(Animal Blessing used with permission from George Lezenby.)

10:15 a.m.

October 26, 2014

www.colonialucc.org

913-362-7735

The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its

animals are treated. -Mahatma Gandhi

2

The Colonial Church in Prairie Village—United Church of Christ

“A” for Animal Blessing Sunday Worship Service in the Series bless!

Please silence your mobile phone in preparation for worship

* Please rise in body or spirit

WE GATHER AS GOD’S PEOPLE

GATHERING MUSIC Toccata in D minor BWV 565 -J.S. Bach

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You

can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.)

MOMENT OF FOCUS

Genesis 1:24-31 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

of 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 of the sky, and everything crawling on the ground."

Then God said, "I now give to you all the plants on the earth that yield seeds

and all the trees whose fruit produces its seeds within it. These will be your food. To

all wildlife, to all the birds of the sky, and to everything crawling on the ground – to

everything that breathes – I give all the green grasses for food." And that's what

happened.

God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good.

* CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Bless the Lord, all you creatures of Earth…

People: and forget not all God’s benefits.

Leader: Let us pray together:

3

All: LORD, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this

world; that, inspired by Francis of Assisi, we may delight in your whole

creation.

God, you have made us and all living things. We thank you for giving us

these companion animals who bring us joy. As you take care of us, so

also we ask your help so that we might take care of those animals who

trust us to look after them. By doing this, we share in your own love for all

creation. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

* SONG OF PRAISE — GLORIA #759 ADAPTED

Glory to the Creator, and to the Christ, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.

World without end. Amen. Amen.

* SHARING GOD’S WELCOME (Greet everyone in the hope of peace and friendship.)

CHILDREN’S CONVERSATION WITH WINK – THE ONE-EYED WONDER (Children of all ages are

welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Blessing of the Animals,

children are welcome to remain to worship or to attend our Sunday School.)

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

(Bring your companion animal up to the chancel for a blessing. As the animals

are blessed, remain seated and sing To You, O God, All Creatures Sing, which is

#17 in our hymnal.)

Blessing Prayer

Creator, we bless you praise, glory, and honor!

To you alone do all things belong.

Be praised for giving us the animals, birds and fish which fill your world. May

we think of you and thank you when we play with and care for our

companions – the ones present here and those in our hearts today.

Be praised for making us so happy for our animals and to have them to play

with. May we always be good to our pets, so that they may be happy also.

Help us always to take care of them so that they will be healthy. O God,

your world is wonderful. This we pray bless and praise you, God. Amen.

4

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

THE WORD IN SCRIPTURE

Acts of the Apostles 2:14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other

eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting

Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as

some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the

morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says,

“I will pour out my Spirit

on every kind of people:

Your sons will prophesy,

also your daughters;

Your young men will see visions,

your old men dream dreams.

When the time comes,

I’ll pour out my Spirit

On those who serve me, men and women both,

and they’ll prophesy.

I’ll set wonders in the sky above

and signs on the earth below,

Blood and fire and billowing smoke,

the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,

Before the Day of the Lord arrives,

the Day tremendous and marvelous;

And whoever calls out for help

to me, God, will be saved.”

THE WORD IN MUSIC O Come, Let us Sing -Cindy Berry

THE WORD PROCLAIMED “Dream On” -Edith Guffey

Express your thoughts via social media at #ColonialUCC.

5

WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER

CALL TO OFFERING AND SOAR STEWARDSHIP MOMENT -Julie Burik

* Doxology (#780 adapted; tune Old Hundredth)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, you heavenly host:

Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen.

* Prayer of Dedication

Lord, bless our commitment Our Church’s Wider Mission. May the work and

witness we share be powerful and effective. Please receive this offering to serve

all the families of Earth in your holy name. Amen.

TIME OF PRAYER

Prayers of the People

Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each

expression, the pastor will say:

Lord, in your mercy.

And the people may respond:

Hear our prayer.

Praying in Silence

The Lord’s Prayer -Josephine Forsyth

Sung by bass Chris Carbin

6

WE DEPART TO SERVE

* HYMN #31 All Things Bright and Beautiful

* RENEW OUR COVENANT (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the

promise of our covenant.)

We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the

presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit

and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God’s help we will honor

Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of

Christ throughout the world.

* CONGREGATIONAL SONG OF BLESSING #809 God Be With You

God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again.

O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again.

* BENEDICTION AND POSTLUDE Fugue in D minor BWV 565 -J.S. Bach

Liturgist: Mariam Flemming

Children’s Conversation: Annette Karr

Greeter: Missy Flachsbarth

Head Usher: Stacy Huggins

Ushers: Chester Bender, Linda Moses, Harry and Kendra Morrison

7

United Church of Christ Devotional by

8

Day One – Read Luke 10:1-9

“You wil be asked to turn towards – and not away from – airstrikes, earthquakes, and

national elections because there is strength in numbers.” (bless! materials used with permission.)

Jesus sent teams out to bless and organize to help people. The church continues to do

the same. Our worship of God pushes a church community out towards the needs of the

world.

How is acting in community different from acting on your own?

Many have said, “we can accomplish more together than we can apart.” Has this

been true in your church, your workplace, your neighborhood, your family? How

so (or how not)?

Day Two – Read Genesis 1:24-31

This is the scripture we began our worship with on Sunday. It is a part of the first

creation story in the Bible. Particularly consider this: “Take charge of the fish of the sea,

the birds of the sky, and everything crawling on the ground.”

Different Bible translations treat the “take charge” aspect of this command different.

Some use the words “have dominion;” others “rule.”

How you interpret the Hebrew word ָרָדה radah is important. Some people see “having

dominion” meaning the same as dominate. Others regard it with the idea of

stewardship, that human beings are caretakers of the Earth for God.

How do you understand the role of human beings in relation to Creation?

What does that mean to the relationship between animals and human beings?

Do you see human beings as being entirely distinct from animals?

Colonial Church Study Guide

9

10

11

12