2 October 2025 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Sounds

Gathering Music

Now is the Cool of the Day
Words & Music by Jean Ritchie

Then my Lord said unto me, “Do you like my garden so fair?
You may live in the garden if you keep my grasses green
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 is a garden, the garden of my Lord
And God walks in this garden
In the cool of the day.

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

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

Gathering Words

Three Creation Poem
(From A Tear at the Edge of Creation, by Marcelo Gleiser)

Salomon Hsu, Jacsam Ramadhan, Francis Osuji

BURST
There were no witnesses
to what was about to happen.
“Happen” didn’t exist;
Reality was timeless, permanence.
Space didn’t exist.
The distance between two points was immeasurable.
The points themselves could be here or anywhere,
hovering and bouncing. Infinity tangled into itself.
Suddenly, a trembling
a vibration
an ordering began.
Like roiling waves, space shuddered and swelled.
What was near became far. What was now became past.
Space was born with time.
Mention space and we think contents.
Mention time and we think change.
And so it was.
Space bubbled; time unfurled.
Matter coalesced from the joint heaving of space and time,
seeping out of its pores.
But hold on.
This was no ordinary matter, no mundane substance
Like us.
This matter stretched space,
made it inflate like a swelling balloon.
This balloon became our Universe.
LIFE!
There were no witnesses
to what was about to happen.
There was water and there was earth;
Inert matter rained from the skies.
Heat scorched the land, dried the seas.
The world was aglow. Smoke choked the air.
Sometimes.
What air was this? What land? What seas?
Tremblors rumbled the roiling soil, mixing.
Waves lapped the land, mixing.
Some things sank; others bubbled up.
Then, a time of cooling; ephemeral peace.
A surge of combinations and reactions; slime in motion.
Accidental shapes; random splitting.
A chaining of stuffs; an attraction of likes.
A growth that outgrew others,
encompassed others.
Circling and twisting it became two.
And so it was.
Two became four, and grew.
Life began; or something like it.
Not like us
But us nonetheless.
FEAR OF DARKNESS II
An old man sits in the dark
thinking of his dead lovers.
Night had fallen fast, faster every day…
A star blinks in the distance. An invitation to eternity?
Invisible worlds so far to see.
Do they still love me up there? Are they stardust now?
He dreamed of certainties
where none exists.
Hoping to fill the emptiness,
He looked beyond and saw nothing.
An owl screeches in the distance.
The old man smiles. He is still here.
He picks up the phone. Who should he call?

Opening Song

“They’ll know we work for Justice by Our Love”
(W&M: Peter Scholtes, New W (“Justice x Love”): Mary Shapiro)

We are one in the Spirit we are one in our words (2x)
We raise one voice together so the voiceless will be heard

Chorus:
And they’ll know we work for justice by our love by our Love
Yes they’ll know we work for justice by our love

We will walk with each other we will walk hand in hand (2x)
and together we’ll spread the news that hope is in this land….
Chorus

We will stand for each other we stand side by side (2x)
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each others’ lives…
Chorus

Welcome Remarks and Opening Prayer

Albarka Wakili

Scripture Reading

Youngeun Kim

Romans 8:18-25
Future Glory
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in[n] hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Anthem

Seminary Choir

“I Am Your Mother”
(Words: Shirley Erena Murray, Music: Mark Miller)

I am your Mother
Do not neglect me
Children protect me
I need your trust
My breath is your breath
My death is your death
Ashes to ashes
dust into dust

I am your nurture
Do not destroy me
Love and enjoy me
Savor my fruit
My good os your good
My food is your food
Water and flower
Branches and root

I am your lodging
Do not abuse me
Tenderly use me
Soothing my scars
My health is your health
My wealth is your wealth
Shining with promise
Set among stars

God is our Maker
Do not deny God
Challenge defy God
Threaten this place
Life is to cherish
Care or we perish
I am your Mother
Tears on my face

Voices of Creation

Janice Marie Beauchamp, Ndaie Paul Lumbala, Abi Harper

Empty Chairs Eco-Reflection

(Written by Adrian Mendoza)
Led by: Dr. Laurel Kearns

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Beth Quick

Communion Stewards: Valter Gregorio Carolina Alderete

A Creation Care Sung Communion Liturgy

Tune: BUNESSAN, 55.54 D
Text: Beth Quick, 2022, 2024.

Come, let us gather, come to the table!
Lift up your hearts to give joyful praise.
God, we adore you. We, your creation,
gather before you to offer thanks.

All earth is holy, full of your glory:
Life-giving water, ground ‘neath our feet
Wind of your spirit, Breath that inspires us,
Creatures abundant, blessings replete.

In thanks we gather, feast set before us.
Though we’ve been lost, you beckoned us home.
Root us and ground us, source of our being;
With you entangled, never alone.

Taking the bread, Christ gave thanks and broke it.
“This is my body, my life for you.”
Grain of the fields from plentiful harvest.
Eat and remember. Share and renew.

Taking the wine, Christ blessed it and poured it
“Cup of forgiveness, promise made new.”
Fruit of the vine, a sign of abundance,
Drink and remember this gift for you.

Make of these gifts Christ’s life and Christ’s body.
Pour out your spirit; fill us with love.
In you shall flourish all of creation.
You make us partners; send us to serve.

Sharing in the Bread and Cup

Songs During Communion
“For the Beauty of the Earth,” vs. 1, 2, 3, & 6, “How Great Thou Art,” vs., 1 & 2