St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Celebration of Creation Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost Holy Eucharist, Rite II November 8, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. Celebrating the story of the Universe from the beginning, from the first flaring forth to emergence of Planet Earth and all her creatures
Gathering Prelude: Creation Will Be at Peace
Anna Laura Page St. Peter’s Bell Choir
The Universe Story: A Cosmic Walk Our liturgy opens with narration of the Cosmic Walk by Bill Roth, as enacted by our Walker, Rick DeKalb. The Walker journeys on our behalf, lighting candles along the Cosmic Timeline as our Great Story unfolds. All but the Walker and Narrator will remain seated during this time.
Opening Affirmation Celebrant People Celebrant People
Celebrant People
In the name of the Creator, the fountain of life, in the name of Christ, the pulse of life, and in the name of the Spirit, the breath of life. Amen. Holy! Holy! Holy! Earth is filled with God’s presence. Christ, we come into your presence to worship in this sanctuary called Earth, a planet pulsating with your presence, a presence quivering in the forests, a presence vibrating in the land, a presence pulsating in the wilderness, a presence shimmering in the rivers. God, reveal yourself to us in this place, and show us your face in all creation. Holy! Holy! Holy! The whole earth is filled with your glory.
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Hymn of Praise: 400, All creatures of our God and King (vv. 1-4)
Prayer of the Day Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. 2
Creating God, by your Eternal Word, you said, “Let there be light,” and the entire cosmos exploded into being; help us gauge the vastness of your universe, from the subatomic to the transgalactic; and give us grace to know ourselves loved by such a creator in Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, world without end. Amen. Listening to God’s Word First Reading: 1 Chronicles 16 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 65:5-13
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5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. 6 By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. 7 You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples. 8 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
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10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. Second Reading: A Song of Brother Moon and Sister Sun Francis of Assisi Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, to you be ceaseless praise outpoured, and blessing without measure; from you alone all creatures came; no one is worthy you to name. My Lord be praised by Brother Sun, who through the skies his course does run, and shines in brilliant splendour; with brightness he does fill the day, and signifies your boundless sway. My Lord be praised by Sister Moon, and all the stars that with her soon will point the glitt’ring heavens. Let wind and air and cloud and calm, and weathers all, repeat the psalm. By Sister Water, then be blest most humble, useful, precious; chaste. Be praised by Brother Fire: cheerful is he, robust and bright, and strong to lighten all the night. By Mother Earth my Lord be praised; governed by you, she has upraised what for our life is needful. Sustained by you through every hour, she brings forth fruit and herb and flower. My Lord be praised by those who prove in free forgivingness their love, nor shrink from tribulation. Happy, who peaceably endure: with you, Lord, their reward is sure. By Death, our Sister, praisèd be, from whom no one alive can flee. Woe to the unpreparèd! But blest be those who do your will and follow your commandments still. Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, to you be ceaseless praise outpoured and blessing without measure. Let every creature thankful be And serve in great humility.
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Gospel Hymn: 8, Morning has broken (sung in its entirety before the Gospel)
Gospel: John 1:1-5, 10-14 Before the Gospel the people respond: Glory to you, Lord Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the 5
world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. After the Gospel the people respond: Praise to you, Lord Christ. Sermon
The Rev. Emily Richards
Creation Creed We believe that God creates all things, renews all things, and celebrates all things. We believe Earth is a sanctuary, a sacred planet filled with God’s presence, a home for us to share with all creatures. We believe every creature joins us in praising God. We see many suffer with Earth because of human crimes against creation. We believe that God became incarnate as a part of Earth, Jesus Christ, that he lived and breathed and spoke among us, suffered and died on a cross, for all human beings and for all creation. We believe that the risen Jesus Christ fills the whole creation, reconciling all things to God, renewing all things. We believe the Spirit renews life in creation, groans in empathy with every suffering creature, and waits with us for the rebirth of the whole creation. We believe that with Christ we will rise and with Christ we will celebrate a new creation, reconciled, restored, and renewed. Amen. Prayers for Creation Season The Leader and People pray responsively
from Women’s Uncommon Prayers
Let us pray for the Church and for the world, giving thanks for God’s goodness. Caring God, we thank you for your gifts in creation: for our world, the heavens tell of your glory; for our land, its beauty and resources, for the rich heritage we enjoy. We pray for those who make decisions about the resources of the earth, that we may use your gifts responsibly; 6
