God’s People Gather … Acknowledgment of Land
Special Song by Richard George
Call to Worship:
One: Holy Spirit, Life-Giver, Who moved over the waters of creation, who led your people through the waters of the Red Sea to liberation, who descended like a dove above the waters of Jesus’ baptism, draw us together as we gather in your name, seeking replenishment for your task of repairing the world.
All: Creator God, We thank you for your love in all creation, Especially for your gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. We ask your blessing on this gathering as we come together as your people, bringing our many stories and traditions, mingling the waters of our experience and our faith. May we find strength and refreshment in those waters. Amen.
(From The Vision and Practice of Jubilee: May 2000)
Hymn: VU 710 Shall We Gather at the River (Kwak’wala/English)
Shall we gather at the river,
where bright angel feet have trod;
with its crystal tide forever
flowing by the throne of God?
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.
Khapbi kgu um kla unts laki
Laka ekia awinagwis a
Lak uk a sasa es a kis
Lak gatla a sas God.
Kegl kha pbi kgu um klints laki
Ka ekia ekia kgawis nahwa,
Khapbi kgu gla wa nahwe es akia
Lak qatla asas God.
Ere we reach the shining river,
lay we every burden down;
grace our spirits will deliver,
and provide a robe and crown.
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.
Soon we'll reach the shining river,
soon our pilgrimage will cease,
soon our happy hearts will quiver
with the melody of peace.
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.
Words and music: Robert S. Lowry, 1884; Old Kwak’wala translation: Edward Walkus Sr. and others English words copyright © Public Domain. Old Kwak’wala translation: Edward Walkus Sr. and others copyright © permission on file. All rights reserved
Prayer of Water:
“Be praised my God for Sister Water who is useful, humble, precious and pure.” As St. Francis prayed in great gratitude for Sister Water, we pray in thankfulness for her life sustaining generosity. Oh, water, in your mysterious beauty you cause the desert to bloom.
One tiny drop spread collected with thousands of drops waters seeds and future harvests to feed us and all creatures. One tiny drop multiplied quenches our burning thirst. Our bodies, like the body of earth, are over seventy-five percent water. We are a water people. We are a water planet. Oh compassionate God, Creator who breathed over the waters we seek forgiveness for our mindless use of water. We beg for wisdom to know how to conserve and cherish water, We ask healing for the ways that we disrespect and contaminate our sister. In times of drought we wait and watch for the gift of rain upon the earth. We watch and wait for the rain of grace into our souls. Come free us from hatred, greed, fear, and our lack of love for your gifts upon earth. Transform us into living streams of water flowing green and moist with life, hope and love for earth and all peoples. We pray this prayer in the name of God who is gracious Creator, Jesus who is Eternal Word, and Spirit who is Wellspring of Wisdom. Amen.
(Sr. Joan Brown, Ecological Ministry of the Social Justice Office, Archdiocese of Santa Fe)
Storytime: “River Reflections”
To Hear God’s Word
1st Reading: Genesis 8:20-22; 9:12-17
Psalm 104: 27-33
2nd Reading Matthew 28: 1-10
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.
Sermon: “River of Life: A Theology of Renewal”
Offertory Hymn: MV 144 Like a Healing Stream
Like a healing stream in a barren desert,
Spirit water bringing life to dusty earth,
God is trickling through our lives as in a dream unfolding, promising revival and rebirth…
like a healing stream.
Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden,
Spirit water come to nourish tiny seed,
God is bubbling through the soil to coax a new creation,
yearning for an end to want and need… like a gentle rain.
Like a river strong with a restless current,
Spirit water rushing on to distant shore,
God is carving out a channel in a new direction,
calling for an end to hate and war… like a river strong.
Like a mighty sea reaching far horizons,
Spirit water with a love both deep and wide,
God is working in our hearts to shape a new tomorrow:
God will always challenge and provide!
Like a mighty sea, like a river strong,
like a gentle rain, like a healing stream.
Words and music: Bruce Harding. Words and music copyright © 2003 Bruce Harding, www.evensong.ca All rights reserved. Used with permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net License #A-720359 (#118517).
The Doxology: VU 541 “Praise God From Whom . . .”
Offertory Prayer: Creator God, whose Spirit moved over the face of the waters, who gathers the seas into their places and directs the courses of the rivers, who sends rain upon the earth that it should bring forth life: we praise you for the gift of water. Create in us such a sense of wonder and delight in this and all your gifts, that we might receive them with gratitude, care for them with love, and generously share them with all your creatures, to the honour and glory of your holy name. Amen
Prayers of the People
The church / The authorities
The World / The Local Community
Those in need / The departed and those who grieve
(refrain is sung)
Creator God, we thank you that there are different paths to wholeness. We see the wonder of your creation all around us, in the singing birds and the flowing water. We give thanks for the opportunity to share, and for everything you have given us. We give thanks for connectedness to one another, for interconnectedness with the whole created world and the entire cosmos. We give thanks that you have made us part of a creation so rich and complex that our every need can be met if we live in right relationship.
Like a Healing Stream in a barren dessert
We give thanks for laughter, for humour, for the many different ways we are able to be together and in community in this sacred place and in our day to day lives. We thank you for the global community of which we are a part, and for the amazing diversity of languages and cultures which surround us. Help us to find a new appreciation for difference, knowing that you created difference and diversity out of chaos. Help us find respect for the different paths that people take. Remind us that we are in communion with you and in community with all creation.
Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden
Give us a thirst for justice, Holy One, for we need it. Inspire us to follow Jesus’ path, and to remember the compassionate anger he showed when he saw the suffering of others. Despite the riches you have given us, many go hungry and thirsty in the midst of plenty. We do not believe this is your vision for any of us. Forgive our human failings, and prod us to find new ways of being in right relationship with all creation.
Like a river strong with a restless current
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn: MV 138 My Love Colours Outside the Lines
My love colours outside the lines,
exploring paths that few could ever find;
and takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
My Lord colours outside the lines,
turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
and takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
body and soul need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die,
and realize there are worlds outside the lines.
My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.
We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
body and soul need a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die,
and realize there are worlds outside the lines.
My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.
Words and music: Gordon Light. Words and music copyright © 1995 Common Cup Company. All rights reserved. Used with permission. OneLicense.net License #A-720359 (#119027).
The Blessing:
Threefold Amen
Announcements:
Reprinted and podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359. All rights reserved.
Mission Focus this month is Kairos Canada
Bible Study 5pm this Tuesday at the church and via Zoom
ARK Youth Group 5 pm this Tuesday Sept 29 at the church, for youth ages 11 to 15
Bishop Logan’s virtual online retirement party Oct 23 and optional retirement gift. Cash gift deadline is Oct 4, and mail in cheque deadline is Oct 16 in Victoria. Details on our website.
A Drink Blessing
God bless to us this drink
Give water to all who are thirsty
And a thirst for justice to all who are quenched
God bless to us this drink
(Simeon Mitchell/Christian Aid. Based on a table blessing from Argentina)
