Call to worship
Our world belongs to God—
not to us or earthly powers,
not to demons, fate, or chance.
The earth is the Lord’s.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 7, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
In the beginning, God—
Father, Word, and Spirit—
called this world into being
out of nothing,
and gave it shape and order.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 8, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
God formed sky, land, and sea;
stars above, moon and sun,
making a world of color, beauty, and variety—
a fitting home for plants and animals, and us—
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
[this world is] a place [for us] to work and play,
worship and wonder,
love and laugh.
You have made [us] a little lower than the angels
and crowned [us] with glory and honor.
You made [us] rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under [our] feet:
God rested
and gave us rest.
In the beginning
everything was very good.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 9, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
Made in God’s image
to live in loving communion with our Maker,
we are appointed earthkeepers and caretakers
to tend the earth, enjoy it,
and love our neighbors.
God uses our skills
for the unfolding and well-being of his world
so that creation and all who live in it may flourish.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 10, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
—Psalm 8 NIV
Songs of Praise
“God of Wonders”Byrd and Handalong
“Rejoice in All Your Works” Kimbrough
Call to Confession
Creation sings praises to God, and we join their chorus. But at times creation has a different song to sing. Sometimes creation groans. Our World belongs to God reminds us that:
In the beginning of human history,
our first parents walked with God.
But rather than living by the Creator’s word of life,
they listened to the serpent’s lie
and fell into sin.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 13, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
We see the effects of this sin in the world around us and in human treatment of God’s good world. Please join us in a prayer of confession:
Prayer of Confession
Creator God,
We lament that our abuse of creation
has brought lasting damage
to the world we have been given:
polluting streams and soil,
poisoning the air,
altering the climate,
and damaging the earth.
Song
“All Creatures Lament” (st. 1) Wardell et al.
Sustainer God,
Forgive us for our part, however small,
That we have played in the abuse of creation.
Show us clear paths forward in care for this earth,
So that along with all the church we might
commit ourselves
to honoring all God’s creatures
and protecting them from abuse and extinction,
for our world belongs to God.
—Adapted from Our World Belongs to God, para. 15, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Song
“All Creatures Lament” (st. 3) Wardell et al.
Assurance of Pardon
Let us rise and proclaim together the good news of God’s mercy:
In Jesus, God reconciles the world to himself.
God loves all creation;
his compassion knows no bounds.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 42, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Song
“All Creatures of our God and King” (st. 1, 6) St. Francis of Assisi, Draper
Call to Thankful Living
Life is a gift from God’s hand,
who created all things.
Receiving this gift thankfully,
with reverence for the Creator,
we protest and resist
all that harms, abuses, or diminishes the gift of life.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 44, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, as you hovered over the waters at creation, we invite your presence here as well. May the proclamation of the word instruct us, inspire us and remind us anew of God’s grace and great love for us. Amen.
Scripture
Genesis 2:4–20
Sermon
“Creation Care”
Declaration of Faith
With the whole creation
we join the song:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
He has made us a kingdom of priests
to serve our God,
and we will reign on earth.
God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish,
everything will be made new,
and every eye will see at last
that our world belongs to God.
Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus!
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 58, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.
Sending Song
“Creation Sings the Father’s Song” Getty and Townend
Revised Common Lectionary
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 22
