Stewards of the Earth

Lower School Chapel

April 15, 2015

Opening Sentences
It is God who has given you the earth for a dwelling
place and the heavens for a canopy.
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to God: As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen.

Opening hymn

Opening Prayer
God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all

that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor
you with our substance, and, remembering the
account which we must one day give, may be
faithful stewards of your bounty.
Amen.

A Reading from the Quran

It is God who sends water down from the sky and with it revives the
earth when it is dead. There truly is a sign in this for people who listen.
From the fruits of date palms and grapes you take sweet juice and
wholesome provisions. There truly is a sign in this for people who use
their reason. And your Lord inspired the bee, saying Build yourselves
houses in the mountains and trees and what people construct. Then feed
on all kinds of fruit and follow the ways made easy for you by your
Lord. From their bellies comes a drink of different colors in which there
is healing for people. There truly is a sign in this for those who think.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to our community.

Thanks be to God.

A Reading attributed to Chief Seattle

Teach your children what we have taught our children that the earth is
our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of
the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. This
we know. The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth. This
we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and
daughters of earth. We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a
strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, We do to ourselves.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to our community.

Thanks be to God.

Homily - Ms. Bean

Prayers of the Community

Prayers of the Community

We call upon the earth, our planet home, with its beautiful
depths and soaring heights, its vitality and abundance of life,
and together we ask that it:
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the mountains, the high green valleys and

meadows filled with wild flowers, the snows that never
melt, the summits of intense silence, and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the waters that rim the earth, horizon to

horizon, that flow in our rivers and streams, that fall upon
our gardens and fields, and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.
We call upon the land which grows our food, the nurturing
soil, the fertile fields, the abundant gardens and orchards,
and we ask that they:
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the forests, the great trees reaching strongly to

the sky with earth in their roots and the heavens in their
branches, the fir and the pine and the cedar, and we ask
them to:
Teach us, and show us the way.

We call upon the creatures of the fields, the forests, and the
seas, our brothers and sisters the wolves and deer, the eagle
and dove, the great whales and the dolphin and we ask them
to:
Teach us, and show us the way.

And, we call upon all that we hold most sacred, the presence
and power of the Great Spirit of love and truth which flows
through all the universe to be with us to:
Teach us, and show us the way.

Finally, we also pray for the concerns on our hearts this day,
named in this silence Loving God, look with compassion
upon us and all who turn to you for help. Give us strength,
courage and hope now and in the days to come.
Amen.

Closing hymn

Blessing and Dismissal

May the God of peace give us peace at all times and
in all ways.
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the
power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God!