A Service for Sustainable September: a liturgy by Ecochurches WA, an activity of the Social Justice Board of the Uniting Church in Western Australia. The liturgy has been reproduced in full here, but the lectionary readings from the New Testament have been replaced by readings requested by our guest speaker, Dr Matthew Anslow.
INTRODUCTION
The atmosphere and the sky we see surround us, cradles us, sustains us and can be a source of wonder.
We take for granted that there should be clean air to breath.
We marvel in the blaze of stars in a night sky away from city lights.
As we worship God today we embrace our wonder for the skies.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FIRST PEOPLES
We gather in acknowledgement of the Dharawal Peoples, the first inhabitants of the place where our congregation usually meets, who dwelt here and cared for the land of old.
We gather attentive to their wonder and stories of sun, moon and stars,
And we come in commitment to the ongoing journey of reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Through sun and shadow, God’s love will remain.
Through torrent and thunder, God’s love will remain.
Through fog and flurries, God’s love will remain.
Through breeze and bluster, God’s love will remain.
Through cloudless and clear, God’s love will remain.
Through rain and rainbow, God’s love will remain.
Through all that life brings, God’s love will remain.
Come, let us worship God.
SONG Together in Song 186 ‘Stars and planets flung in orbit’. Video by Niall McKay here.
INTERVIEW
John M will interview our guest speaker for today, Dr Matthew Anslow of Uniting Mission and Education.
PRAYER
Holy One,
you cradle each of us with remarkable hope.
You wrap each of us in a deep, mysterious love.
You wipe each tear away with infinite gentleness.
You celebrate each of us for the one-of-a-kind beauty we each possess. May we now celebrate these blessings with open spirits and grateful hearts. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Based on Jeremiah 4:23–28
One: Jeremiah was a prophet who lived a long time ago. Jeremiah, what do you see?
Jeremiah: I see lands made barren and dry, I see the heavens made dark.
One: Jeremiah, why do you see this?
Jeremiah: God’s people have forgotten who they are.
One: Jeremiah, what do you see?
Jeremiah: I see mountains quaking,
I see empty skies with no birds anywhere, I see ruins where there once were cities.
One: Jeremiah, why do you see this?
Jeremiah: God’s people have forgotten who they are, And now it is time for them to remember.
One: Jeremiah reminded people long ago of what they had forgotten. Jeremiah’s words remind us of what we forget.
When lands turn barren,
when skies are empty of wings,
when cities become ruins:
we have forgotten that we are God’s people. (silence for reflection)
One: Many years after Jeremiah, Paul – a follower of Jesus – tried to help people remember.
Paul, what are you writing?
Paul: A letter to God’s people.
One: Paul, what do you say to them?
Paul: I tell them to hold fast to God’s word of life,
that they might shine like bright stars in the sky.
We will hold fast to God’s word of life.
We will remember that we are God’s people.
One: And may we each shine like a bright star in the sky.
READINGS
Psalm 19:1–4b
The heavens declare the glory of God.
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
Revelation 21:1–5a
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said,”Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”.
REFLECTION: Matt Anslow, Sermon here.
SONG: There is a Thin Place, by Craig Mitchell. Sung by Amelia Koh-Butler and produced by David McGregor here. Used with kind permission during lockdown.
OFFERING
Gracious God,
we thank you for your many gifts to us:
the unfolding of day and night;
the smell of a meal being prepared;
the voice of a friend greeting us;
the feel of a cool breeze against our cheeks. These, and so many more, fill our days.
We now offer these gifts in response
as a sign of our gratitude
and a gesture of our love. Amen
PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
(Includes other prayers as appropriate)
Creator God, we lament the destruction of earth and sky. We pray for all of the people and places that suffer during the climate crisis;
for communities where the air is unbreathable;
for neighbourhoods filled with the smoke and ash of wildfires; for people who live with climate-induced despair or depression.
Creator God, show us how to step back and allow Creation to flourish; how to reduce our carbon footprint;
how to care for Earth and sky and all creatures therein;
how to use our voices to advocate for climate action.
We continue to look to the sky, the movement of the sun, clouds, moon, and stars.
We acknowledge the mystery around us.
Receive all our prayers this day.
Hear our concerns and our dreams;
hear our deep desire to reflect your love to you, to each other, and all of creation.
Amen.
SONG Together in Song 690 ‘Beauty for brokenness’ by the Senior Sunday School choir of St Marks Cathedral in Bangalore.
BLESSING
Grace to you and peace.
May the rain of kindness fall upon you. May each cloud spark your imagination. May the stars’ light give you strength. May the bright blue sky bring you peace.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ Amen
For you, deep stillness of the silent inland; for you, deep blue of the desert skies;
for you, flame red of the rocks and stones; for you, sweet water from hidden springs. From the edges seek the heartlands,
and when you’re burnt by the journey may the cool winds of the hovering Spirit soothe and replenish you.
In the name of Christ.
In the name of Christ.
Prayers have been adapted from the Fusion Resources ‘Seasons of Creation, Pentecost 2, 2021’ – Sky Sunday
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