Celebrating God’s Creation
May 8, 2022
Canticle 12 (II: The Earth and its Creatures); Job 12:7-10; Psalm 96:1-11; Luke 12:22-34
Opening prayer: (New Zealand Prayer Book)
God of unchangeable power, when you fashioned the world, the morning stars sang together and the host of heaven shouted for joy; open our eyes to the wonders of creation and teach us to see all things for good, to the honor of your glorious name. Amen.
Today, we are simply pausing to give thanks…and to celebrate God’s beautiful Creation…
We are taking time in the service today, in the hearing of our scriptures, through our prayers, and in our music…to re-focus our attention on being mindful and grateful for the abundant gifts of God, found in creation, given to us and for us, and shown to us everywhere we look and listen…
We are taking time today, to remember our call to share and care for these treasures, for the gifts all around us…and to reflect on ways we might become better stewards of the gifts in Creation…so that our children, and our children’s children, and all generations to come…will be sustained, and fed, and nourished and filled with the fruits and foods of the earth and the waters, and will be filled with the joy and wonders of Creation that never cease to delight us…
Every day, we are faced with worrisome circumstances that happen in our lives, that threaten to steal from our hearts, the joy and wonders found in Creation, that God so wants to fill our daily lives with….
Yet, in our gospel reading today…we are reminded in Jesus’ words of assurance, that we need only turn, and return our gaze once again to all of Creation and God’s creatures we share this world with…to see that God is always with us…and that we need not worry…
Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Here’s another little story that remind us, not to worry...and reminds us that God is present and persistent with inviting us to return our focus again and again to all of Creation and God’s creatures we share this world with…
God, speak to me (unknown)
‘The man whispered, “God, speak to me” and a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear. So, the man yelled, “God, speak to me” and the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, “God, let me see you” and a star shone brightly. But, the man did not see. And the man shouted, “God, show me a miracle” and a life was born. But, the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me, God”, and let me know you’re here; whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.’
Everywhere we walk, God is here…
Everywhere we open our eyes and look… up to the skies, the mountains and the hilltops, God is here…
Everywhere we open our ears to listen, to hear the meadowlark, the roaring of thunder, God is here…
Everywhere we are present to new life all around us, God is here….
Everywhere we are touched by the love of God, through other human beings, through the birds, the bees, the flowers, the fishes, the trees, the earth, the waters, the night-time skies, the rising sun at the break of dawn, the grass beneath our feet, and the beauty and gentleness of the brush of a butterfly’s wings…God is here…
Today, and other times throughout the week and coming months and years….I invite you to simply pause and give thanks…and celebrate God’s beautiful Creation, where-ever you are…
Let us pray: A Prayer of Joy (Becca Stevens, Love Heals)
Let the sun set in bands of orange and pink. Let the waves move like an alleluia choir. Let the dandelions scatter confetti seeds in celebration. Let the moon smile as it wanes. Let the children’s songs be heard. Let my heart feel the joy it was meant to hold. Amen.
Rev Julie Platson
St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK
Hymn after the sermon reflection: How Great Thou Art (vs 1 & 2)
1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!