for those who work on the land and sea, in cities and in industry, that all may enjoy the fruits of their labors and marvel at your creation; for artists, scientists and visionaries, that through their work we may see creation afresh. Silence We thank you for giving us life; for all who enrich our experience. We pray: for all who through their own or others’ actions are deprived of fullness of life, for prisoners, refugees, and all who are sick or suffer; for those in politics, medical science, social and relief work, and for your Church, here and throughout the world, for all who seek to bring life to others. Silence We thank you that you have called us to celebrate your creation. Give us reverence for life in your world. We thank you for your redeeming love; may your word and sacrament strengthen us to love you as you love us. Silence We ask your prayers for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Daniel, our Bishop, Silvestre, Bishop of Guatemala, Emily & Laura, our clergy and each one of us in our vocation and ministry. In the Anglican cycle of prayer we for Pray for the Church in the Province of the West Indies, The Most Revd. Howard Gregory - Primate and Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. In our companion Diocese of Guatemala, we pray for Iglesia Episcopal Santo Tomas Apôstol, (Saint Thomasʹ Apostle Church), San Miguel Petapa, The Rev. Carlos Flores & The Rev. Nimia Mancia. In our own Diocese, we pray for Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Advancement of Christianity. We remember all those on our parish prayer list, especially Debbie, Angie, Robin & Baby Harry, Frances, Katie, Richard, Bob, Hannah, Art, Doris, Warren, Christina, Holly, Kathy, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Ruth, and all those suffering from COVID-19, and all those we now name….(pause) We remember all those who have died, especially Gene Ferguson, and all who have died from COVID-19, and all those we name now… Silence 7
God, Creator, bring us new life. Jesus, Redeemer, renew us. Holy Spirit, strengthen and guide us. The celebrant concludes with this prayer God, our Creator, whose glory fills our planet, help us to discern your vibrant presence among us and our kin in creation, especially in the mysteries of the forest. Help us to empathize with your creatures who are suffering and to serve you as agents for healing your creation. In the name of Christ, who reconciles and restores all things in creation. Amen. The Peace Please remain in your pews for this exchange. Greet one another with a wave and words of peace. Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.
Journey to the Table The Offertory Please leave your offering in the plate by the lectern at the end of the service as you exit.
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Presentation Hymn: 416, For the beauty of the earth (vv. 1-4)
The Great Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer C Celebrant: People: Celebrant: People: Celebrant: People: Celebrant:
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The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise. God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise. People: Glory to you for ever and ever. Celebrant: At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. People: By your will they were created and have their being. 9
Celebrant: From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another. People: Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight. Celebrant: Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace. People: By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed. Celebrant: And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The Celebrant continues And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me." After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me." Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving, Celebrant and People We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming. The Celebrant continues Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Lord God of our Mothers: God of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy 10
Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name. People: Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread. The Celebrant continues Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN. And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, The Lord’s Prayer (Contemporary Version) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
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The Breaking of the Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread. A period of silence is kept. Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia. Celebrant: This is the true bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. The Communion of the People Communion Music: Let’s Break Bread together
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Gus Mercante Countertenor solo
The Post-Communion Prayer During a Time of Separation Priest and people together Lord of the Feast, we thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.
Sending Forth The Blessing May Love be the gardener of your years, bringing forth from your grounding in God a harvest of wholeness and peace; a bounty of courage and compassion. May your soul tower with the strength of the cedars; your heart pound with the power of the sea. May joy rise in you like the mountains and may it be the blessing you share with all those you love; Who this day make merry that in you the great love of God has found a home on earth. -A Lebanese Blessing Closing Hymn: 376, Joyful, joyful, we adore thee (on page 14) Birthday & Anniversary Prayer
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O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace; and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Announcements The Dismissal The people respond: Thanks be to God. Postlude: Psalm 19: The Heavens Declare
Benedetto Marcello
Special thanks to our guest soloist, Gus Mercante, for joining us this morning.
Today’s worship experience will focus on our place in creation; our relationship to all that is, “seen and unseen”, and to one another. You are invited to join us in this unique ministry as we celebrate the glory and birth of our universe from the beginning of time and space, to the formation of Earth, and the emergence of life to the present. Our liturgy opens with the Cosmic Walk; a ritual first imagined in the mid-1980s by Dominican Sr. Miriam MacGillis OP, founder and director of Genesis Farm, an ecological community dedicated to understanding the Universe and Earth as a single, unfolding process. The Walk has since been revised and reenacted across the planet in many contexts, cultures and spiritual traditions. This science-based story offers profound insights to inform and energize our personal, public and spiritual lives. This is our sacred story.
Service Resources: http://www.letallcreationpraise.org/united-states-ecumenical/episcopal-creation-season, Episcopal Ecology at eenonline.org.
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Closing Hymn: 376, Joyful, joyful, we adore thee
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