Call to Worship
As we gather together, let us focus our attention upon God our Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we declare with all of creation: “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) Let us pray:

Opening Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order — its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we consider the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Beauty of the Earth
Words by Folliot Pierpoint (1864), Music: DIX

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
Lord of all, to Thee 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.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine, to our world so freely given,
Graces human and divine, flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

Psalm 8 (Translation by Deirdre JVR)
[synth pad underscore]

LEADER: All of creation beckons me to worship You. The grandeur of the universe, echoes Your glory! More than spectacular is the work of Your hands!

PEOPLE: Who can match Your brilliance and authority? You set boundaries for the ocean,
You raise majestic mountains to touch the sky. Sunrise and sunset happens on Your watch.

LEADER: Who is humankind that You are mindful of us,
the frail sons and daughters that You would entrust us rule over all you’ve made?
Who are the peoples of the earth that we get to bare your image?

Who am I that you even notice me?
How can it be that my tears and dreams matter to you? Eternal God – beyond time and space,
Who am I that you lean in when I draw near?

PEOPLE: Wind and sea obey at your command,
yet you invite me to follow You with a whisper. Holy God–you know my hidden sin,
yet you offer new mercies every morning.

Oh Our Lord
Words and Music by David Leonard, Leslie Jordan, Paul Baloche
© 2011 Integrity’s Alleluia! Music; Integrity’s Praise! Music; Integrity Worship Music; Leadworship Songs

We behold the breaking dawn the light that shines over everyone
We look to you, we long for you oh Lord

We behold the rising sun, the earth awakes, your hope has come
We look to you, we long for you oh Lord

Oh, oh, oh our Lord
Oh, oh, oh our Lord
How Majestic is your name in all the earth

We behold the falling rain, like waters rise, flood this place
We reach for you, we cling to you oh Lord

Oh, oh, oh our Lord
Oh, oh, oh our Lord
How Majestic is your name in all the earth

Oh your name is a light in the darkness
Oh your name is the word of truth
Oh your name, oh your name

This Is My Father’s World
Words by Maltbie D. Babcock (1901); Music: TERRA PATRIS

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world: the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!

Offering Prayer

Offertory:
All Creatures of Our God and King (instrumental)
Words by St. Francis of Assisi (1225); Music: LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Prayer of Illumination

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

Sermon

The Lord’s Supper

[instrumental music played or congregational singing]

The Mystery of the Faith

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!

Creation sings the Father’s song; He calls the sun to wake the dawn
And run the course of day, till evening falls in crimson rays.

His fingerprints in flakes of snow, His breath upon this spinning globe,
He charts the eagle’s flight; commands the newborn baby’s cry.

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,
”Hallelujah!” Fill the earth with songs of worship;
Tell the wonders of creation’s King.

Creation gazed upon His face; the ageless One in time’s embrace
Unveiled the Father’s plan, of reconciling God and man.

A second Adam walked the earth, whose blameless life would break the curse,
Whose death would set us free, to live with Him eternally.

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,
”Hallelujah!” Fill the earth with songs of worship;
Tell the wonders of creation’s King.

Creation longs for His return, when Christ shall reign upon the earth;
The bitter wars that rage are birth pains of a coming age.

When He renews the land and sky, all heav’n will sing and earth reply
With one resplendent theme: The glories of our God and King!

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,
”Hallelujah!” Fill the earth with songs of worship;
Tell the wonders of creation’s King.

Benediction

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)