A Creation-Inclusive Liturgy

Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 1 of 9 Full text A Creation Inclusive Liturgy for Holy Communion in an ecumenical setting. ***DRAFT APRIL 2024 Introduction, intimations, notices. Including arrangements for those who choose not to receive elements etc Opening (words from Job 12, Luke 21) Just ask the animals, and they will teach you... birds in the sky, and they will tell you; speak to the Earth, they will instruct you, let the fish in the sea inform you. And look to all the trees, for: Which of all these does not know that to God belong wisdom and power. Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 2 of 9 Full text Song 1 Prayer of Approach and Confession God, Life’s Sustainer : in the mystery of love; God, known in Jesus ruling by serving; God the Empowering: freeing your people. We bless you today, God the Three. Dear God, deepen our kinship, face to face with Creation! Truly, the majesty of the mountains and the intricacy of the rock-pool build up our awe and wonder to join with all creatures and sing out your praise! How then, faced with such beauty and mystery do we still fashion gods in our image? We have called you “endless” - so worshipped endless growth. -as if the Earth were single-use. We have called you “powerful” - so bowed down before corporations who still plan the end of the life we have known. We have drowned out the voices of partners in your covenant: human and otherwise. We proclaim good news to the rich whilst stones scream in face of our silence. And when, finally, we acknowledge human responsibility still we ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable be hit hardest: by rising seas; by failing crops and water; Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 3 of 9 Full text by transition without justice. We have planned small steps which should have been first steps. but stopped there. -Preaching that crisis was distant. -Lusting for control and perfection, even as we crucify the earth. Whew. All this truth could get us down! but this ground is holy and we are welcome: Forgiven, before we have put things right by Jesus who says: “do not worry about tomorrow - you’re up to your eyes in it today!” Just. Change. and God will be with you with courage, faith, and cheerfulness through hard paths that do lie ahead and saints like Columba, like Brigid, like Patrick, like Francis, and those, unknown, with whom we pray. Silence KYRIE [Sung] Or Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Declaration of Forgiveness God of Good Earth, by the Breath of life, in Christ, - Father Son and Spirit - Show us our place and purpose set free to heal let it be so: AMEN Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 4 of 9 Full text Introduction to reading As the rain comes down to water the Earth, Listen for God’s Word, through reading of Scripture with the help of the Spirit, AMEN Reading (s): Song 2: REFLECTION: Song 3: A Creation- inclusive statement of Christian faith We trust Love who is God before us, beyond us and urgently now. Maker, Remaker of life, and life’s limits. God: working with Earth, God: attending to birth; decisive, co-operative, with seas and with skies. God for justice by choice. to be praised by all breathing.... We trust Jesus our Friend Incarnate in Earth; Who lives life with creatures who knows of their frailness Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 5 of 9 Full text through flesh, blood, and birth and dependence on care. Christ who loves, heals, and warns and repurposes Scriptures; Christ who honours the welcome of God in the stranger, God’s wisdom in creatures, our kin. Jesus: Welcomed with branches, then nailed to the Tree. Abandoned to Death: Earth alone could receive him. The third Day Christ rose to Life Renewed: and is with us as surely as Sky; We trust God the Spirit Wild Wind of beginnings beyond our control and yet harnessed for justice; Reshaping perceptions. Breath of life; Spirit of healing and forgiveness: God with us urgently now. Prayers of Concern [appropriate for the day] Offering We continue our worship in the giving of our offering CELEBRANT: All that we have and all that we are Is from God, and given for the Good of the Earth. So here we return a token of such wealth asking that all that passes through our hands be used to God’s glory Blessed be God forever Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 6 of 9 Full text Narrative/invitation As human beings we gather round this table as others, at God’s calling flock, shoal or swarm.... Drawn together to receive whom we are: to be more than our communities, or even our churches, can be alone. Like the Earth, we do not own Christ’s table; and like our common home, it’s ‘ours’ only when we share. Yet here, we’re welcome: like those friends Christ first gathered. Welcome for justice; fulfilment and love. Welcome, with prophets and publicans with eco-warriors and dodgy characters with those you’d expect and those you’d rather weren’t here. Welcome to celebrate being a work of God repurposed as friends of Jesus refreshed by bread and wine through human hands, from Earth’s own self on whom, and whom, we feed. ======================= Sursum Corda [these or other words] God be with you and in you And also with you Lift up your hearts We lift them up to God Give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 7 of 9 Full text =================================== Eucharistic Prayer Throughout all ages, as mountains dance and trees applaud the cries of birth are also loud for all to hear and tend. Your Sabbath and Jubilee made space for all Creation’s refreshment. But we made exceptions. Your People sought milk and honey, yet injustice laid lands waste. Your prophets: priests and farmers call us to account. Yet your loving signs of warning fall often by the wayside. And greed and pride inspire harmful choices knowingly embraced. Yet still comes Christ Jesus, friend of wildlife, beloved of the poor scolding the seas teaching with trees, and God’s wildness in Wind, With Christ we shoulder the cross of healing; we shudder at the disaster of truth denied by power, And yet... Risen and present through food and faith Christ calls us afresh to care for a damaged world. Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 8 of 9 Full text SANCTUS ***[Sung , or these words spoken] Holy holy holy God of power shared Sky and soil’s abundant glory: Hosanna: help us God! Hosanna: heal Creation! Blessing of Bread & Wine God, Sustainer, gusting and fluttering life with the good things of the Earth: food and drink we offer; flesh and blood we are. As Jesus did, so do we: We break this bread (bread is broken) We share this wine (cup is raised) We trust that Christ who died is Christ who rose And Christ who comes again Agnus Dei As John said, seeing Christ: [Sung or these words spoken] Lamb of God, you take away what truly harms the Earth; Show compassion: Send your peace The gifts of God that make you God’s people THE COMMUNION THE PEACE Creation inclusive liturgy draft Page 9 of 9 Full text Prayer God-with-Earth, invited and fed at your table we are remade, repurposed. May this food empower us to cherish your Creation who we also are. [And whether our cares be light or heavy, our song be strong or weak, keep our hearts warm, our hands open, our lives ever embracing and embraced by your love Amen] BLESSING as pg 34 in Iona Abbey Worship Book May the everlasting God shield you wherever you go And the blessing of God be upon you the blessing of the Giver of life The blessing of God be upon you the blessing of the Christ of love The blessing of God be upon you the blessing of the Spirit of peace The blessing of the Trinity be upon you now and evermore. AMEN Closing song. =================================================== Offered for devotional use and local adaptation. Writer: Rev DJM Coleman, EcoChaplain, EcoCongregation Scotland. 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