Assess your Church's Carbon Footprint at 360 Carbon
Liturgies, Calls to Worship, and Responsive Readings from the Climate Witness Project
Eco Preacher 1-2-3
Creation Justice Ministries - Bulletin Inserts
UMC Creation Care Tips
Prayers
Adapted from: Every Moment Holy, To Begin a Purposeful Gathering, Andrew Peterson
One: God, we are gathered here, uniquely in all of history; we, a particular people, in this singular time and place.
All: Accomplish your purposes among us, O God.
One: Tune our hearts to the voice of your Spirit.
All: Wake us to be present to you and to one another in these shared hours we are given.
One: For it is you, O Lord, who have so gathered us from our various places,
All: And you alone who know our hearts and our needs.
One: Among us are some who arrive anxious, some who are lonely, some who suffer pain or sorrow.
All: May we in our joys find grace to enter the sorrows of others.
One: Among us are some who arriving rejoicing, hearts made light by good news, good health, and glad anticipation.
All: May we in our sorrows find grace to embrace the joys of others.
One: Let us prize these moments and care for one another deeply— for each of us, and our relationships to one another, are precious and fleeting.
All: Amen.
From: Common Prayer, A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Prayer to Welcome the Sabbath, Shane Claiborne
Lord of Creation,
create in us a new rhythm of life
composed of hours that sustain rather than stress,
of days that deliver rather than destroy,
of time that trickles rather than tackles.
Lord of Liberation
By the rhythm of your truth,
set us free from the bondage and baggage that break us,
from the Pharaohs and fellows who fail us,
from the plans and pursuits that prey upon us.
Lord of Resurrection,
May we be raised into the rhythm of your new life,
dead to deceitful calendars,
dead to fleeting friend requests,
dead to the empty peace of our accomplishments.
To our packed-full planners, we bid, “Peace!”
To our over-caffeinated consciences, we say, “Cease!”
To our suffocating selves, Lord grant release.
Drowning in a sea of deadlines and death chimes,
we rest in you our lifeline.
By your ever-restful grace,
allow us to enter your Sabbath rest
as your Sabbath rest enters into us.
In the name of our Creator,
our Liberator
our Resurrection and Life,
we pray.
Amen.
From: A Prayer of Gratitude for Creation, Fiona Murdoch, Eco-Congregation Ireland
God of the universe,
We thank You for Your many good gifts -
For the beauty of Creation and its rich and varied fruits,
For clean water and fresh air, for food and shelter, animals and plants.
Forgive us for the times we have taken the earth's resources
for granted
And wasted what You have given us.
Transform our hearts and minds
So that we would learn to care and share,
To touch the earth with gentleness and with love,
Respecting all living things.
We pray for all those who suffer as a result of our waste,
greed and indifference,
And we pray that the day would come when everyone has enough
food and clean water.
Help us to respect the rights of all people and all species
And help us to willingly share your gifts
Today and always. Amen.
From: Laudato Si’ encyclical, A Christian Prayer for Union with Creation, Pope Francis
Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!
Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.
Songs
Christ Be Magnified
Cody Carnes
Were creation suddenly articulate
With a thousand tongues to lift one cry
Then from North to South and East to West
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Were the whole Earth echoing His eminence
His name would burst from sea and sky
From rivers to the mountain tops
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
Oh then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We'll sing Christ be magnified
Oh, be lifted high, Jesus
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
I won't bow to idols, I'll stand strong and worship You
And if it puts me in the fire, I'll rejoice 'cause You're there too
I won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true
If the cross brings transformation then I'll be crucified with You
'Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection life
And if I join You in Your suffering, then I'll join You when You rise
And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints
My heart will still be singing, my song will be the same
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
The Earth Is Yours, Gungor
Your voice it thunders
The oaks start twisting
The forest sounds with cedars breaking
The waters see You and start their writhing
From the depths a song is rising
Now it's rising from the ground
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
The earth is Yours
Your voice it thunders
The ground is shaking
The mighty mountains now are trembling
Creation sees You
And starts composing
The fields and trees they start rejoicing.
Beautiful Things, Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change, at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come out from this ground, at all?
