/Song: Where Wide Sky Rolls Down

Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand, Where sun turns to gold the grass of the land, Let spinifex mulga and waterhole tell, Their joy in the One who made everything well

Where rainforest calm meets reef tide and storm, Where green things grow lush and oceans are warm, Let every sea creature and tropical bird, Exult in the light of the life-giving Word

Where red gum and creek cross hillside and plain, Where cool tree-ferns rise to welcome the rain, Let bushland farm mountaintop all of their days, Delight in the Spirit who formed them for praise

Now people of faith come gather around, With songs to be shared for blessings abound, Australians whatever your culture or race, Come lift up your hearts to the Giver of grace

CCLI Song # 5205211 Elizabeth J. Smith | William Croft © Words: 1997 Smith, Elizabeth J.; Music: Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 31951

Prayer of adoration and confession

God of rivers and rainfall, we confess that we have too often treated water
as a resource rather than a relationship. We have polluted, taken more than we need,
All: and forgotten that downstream communities inherit the choices of those upstream.

Forgive us for the ways we participate in the wounding of creation
All: and for the times we believe our actions are too small to matter.

Help us to become people through whom life flows freely, justice runs deeply, and healing reaches far beyond our own shores. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Like a river that keeps flowing, God’s mercy does not run dry.

Like rain returning to thirsty ground, God’s grace seeks out what is weary and what longs for new life.

The One who made a covenant with all creation has not forgotten the world.

In Christ, you are forgiven, creation is cherished, and hope continues to flow.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Leaf activity: this week we finish growing our Season of Creation tree. For the final time you are invited to write on a leaf or two to hang on the tree. We are part of creation, not separate from it – we have many leaves, one tree, one shared home. After last week’s sorrow and lament, we look upwards and ask “What is my prayer, or hope, for creation? or, What is one new thing that I can do to care for our common home?” Let us take a moment now to think about that, and decorate a leaf with our words.

We are part of creation, not separate from it – we have many leaves, one tree, one shared home. (group photo?)

Hymn/Song: Touch the earth lightly

Touch the earth lightly, Use the earth gently, Nourish the life of the world in our care

Gift of great wonder, Ours to surrender, Trust for the children tomorrow will bear

We who endanger, Who create hunger, Agents of death for all creatures that live

We who would foster, Clouds of disaster, God of our planet, forestall and forgive

Let there be greening, Birth from the burning, Water that blesses and air that is sweet,

Health in God’s garden, Hope in God’s children, Regeneration that peace will complete

God of all living, God of all loving, God of the seedling the snow and the sun,

Teach us deflect us, Christ reconnect us, Using us gently and making us one.

HEARING THE WORD

Readings

Let us pray: God, please open our ears and minds and hearts so that as we hear the words of the Bible, you will speak to us and bring us new life.

Revelation 22:1–5

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

The second reading today is the fourth chapter of Jonah, because that is the subject of the sermon. At the end of chapter three, God sees the people of Ninevah repent and decides not to destroy the city.

Jonah 4

But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. 3 And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.

6 The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” 10 Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?”

Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak.

All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.

Sermon: Sylvia Keesmat, Canadian author and theologian preaching at the Church of the Redeemer, Toronto.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Prayer

Creator God, you saw all you had made and called it good. Teach us who bear your image to see as you do: every star a treasure; every weed a masterpiece.

Creator God whose touch breathes life into dust, teach us to touch the earth as you do: Gently, bringing life. Amen.

UCAN action: As part of Seasons of Creation Uniting Climate is calling the Uniting Church to raise our voices to call on the Australian Government to be bold in their leadership on the World Stage during COP31 the yearly United Nations Climate Talks. As a church, we are invited to pray for the people involved including the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and for all those carrying responsibility in this year’s talks. After the service, you are invited to write a short prayer. You might pray for wisdom and courage for our leaders, and especially for Pacific communities, for workers and communities experiencing change or for creation.

After writing the prayers, we will post our prayers to the Minister as an expression of support and encouragement.

Last week Judy explained how we are also invited to join the international faith-based campaign to shift away from fossil fuels by adding our support to a letter calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. You can read the letter here (hold up letter) and sign it at morning tea. Thank you to those who joined in this campaign last week. Here’s a few pictures from other congregations taking action over the last few weeks (slide show)

Offertory prayer

As rivers gather countless streams into one current, so our gifts become part of something larger than ourselves.

Receive these offerings, and use them for the healing of communities, the restoration of creation, and the flourishing of generations yet to come.

May what passes through our hands become life for others. Amen.

Prayers of the people (Jan)

We warmly invite anyone who would like personal prayer for themselves or others to stay after the service. A Member of our pastoral care team will be available here at the front of the church to listen and pray with you.

God of streams and estuaries, of rainfall and springs, we pray for rivers that no longer run clean, for wetlands that have disappeared, and for communities whose access to water is uncertain or unjust.

Hear us as we pray:

Let your love flow through us.

We pray for those affected by drought, flooding, sea level rise, and increasingly unpredictable seasons. Hear us as we pray:

Let your love flow through us.

We pray for scientists, conservation workers, community restoration groups, and all who labour quietly for the healing of waterways. Hear us as we pray:

Let your love flow through us.

We pray for rivers and harbours near us, for the streams in our care, and for all creatures who depend upon them. Hear us as we pray:

Let your love flow through us.

We pray for ourselves that we may learn to live upstream with those downstream in mind and become people through whom your compassion flows into the world. Hear us as we pray:

Let your love flow through us. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Loving Creator

we honour you, and we honor all that you have made.

Renew the whole world in the image of your love.

Give us what we need for today,

and a hunger to see the whole world fed.

Strengthen us for what lies ahead;

heal us from the hurts of the past;

give us courage to follow your call in this moment.

For your love is the only power,

the only home, the only honour we need,

in this world and in the world to come. Amen.

~ by Sarah Dylan Breuer

Where the River Flows: As the Season of Creation draws to a close, we imagine God’s future as a river running through the community of creation. All that is touched by God’s love experiences healing and flourishing, and so, we consider how we might enter the flow. River shows how the flow of love refreshes and changes all that it touches. We, too, can be channels of care in our world, moving with Spirit, bringing healing and compassion to all we encounter.

Hymn/Song: Let all creation dance

Let all creation dance In energies sublime

As order turns with chance Unfolding space and time

For nature’s art in glory grows And newly shows God’s mind and heart

God’s breath each force unfurls Igniting from a spark

Expanding starry swirls With whirlpools dense and dark

Though moon and sun seem mindless things Each orbit sings Your will be done

Our own amazing earth With sunlight cloud and storms

And life’s abundant growth In lovely shapes and forms

Is made for praise a fragile whole And from its soul heav’ns music plays

Lift heart and soul and voice In Christ all praises meet

And nature shall rejoice As all is made complete

In hope be strong all life befriend And kindly tend creation’s song

Benediction

Go now as people of the river. May the God who placed a rainbow in the sky
give you faithfulness. May the risen Christ, who met his disciples in the garden, give you hope.

May the Spirit, who moves like living water through creation, make you a source of healing wherever you flow.

Go in peace, to refresh the weary, to protect what is precious, and to join the river of life that is already flowing through the world. Amen.

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