WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE PEACE CANDLE Michelle Cloutier, liturgist
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Wendell Berry, b. 1934
PRELUDE
That Lucky Old Sun
Smith
*OPENING READING
Rumi, 1207- 1273
Today like every other day we wake up empty
and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
*HYMN
Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing Fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rain’s new fall Sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness Where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, Praise every morning,
God’s recreation Of the new day!
SACRED READING
Rig Veda 1.6.3
*HYMN
All Things Bright and Beautiful
31
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Let us prepare ourselves for the word of God as it comes to us in the
reading of Holy Scripture. Our hearts and minds are open.
Psalm 148 page 721
For the word of God in scripture, for the word of God among us, for
the word of God within us. Thanks be to God.
*HYMN
Stars and Planets Flung in Orbit (vs. 1-4)
567
SERMON
Here to Praise
Rev. Kim P. Wells
*HYMN
God of the Sparrow God of the Whale
32
RESPONSIVE READING
Brian Wren, b. 1936
Good is the flesh that the Word has become,
good is the birthing, the milk in the breast,
good is the feeding, caressing and rest,
good is the body for knowing the world,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Good is the body for knowing the world,
sensing the sunlight, the tug of the ground,
feeling, perceiving, within and around,
good is the body, from cradle to grave,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Good is the body from cradle to grave,
growing and ageing, arousing, impaired,
happy in clothing or lovingly bared,
good is the pleasure of God in our flesh,
Good is the flesh that the word has become.
Good is the pleasure of God in our flesh,
longing in all, as in Jesus, to dwell,
glad of embracing, and tasting, and smell,
good is the body, for good and for God,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
*HYMN
For the Beauty of the Earth
28
CREATION JUSTICE COVENANT
Introduction
Commitments
- Communicate through our actions and ministry to all who
encounter our congregation that we cherish the restoration
and renewal of Creation - Educate ourselves and others on critical issues related to
healing and preserving the environment and the impact on all
Creation - Support public policies, regulations, laws, and funding that
benefit the environment and protect vulnerable communities - Participate through advocacy and action in initiatives to
address local and global threats to our environment including
partnering with environmental justice allies in the wider
community - Reduce climate change by decreasing the use of fossil fuels
and lowering our carbon footprint - Encourage individuals in the congregation and beyond to
implement this covenant in their personal lives
Conclusion
MORNING OFFERING
Morning offerings may be brought forward and placed in the plates
on the altar. You are invited to write your prayer requests on the
sheets provided in the bulletin and bring them forward and place
them in the basket on the altar. If you would like assistance, please
turn to someone seated near you.
Offertory
Somewhere, Over the Rainbow
Arlen
*Time of Dedication
Tewa, translated by Herbert Joseph Spinden
O our Mother the Earth, O our Father the Sky,
Your children are we, and with tired backs
We bring you the gifts that you love.
Then weave for us a garment of brightness:
May the warp be the white light of morning,
May the weft be the red light of evening,
May the fringes be the falling rain,
May the border be the standing rainbow.
Thus weave for us a garment of brightness,
That we may walk fittingly where birds sing,
That we may walk fittingly where grass is green,
O our Mother the Earth, O our Father the sky.
*PREPARATION FOR PRAYER
Pray for the Wilderness
557
MORNING PRAYERS- SAVIOR’S PRAYER
O Divine Womb,
birthing forth the river of blessing which runs through all,
Soften the ground of our being,
and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence.
In our depths,
sow thy seed with its greening-power
that we might be midwives to thy Reign.
Then, let each of our actions
bear fruit in accordance with thy desire.
Impart to us the wisdom to bring forth the gifts of the earth
and share them daily according to the needs of each being,
And restore that which has been usurped
by injustice to its rightful owners,
as we restore to others that which is not our own.
Do not let us be seduced
by that which would divert us from our purpose,
but make us sensitive to the moment at hand.
For from thy fertile soil is born the creativity,
the life-energy, and the dance,
from birthing to birthing. Amen.
Poetic Rendition of the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer, Mark Hathaway
*HYMN
To You, O God, All Creatures Sings
17
BENEDICTION
Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321
Strengthen my tongue that it may
Convey even one single spark of all
Your glory to future generations.
*SUNG RESPONSE (please form a circle)
Weave, weave, weave us together;
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
*POSTLUDE
Rainbow of Dreams
HKJ
For the safety and comfort of all, please wear a mask. Thank you!
Circle of Concern: Joyce Lee, Christopher and Dana, Ann Quinn who is
under Hospice Care, William Owen-Cowan, Jen Degroot, Carolyn Moore,
Maggie Brizendine, Janet Hall, Yoko Nogami walking the Appalachian
Trail, All those suffering from COVID-19 and all healthcare workers,
Schools: Students, families, teachers, and staff.
Announcements
Facebook Live The 10:30 a.m. service is being streamed on Facebook Live.
See Weekly Update at the church website for information about: Gubernatorial Forum on Environmental Issues, a Sierra Club program about how to talk about climate change, Sabbatical plans for Rev. Wells.
Water Petitions Petitions are available to sign to get the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters on the ballot as a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution. You are welcome to get others to fill out these petitions and then bring them back to church to be sent in.
Sunflowers If you would like to bring sunflowers for the altar, please inform Rev. Wells or the Church Office.
Special Offering May 22 Next Sunday there will be a special offering for funds to be used to purchase anti racism books for children and youth for the South Branch Library. This is an extension of the project purchasing books for Maximo and Fairmount Park Elementary Schools. The cost of purchasing a set of books for the library is $1,000.
Operation Attack OA needs donations of cereal/oatmeal, mac and cheese, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, soup, and vegetables. Donations may be placed on the shelf in the hallway at church.
Toiletries for Celebrate Outreach Celebration Outreach has an ongoing need for men’s and women’s underwear. (Men sizes 30, 32,34 and Women’s sizes 5,6, 7,8.) Also in high demand are socks of all kinds /sizes for both men & women. Other needed items are Deodorant & disposable razors.
CHURCH STAFF
Pastor– Kim Wells
Music Director– Hilton Jones
Nursery Attendant-Claudia Rodriguez
Lakewood United Church of Christ 2601 54th Ave. S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-867-7961 lakewooducc@gmail.com Lakewooducc.org
On land originally inhabited by the Tocabaga
Lakewood United Church of Christ 