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May today’s observance of the Autumnal Equinox

free us to embrace the tensions between light and darkness, heat and cold,

wet and dry, life and death which manifest the diversity, individuality, and communion of all things in the Mystery of God!

Invitation to Worship

Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!

We make the Sign of the Cross over our  lips as we begin.

O Holy ONE + open my lips,

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

Let all creation praise the greatness of God!

Let the universe extol the glory of Adonai!

 

MORNING HYMN

Creative God, you spread the earth with life in many forms:

the deer and elk and columbine, the bee in humming swarms.

Forgive us for each flow’r and bird now vanished by our hand.

Teach us to treat with loving care the creatures of the land.

 

The planet teemed with living things before all human birth,

and even fire and beasts of prey renewed the life of earth.

Forgive us, that the last to come, we threaten sea and air;

Teach us to tend life’s fragile web with wise and tender care.

 

O playful God, you fill the field with lavender and blue.

You paint the bird with indigo, with red or tawny hue.

Forgive us that we grieve your heart, destroying what you do,

and teach us simpler, gentler ways to live on earth with you.

_{Text: Ruth Duck (1991) ruthduckhymnist.net Tune: KINGSFOLD CMD}

 

SERVICE OF THE WORD

PSALMODY

 Antiphon

Praise God, and highly exalt God forever!

St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation

Most High, Almighty God,

Good and Holy One!

All praise, glory, and honor

and exaltation are yours!

To you alone do they belong,

And no mere mortal dares pronounce your Name.

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Praise to you, O Adonai our God,

through all your creatures:

first through our dear Brother Son,

who gives us the day and illumines us with his light;

fair is he, in splendor radiant,

bearing your very likeness, O Holy One!

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Through our Sister Moon,

and through the bright shining stars

which you placed in the heavens

clear and precious and beautiful!

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Through our Brother Wind,

for fair and stormy seasons

and all of heaven’s varied moods,

by which you nourish all that you have made.

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Through our Sister Water,

so useful, and lowly, so precious and pure.

Through our Brother Fire,

who brightens up our darkest nights:

beautiful is he and eager,

invincible and keen:

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Through our dear Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us

and who produces varied fruits

with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Through our Sister Bodily Death,

from whom no mortal can escape. 

Blessed are those whom death will find 

in Your most holy will,
for the second death

shall do them no harm.

Be praised, O Loving God!

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;
Give God your endless thanks
serving with humility and joy.

Praise God, and highly exalt God forever!

READING   JOEL 2:21-24, 26

Fear not, O land! exult and rejoice!
for ADONAI has done great things.
Fear not, beasts of the field!
for the pastures of the plain are green;
The tree bears its fruit,
the fig tree and the vine give their yield.
And do you, O children of Zion,
exult and rejoice in ADONAI, your God,
Who has given you the teacher of justice:
and  has made the rain come down for you,
the early and the late rain as before.
The threshing floors shall be full of grain
and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
You shall eat and be filled,
and shall praise the name of ADONAI, your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you.

Responsory

R. God looked at everything in creation, *God  named everything very good!
V. Light and darkness, Sun, Moon, and the stars,  *God  named everything very good!
V. Earth and Sea, Sky and Birds, Fish and all Creatures, *God named everything very good!  V. Human beings in God’s image and likeness,  *God named everything very good!   R. God looked at everything in creation, God  named everything very good!

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Antiphon

It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the beginning of the Gospel Canticle.

Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,

Who visits this people to set us free

Raising for us a sign of salvation

In the house and family of David.

 

God promised throughout past ages

In words of holy prophets

To save us from our enemies,

And from the control of our oppressors.

 

Adonai favored our ancestors

And remembered the sacred covenant.

The pledge to Abraham and Sarah

Is now renewed for us;

 

That freed from the grip of our foes

We might worship without fear

And be both just and holy

For the rest of our days.

 

And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”

Will go ahead to prepare the way,

By teaching this people of salvation

Through forgiveness of their sins.

 

For the loving compassion of the Holy One

As the Rising Sun will shine upon us

To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow

To guide our feet on the way of peace.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

and to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen.

All creation is waiting with eager expectation

Litany of Intercession

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, by our Brother, Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him.  ~May light be shed on all your people that they may see your likeness in one another and your glory in all of creation.

 

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, through our Sister, Moon, and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.  ~May the nations of the earth, upon whom they look down each night be blessed with your peace.

 

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, through our Brothers, Wind and Air, Clouds and Storms, and all the weather through whom you nourish all creatures on Earth; ~May the heavens drop dew  from above and the clouds rain down justice for all Earthkind. 

 

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, through our Sister, Water; ~May we be cleansed of selfishness and greed and share her life-giving refreshment with the poor, the downtrodden, and those who are ill, or in trouble of any kind.

 

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, through our Brother, Fire, through whom you brighten the night and restore fields and prairies;  ~Kindle in us the fire of your love that our lives may brighten a world darkened by hatred and greed.

 

You are praised, O HOLY ONE, through our Sister / Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs; ~ Give us the wisdom and will to work with her to provide freedom, flourishing and fullness of life for all creation.

 

Be praised, O HOLY ONE, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.  Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Prayer of Jesus

Our Dear Abba in heaven, holy be your name!

Your Kin-dom come, your will be done on Earth as in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Do not bring us to the trial, but deliver us from evil.

For the Kin-dom, the power and the glory are yours

now and forever.

Closing Prayer & Blessing

O Holy One, Source, Guide and Goal of all Creation,

open our eyes and our hearts to see you in the beauty of the universe where all things speak of you.  Seize us with your power and light, to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of the beauty and love, the justice and peace of your Reign.  For you are full of loving kindness for your whole creation and with your creatures we glorify you: Abba, Word and Holy Breath of Love, now and forever.

~ Amen!

 

May the God of the Cosmos +  bless us with reverence, wonder and care for all of creation.   Amen.

 

Let us bless Adonai!    ~Thanks be to God.