We are gathered today on the occupied territory of the Sana and Tonkawa People who have stewarded this land for generations.
Litany of Repentance and Longing
In the beginning, the Spirit over the deep;
new life daily unfolding at God’s call.
Darkness and light: Good.
Skies, lands, and seas: Good.
The earth and all that fills it—plants and rocks,
the finned, the feathered, the furry: Good.
At the last, humankind in God’s image: Very good.
Yet we have failed to draw from that goodness
in care for God’s creation.
Forgive us, God, for the ways we have
exploited earth and its creatures.
We have misunderstood our calling
to be protectors of God’s creation.
Forgive us, God, for the ways we
have exploited earth and its creatures.
We long for new relationships with God’s creation
that has been entrusted to us.
Help us, God, to make a new community
with all that lives alongside us.
May the merciful God who calls us
to tend earth and all its creatures,
deepen our knowledge of creation’s interweaving,
so that our lives are shaped in wholeness and peace
with all living things; in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Greeting and Prayer
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Holy God, we thank you for the gift of life.
Recalling Francis who celebrated your love for all creation,
today we embrace our connectedness to all:
to wind, sea, and sky;
to earthworm, giraffe, and chicken;
to fish and puppy, to cats of the jungle and in our homes.
Deepen our care for all that lives;
in the name of Jesus, our teacher, savior, and friend.
Amen.
Readings
The reading of scripture is followed by silence for reflection. Other forms of reflection may also follow, such as brief commentary, teaching, or personal witness;
Psalm 8
Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name throughout the earth!
You made your glory higher than heaven!
From the mouths of nursing babies
you have laid a strong foundation
because of your foes,
in order to stop vengeful enemies.
When I look up at your skies,
at what your fingers made—
the moon and the stars
that you set firmly in place—
what are human beings
that you think about them;
what are human beings
that you pay attention to them?
You’ve made them only slightly less than divine,
crowning them with glory and grandeur.
You’ve let them rule over your handiwork,
putting everything under their feet—
all sheep and all cattle,
the wild animals too,
the birds in the sky,
the fish of the ocean,
everything that travels the pathways of the sea.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!
Genesis 1:20-28
God said, “Let the waters swarm with living things, and let birds fly above the earth up in the dome of the sky.” God created the great sea animals and all the tiny living things that swarm in the waters, each according to its kind, and all the winged birds, each according to its kind. God saw how good it was. Then God blessed them: “Be fertile and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”
There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.
God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living thing: livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” And that’s what happened. God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw how good it was. Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.”
God created humanity in God’s own image,
in the divine image God created them,
male and female God created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and master it. Take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and everything crawling on the ground.”
Blessing of Animals
The leader may invite all who have brought pets (or a picture or toy, in the case of those animals who would not find it a blessing to be present) to come forward for a prayer of blessing.
Holy God, we thank you for the gift of animal’s name in the life of person’s name .
Through this animal you have brought many blessings.
Today we pause to name our gratitude, and to pray a blessing on animal’s name
For the companionship of our pets we say thanks.
Bless this animal’s life in our care; may they know love through all their days.
Amen.
When all have returned to their places, a wider blessing may be offered in these or similar words.
Gracious and loving God,
you place all living things into the care of humankind.
We pray that companionship with household pets will deepen our care for animals everywhere.
Help us to balance our needs with theirs,
and lead us in ways of life together that will be sustainable for all.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Meal
Great Thanksgiving
Dialogue (ELW p. 152)
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 our thanks and praise.
Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heav’n 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.
Thanksgiving at the Table
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom 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.
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.
Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.
Communion Songs
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Gracious God, in this meal you have drawn us to your heart,
and nourished us at your table with food and drink,
the body and blood of Christ.
Now send us forth to be your people in the world,
and to proclaim your truth this day and evermore,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Sending
Announcements
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
Amen.
Sending Song
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Care for God’s Creation!
Thanks be to God.
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