Worship Words – April 25, 2021

Whether you you working with the RCL texts or the NL, or marking Earth Day, here are some words you can use or adapt for worship or for your own meditation, here are some thanks to members of our RevGals community (and beyond). If you can please give credit in video descriptions or print versions, that would be great, though spoken verbal attribution is not necessary.

From Kathy Swaar – Prayer for Easter 4 – B

Based on Psalm 23 I John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18

Shepherd us, Holy One.
Companion us through darkness and distress,
through chaos and fear,
through upheaval and uncertainty,
through life and death.

Shepherd us, Father and Mother of Mercy.
Still the roiling waters of our worry and concern,
and lead us to rest and relaxation.
Nurture us with the Bread of Life
and the Cup of Salvation.

Shepherd us, Sacred Presence.
Restore in us trust and hope, openness and goodwill,
that we may in turn offer
kindness and mercy, love and grace,
not just in words, but in concrete ways.

Shepherd us, Author of Life,
that we may shepherd others.

If you are marking Earth Day this week:

Prayer of Blessing for the Earth – Rev. Nancy Best

Creator God, we come to you in gratitude for the gifts of this earth. You breathed your holy breath Ruah, and out of the spinning galaxies, a planet coalesced. You populated it with your beloved children, all living breathing creatures are yours. We fly above the earth, swim in the abundant waters, and walk on the firm land.

Indigenous peoples honour the Great Spirit, Mother Earth, Father Sky. We celebrate Turtle Island, land of our birth. We nurture this planet with all, sharing, educating, and rejoicing. We give thanks for all in ages past, and present who cherish this planet and take careful stewardship of it and its inhabitants. We savour the sights, smells, sounds, touches and nourishment we get, body and soul from the abundance of plants, animals, birds, insects, and swimming beings. May we teach our children and grandchildren into the seventh generation and beyond to hold all that we have gently and reverently.

Bless our planters, flower beds, gardens and fields as we rededicate them into your care this spring. We give thanks to our planters, farmers and gardeners who beautify our homes and countryside and produce a multitude of fresh, nutritious, scrumptious food. Meegwetch Creator, Amen.

From two United Church of Canada Colleagues: Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington and Rev. Mike Perreault, with their permission.

I was captivated by Earth As An Apple.

Onward Easter People – Rev. Catherine MacDonald – Tune: Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward Easter people, risen with our Lord.
Loving, caring, sharing, spread his living Word.
Death no longer holds him, we can plainly see.
Christ is resurrected, we have been set free.
Onward Easter people, risen with our Lord.
Loving, caring, sharing, spread his living Word.

I discovered this wonderful FREE songbook entitled Here’s A New Day by Helen Wiltshire. Check out All Creation found on page 15. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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If you have written words for worship in this strange new world that you are willing to share, please send us an email: revgalblogpals at gmail dot com.