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around,
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found, in you
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new,
You are making me new
You make me new,
You are making me new
(Making me new)
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new,
You are making me new
You make me new,
You are making me new
Song: For the Beauty of the Earth, Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1864)
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Refrain:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain]
For yourself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given,
agent of God's grand design:
peace on earth and joy in heaven. [Refrain]
I’m Yours, Casey J
We belong to you Lord
We belong to you
So your songs flow through my lips
Your work move through my hands
Your thought stay on my mind
Live in me (2x)
And you can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
'Cause I'm yours
And I give You all of me
Give you all of me
God here's all of me
I'm yours
God I'm yours
Yes I'm yours
Singing: Your song flow through my lips
(Your song flow through my lips)
Your work move through my hands
(Your work move through my hands)
Your thought stay on my mind
(Your thought stay on my mind)
Live in me (2x)
You can have all of me
(You can have all of me)
Have all of me
Have all of me
Sing I'm yours
I give you all of me
Give you all of me
Give you all of me
I'm yours
Let’s make this our confession!
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
And your love my heart
And here's all of me
God your words my mouth
And your thoughts my mind
And your love my heart
Sing here's all of me
Sing: Your words my mouth!
(Your words my mouth)
Your thoughts my mind
(Your thoughts my mind)
Got Your love my heart
(Your love my heart)
Here’s all of me
Sing: Your words my mouth!
(Your words my mouth)
Your thoughts my mind
(Your thoughts my mind)
Got Your love my heart
(Your love my heart)
You can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
I’m yours
I give you all of me
Give you all of me
Give you all of me
I'm yours
Can we sing it again?
Tell 'em- Your words my mouth
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
And Your love my heart
Here's all of me
Singin' Your words my mouth
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
Your love my heart
Here's all of me
Singin' here's all of me
Singin' here's all of me (5 more times)
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Say You can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
And I'm yours
I give You all of me
Give You all of me
Give You all of me
I'm yours (2x)
God In His Love For Us, Fred Pratt Green (1973)
God in his love for us lent us this planet,
gave it a purpose in time and in space:
small as a spark form the fire of creation,
cradle of life and the home of our race.
Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,
life that sustains us in body and mind:
plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,
riches undreamed of to fathom and find.
Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;
long has earth bowed to the terror of force;
long have we wasted what others have need of,
poisoned the fountain of life at its source.
Earth is the Lord's: it is ours to enjoy it,
ours, as his stewards, to farm and defend.
From its pollution, misuse, and destruction,
good Lord, deliver us, world with-out end!
Shalom, Noah Starr
All the land and skies are crying out in vain
And all the creatures of nature are mourning in pain
Oh the weeping of earth is so quiet to us
But now the dust begins to spin and wake us up
Oh my brother and my sister can’t you hear the sound
Of a whisper that’s coming from the barren ground, the barren ground.....
Chorus:
Bringing all things, oh all things back home
Healing deep wounds to make creation whole
Now restoring a love that we’ve always known
As Divine pulls us into the mystery
Shalom-Shalom-Shalom
Oh the mercy of the Lord has come set it free
And now the people of earth can join this work peace
Within Our Darkest Night, “Dans nos obscurités”, The Community of Taizé
Table of Plenty, Dan Schutte
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty
God will provide for all that we need
Here at the table of plenty.
O come and sit at my table,
where saints and sinners are friends.
I wait to welcome the lost and lonely
to share the cup of my love.
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need
here at the table of plenty.
O come and eat without money;
come to drink without price.
My feast of gladness will feed your spirit
with faith and fullness of life.
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need
here at the table of plenty.
Transition from Eucharist to Meal
Written by Emily Haynes, with adapted section of a prayer from Common Prayer, A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Shane Claiborne
Bread is really important for the people of God.
From the unleavened bread of Egypt, to the manna they ate in the wilderness, to the bread Jesus gave his disciples – bread was this thing that united the people while they received God’s grace.
Today, you are invited today to the fellowship hall as we continue this meal and celebrate as the body of Christ with bread, fresh tomatoes, white bean hummus, fresh greens, and sliced Michigan cheese. This is the culmination of all our meals together!
Let’s pray, and then you are invited to the table! Let’s thank God for these gifts.
Lord God, Creator of all,
In your wisdom,
You have bound us together so that we must depend on others for the food we eat,
The resources we use,
The gifts of your creation that bring life, health, and joy.
Creator God, we give thanks. Amen.
