Second Sunday of Creation TimeService of Worship for September 19, 2010by Rev. Karen Boivin Jeremiah 8:18—9:1The prophet laments that time is running out. Psalm 79:1–9, Voices United p. 793People have damaged God’s temple. 1 Timothy 2:1–7Pray for all in authority. Luke 16:1–13A steward uses his creativity for a better future. Call to Worship (based on Jeremiah 8:18—9:1)(Present the Jeremiah reading as the Call to Worship. A person dressed as Jeremiah can read his words, an unseen person can speak the words of God (v. 19c), and the congregation can respond as the Israelites (vv. 19b, 20). Being sensitive to children who may be present, you could choose images to project that illustrate the connection between this text and the current environmental crisis with its effects on our planet and God’s people.) Opening PrayerThrough your mercy, generous God, you answered the cry of Jeremiah for his people. Now we ourselves turn back to you and cry out for your creation, Hymn of Praise“There Is a Balm in Gilead” (Voices United 612) Children’s Moments(Today’s gospel lesson encourages us to be creative when faced with a crisis. In our throwaway society, too many things are constructed not to be repairable, such as electronics. This leads to incredible amounts of waste that threaten our planet. Ask the children what happens when they have a hole in their sock. Today most people throw the sock away. Darning socks is becoming a lost art. Throughout your conversation, either darn or have someone else darn a sock in front of the children. Share that Jesus encourages and helps us when faced with any problem, like too much garbage, to find creative solutions. Ask the children what else the sock could be used for if the hole in it was too big to be darned. If you have repurposed items on display, introduce them to the children with thanksgiving for the thought that went into them. You could also share information about the federally funded Computers for Schools program, which refurbishes old computers for use in schools and other learning centres across Canada, www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cfs-ope.nsf/eng/home, or other repurposing or recycling programs in your area.) Prayer of ConfessionYour ways require time, For you, your earth, and all your children, Assurance of PardonPaul wrote to Timothy Sermon SuggestionsFrom the perspective of the ecology of our planet, Psalm 79 is correct, we have entered God’s temple that is our earth and ruined it in many ways. In the face of that realization, like Jeremiah, many of us are heartsick and aware that time is running out to make amends. What can be done in the face of our uncertain future? In the same way that humanity has misused the gifts of creation, the manager in our gospel parable squandered his master’s property. Having been caught, the manager faced unemployment and an uncertain future because he was unsuited to any other kind of work. He came up with the creative solution of reducing the debts owed to his master in order to win friends among the debtors, who would look after him and his family in the future. The nature of the amount discounted is not revealed, and his methods should most likely not be condoned in the business (capitalist) world. The focus in this reading can be placed instead on tying the innovation of the manager’s approach to the creativity that will be required to reinstate the health of our planet for the sake of future generations. Humanity is called to serve God on earth. However, like the manager’s, our work here is in jeopardy because we have not served our Creator well. Not only have we squandered nature’s gifts, we have also been unfaithful with the less honourable things we have made from them. The time has come to find creative solutions for the environment that take the future seriously and promote living in harmony with nature and all people. These ideas will require that many of us, like the manager, take less and give more to others. We will need to better share with people in need and with the hurting natural world. In his letter to Timothy, Paul reminds us that one of our most important sources of creative solutions is prayer. He assures us that God wishes for us to be saved. The Spirit will stimulate (and is already stimulating) our thinking and give (is already giving) us courage to carry out innovative new ideas to help the planet. Paul also reminds us of the importance of praying for our world leaders and those in authority. It is hoped that they will work together, as we do with our neighbours and colleagues, to find promising solutions and to use their power to promote sweeping changes for the good of our planet. These solutions will certainly require, as Paul suggests, that we lead a quieter and more dignified life, which will in turn also be a more peaceful and godly one. Hymn of Faith“Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest” (VU 522) Prayer of Thanksgiving and SupplicationIn the beginning, Creator God, However, both our spark and nature were also misused Through Christ Jesus, bring us together in this cause. Hymn of Departure“Touch the Earth Lightly” (VU 307) Commissioning for MissionOne idea is interesting. BenedictionMay God, our Creator, who desires our salvation; Visual DisplayA month before the service, invite congregation members to use their creativity to repurpose items that would otherwise be disposed of. Display these items and, if possible, the original item that has been recycled. The Rev. Karen Boivin serves Maxville-Moose Creek United Church in Maxville and Zion United Church in Apple Hill, Ontario. She enjoys attending conferences like Calvin Theological College’s Worship Symposium and the Festival of Homiletics in search of new ideas for worship and preaching.
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