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No one truly
knows Christ unless they follow Him daily in life" -
Hans Denck
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Thank you for joining us in worship
today. If this is your first time at Staunton Mennonite,
please fill out the “Welcome” card in the back of the pew and place
it in the offering plate. |
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Easter 2: Creation Care
Call
to worship
(from Psalm 104)
People - -
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
Leader - You are clothed with honor and majesty,
wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent.
People - - Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Leader - By the streams the birds of the air have their
habitation;
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
People - - Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Leader - You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate
to bring forth food from the earth,
and wine to gladden the human heart,
oil to make the face shine,
and bread to strengthen the human heart.
People - - Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Leader - The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has its home in the fir trees.
People - - Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great
Offering prayer
With all that we have and all that we are, we honor you. Restore us, O
God, to live in freedom and trust.
Confession and Words of Assurance
Leader - Loving God, we remember Jesus taught us to pray, “Our
Father...”
All - You created us, you made this world,
and you called your creation very good.
Yet often we forget that you are our loving Parent
who continues to bless your world.
Leader - Jesus told us that you are “...in heaven...”
All - Yet we fail to live in awe of you.
We take you for granted, and we don’t see the
awesome beauty of the world you have made.
Leader - We pray, “Hallowed be your name...”
All - We confess that our reverence for you does not always
lead us to care reverently for your earth, sky and sea.
Leader - We pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven...”
All - We confess that we often put our own interests first -
exploiting your creation, and living for our own
convenience and self-interest.
Leader - We pray, “Give us today our daily bread.”
All - We confess that we consume more than our share
of the world’s resources, while billions go hungry
every day and your whole creation suffers.
Leader - We pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those
who sin against us.”
All - We confess that we see these words only in spiritual terms,
while the Bible is filled with teachings about
economic justice and creation care.
Leader - We pray, “Save us from the time of trial.”
All - Help us to resist the temptations of spending more,
using more, acquiring more, and wasting more.
Leader - We pray, “Deliver us from evil...”
All - Free us from greed and self-centeredness
that separate us from you and others.
Leader - We pray, “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours now and forever.”
All - Help us to know that in caring for your wonderful world,
we are working for your kingdom, being good stewards
of your creative power, and giving you glory.
Leader - We pray, “Amen.”
All - We end our prayers with “Amen,” a word that means
“let it be so.” We know we can be faithful disciples
by your grace. Amen!
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