Liturgies, Calls to Worship, and Responsive Readings from the Climate Witness Project
Eco Preacher 1-2-3
Creation Justice Ministries - Bulletin Inserts
UMC Creation Care Tips
Prayers
Adapted from: Every Moment Holy, To Begin a Purposeful Gathering, Andrew Peterson
One: God, we are gathered here, uniquely in all of history; we, a particular people, in this singular time and place.
All: Accomplish your purposes among us, O God.
One: Tune our hearts to the voice of your Spirit.
All: Wake us to be present to you and to one another in these shared hours we are given.
One: For it is you, O Lord, who have so gathered us from our various places,
All: And you alone who know our hearts and our needs.
One: Among us are some who arrive anxious, some who are lonely, some who suffer pain or sorrow.
All: May we in our joys find grace to enter the sorrows of others.
One: Among us are some who arriving rejoicing, hearts made light by good news, good health, and glad anticipation.
All: May we in our sorrows find grace to embrace the joys of others.
One: Let us prize these moments and care for one another deeply— for each of us, and our relationships to one another, are precious and fleeting.
All: Amen.
From: Common Prayer, A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Prayer to Welcome the Sabbath, Shane Claiborne
Lord of Creation,
create in us a new rhythm of life
composed of hours that sustain rather than stress,
of days that deliver rather than destroy,
of time that trickles rather than tackles.
Lord of Liberation
By the rhythm of your truth,
set us free from the bondage and baggage that break us,
from the Pharaohs and fellows who fail us,
from the plans and pursuits that prey upon us.
Lord of Resurrection,
May we be raised into the rhythm of your new life,
dead to deceitful calendars,
dead to fleeting friend requests,
dead to the empty peace of our accomplishments.
To our packed-full planners, we bid, “Peace!”
To our over-caffeinated consciences, we say, “Cease!”
To our suffocating selves, Lord grant release.
Drowning in a sea of deadlines and death chimes,
we rest in you our lifeline.
By your ever-restful grace,
allow us to enter your Sabbath rest
as your Sabbath rest enters into us.
In the name of our Creator,
our Liberator
our Resurrection and Life,
we pray.
Amen.
From: A Prayer of Gratitude for Creation, Fiona Murdoch, Eco-Congregation Ireland
God of the universe,
We thank You for Your many good gifts -
For the beauty of Creation and its rich and varied fruits,
For clean water and fresh air, for food and shelter, animals and plants.
Forgive us for the times we have taken the earth's resources
for granted
And wasted what You have given us.
Transform our hearts and minds
So that we would learn to care and share,
To touch the earth with gentleness and with love,
Respecting all living things.
We pray for all those who suffer as a result of our waste,
greed and indifference,
And we pray that the day would come when everyone has enough
food and clean water.
Help us to respect the rights of all people and all species
And help us to willingly share your gifts
Today and always. Amen.
From: Laudato Si’ encyclical, A Christian Prayer for Union with Creation, Pope Francis
Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!
Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!
Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.
Songs
Christ Be Magnified
Cody Carnes
Were creation suddenly articulate
With a thousand tongues to lift one cry
Then from North to South and East to West
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Were the whole Earth echoing His eminence
His name would burst from sea and sky
From rivers to the mountain tops
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
Oh then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We'll sing Christ be magnified
Oh, be lifted high, Jesus
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
I won't bow to idols, I'll stand strong and worship You
And if it puts me in the fire, I'll rejoice 'cause You're there too
I won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true
If the cross brings transformation then I'll be crucified with You
'Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection life
And if I join You in Your suffering, then I'll join You when You rise
And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints
My heart will still be singing, my song will be the same
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
The Earth Is Yours, Gungor
Your voice it thunders
The oaks start twisting
The forest sounds with cedars breaking
The waters see You and start their writhing
From the depths a song is rising
Now it's rising from the ground
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
The earth is Yours
Your voice it thunders
The ground is shaking
The mighty mountains now are trembling
Creation sees You
And starts composing
The fields and trees they start rejoicing.
Beautiful Things, Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change, at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come out from this ground, at all?
