Gathering Music

Call to Prayer

One: We sing to the Divine a new song
Many: and the cosmos witnesses God’s glory.
One: We see the Holy One in the beauty around us
Many: and the whole earth stands in awe.
One: May the trees of this forest sing for joy
Many: come, let us worship God.

Sung Confession

“Cool of the Day” by Jean Ritchie

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my garden so fair
You may live in this garden,
if you keep the grasses green
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

And my Lord, said unto me
Do you like my garden so pure
You may live in this garden,
if you keep the waters clean
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh, this earth it is a garden,
the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day

And my Lord, she said unto me
Do you like my pastures so green
You may live in this garden
if you will feed my lambs
And I’ll return in the cool of the day

And my Lord, she said unto me
Do you like my garden so free
You may live in this garden
if you keep the people free
And I’ll return
in the cool of the day

Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh, this earth it is a garden,
the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day

First Reading

Revelation 12:1-6 (NRSV)

1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. 3 Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

One: Hear what the spirit is saying
Many: We are listening

Sung Response

“This Is My Mother’s World” UMH #144

This is my Mother’s world,
and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres

This is my Mother’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
Her hand the wonders wrought

Second Reading

Excerpt from “Hymn to Gaia”

Gaia
Mother of all
Foundation of all
The oldest one

I shall sing to Earth

She feeds everything
that is in the world

Whoever you are
Whether you live upon her sacred ground
Or whether you live along the paths of the sea
You that fly

It is she who nourishes you
From her treasure-store

Queen of Earth
Through you

Beautiful children
Beautiful harvests
Come

The giving of life
And the taking of life

Both are yours

Happy is the one you honor
The one who has this
Has everything

…

Holy goddess, you
Honored them
Ever-flowing spirit

Farewell
Mother of the gods
Bride of Heaven
Sparkling with stars

For my child, life
Allow me
Loved of the heart

Now
And in my other songs
I shall remember you

One: Hear what the spirit is saying
Many: We are listening

Silent Reflection

Image:
The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun
William Blake, circa 1805

Sung Response

“This Is My Mother’s World” UMH #144

This is my Mother’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their maker’s praise

This is my Mother’s world:
She shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear her pass;
She speaks to me everywhere.

Unison Prayer

Gracious God, you have given us much today; grant us also a thankful spirit. Into your hands we commend ourselves and those we love. Be with us still, and when we take our rest renew us for your service. As the night heralds the dawn, let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, and new possibilities. Amen.

Blessing

Sending

“Hymn of Promise” UMH #707

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Worship Notes: 

“Hymn to Gaia,” The Essential Mystics: Selections from the World’s Great Wisdom Traditions, ed. Andrew Harvey (New York: Harper One, 1997), 113-114.

William Blake art: https://images.nga.gov/en/search/do_quick_search.html?q=%221943.3.8999%22

Unison Prayer adapted by Kelsey Wallace from: http://anglicanprayerbook.nz/