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around,
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found, in you
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new,
You are making me new
You make me new,
You are making me new
(Making me new)
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new,
You are making me new
You make me new,
You are making me new
Song: For the Beauty of the Earth, Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1864)
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Refrain:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain]
For yourself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given,
agent of God's grand design:
peace on earth and joy in heaven. [Refrain]
I’m Yours, Casey J
We belong to you Lord
We belong to you
So your songs flow through my lips
Your work move through my hands
Your thought stay on my mind
Live in me (2x)
And you can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
'Cause I'm yours
And I give You all of me
Give you all of me
God here's all of me
I'm yours
God I'm yours
Yes I'm yours
Singing: Your song flow through my lips
(Your song flow through my lips)
Your work move through my hands
(Your work move through my hands)
Your thought stay on my mind
(Your thought stay on my mind)
Live in me (2x)
You can have all of me
(You can have all of me)
Have all of me
Have all of me
Sing I'm yours
I give you all of me
Give you all of me
Give you all of me
I'm yours
Let’s make this our confession!
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
And your love my heart
And here's all of me
God your words my mouth
And your thoughts my mind
And your love my heart
Sing here's all of me
Sing: Your words my mouth!
(Your words my mouth)
Your thoughts my mind
(Your thoughts my mind)
Got Your love my heart
(Your love my heart)
Here’s all of me
Sing: Your words my mouth!
(Your words my mouth)
Your thoughts my mind
(Your thoughts my mind)
Got Your love my heart
(Your love my heart)
You can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
I’m yours
I give you all of me
Give you all of me
Give you all of me
I'm yours
Can we sing it again?
Tell 'em- Your words my mouth
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
And Your love my heart
Here's all of me
Singin' Your words my mouth
Your words my mouth
Your thoughts my mind
Your love my heart
Here's all of me
Singin' here's all of me
Singin' here's all of me (5 more times)
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Here's all of me
Say You can have all of me
Have all of me
Have all of me
And I'm yours
I give You all of me
Give You all of me
Give You all of me
I'm yours (2x)
God In His Love For Us, Fred Pratt Green (1973)
God in his love for us lent us this planet,
gave it a purpose in time and in space:
small as a spark form the fire of creation,
cradle of life and the home of our race.
Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,
life that sustains us in body and mind:
plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,
riches undreamed of to fathom and find.
Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;
long has earth bowed to the terror of force;
long have we wasted what others have need of,
poisoned the fountain of life at its source.
Earth is the Lord's: it is ours to enjoy it,
ours, as his stewards, to farm and defend.
From its pollution, misuse, and destruction,
good Lord, deliver us, world with-out end!
Shalom, Noah Starr
All the land and skies are crying out in vain
And all the creatures of nature are mourning in pain
Oh the weeping of earth is so quiet to us
But now the dust begins to spin and wake us up
Oh my brother and my sister can’t you hear the sound
Of a whisper that’s coming from the barren ground, the barren ground.....
Chorus:
Bringing all things, oh all things back home
Healing deep wounds to make creation whole
Now restoring a love that we’ve always known
As Divine pulls us into the mystery
Shalom-Shalom-Shalom
Oh the mercy of the Lord has come set it free
And now the people of earth can join this work peace
Within Our Darkest Night, “Dans nos obscurités”, The Community of Taizé
Table of Plenty, Dan Schutte
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty
God will provide for all that we need
Here at the table of plenty.
O come and sit at my table,
where saints and sinners are friends.
I wait to welcome the lost and lonely
to share the cup of my love.
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need
here at the table of plenty.
O come and eat without money;
come to drink without price.
My feast of gladness will feed your spirit
with faith and fullness of life.
Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need
here at the table of plenty.
Transition from Eucharist to Meal
Written by Emily Haynes, with adapted section of a prayer from Common Prayer, A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Shane Claiborne
Bread is really important for the people of God.
From the unleavened bread of Egypt, to the manna they ate in the wilderness, to the bread Jesus gave his disciples – bread was this thing that united the people while they received God’s grace.
Today, you are invited today to the fellowship hall as we continue this meal and celebrate as the body of Christ with bread, fresh tomatoes, white bean hummus, fresh greens, and sliced Michigan cheese. This is the culmination of all our meals together!
Let’s pray, and then you are invited to the table! Let’s thank God for these gifts.
Lord God, Creator of all,
In your wisdom,
You have bound us together so that we must depend on others for the food we eat,
The resources we use,
The gifts of your creation that bring life, health, and joy.
Creator God, we give thanks. Amen.
