Earth Day
Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or in person outside. Bring a chair and Join us!
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Thor Raines
Call to Worship (Read Responsively)
Scripture tells us that “creation waits with eager longing for the children of God to be revealed.”
Creation is waiting for us.
To open our eyes to the devastation in our world.
Creation is waiting for us.
To put the needs of the most vulnerable above the greed of the most powerful.
Creation is waiting for us.
To move from doing what is easy to doing what is right.
Creation is waiting for us.
To prioritize the needs of community over the convenience of self.
Creation is waiting for us.
To remove the pollution from our seas, land, air, bodies and hearts.
Creation is waiting for us.
Creation waits for us to assume our roles as its servants and protectors - to answer creation’s call for renewal. Amen.
Opening Hymn “The Earth Belongs to God Alone” Hymnal #715
1) The earth belongs to God alone; hard clay, rich soil, fine sand.
Give thanks wherever food is grown on borrowed holy land.
2) The fertile ground through years of toil has cried for Sabbath rest —
a time of peace for worn out soil so land can be refreshed.
3) All life belongs to God alone, in wilderness and fields.
From fallow land, or plowed and sown, God gives the good it yields.
4) Till God endows the earth once more with Eden’s state of grace,
may we endeavor to restore all land as sacred space.
First Reading
From Greta Thunberg, Swedish climate activist who, at age 16, addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2019 in a speech called “Our House is on Fire.”
Second Reading
Greta’s answer to critics was used as a chant three months later at the March Strike 4 Climate event in Morristown, N.J.
Scripture Lesson Luke 24:13-35 The Road to Emmaus
Message “Are We Crucifying the Earth? Can it be Resurrected?” Dave Johnson
Theme: Ecological practices are spiritual practices.
Our fear and panic lead to action, and action leads to hope.
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory “The Harmony of the Incredible Earth” Handout
by Adam Brooks Webber
2015. Adam Brooks Webber. Music and Lyrics licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. All rights reserved.
1) Oh, blessed is Earth, the prolific and sweet,
providing us plenty of good things to eat.
With life on the surface and treasures below,
what greater abundance could any bestow?
Her fisheries, forests, and fields of grain,
her breathable breezes, her drinkable rain,
the harmony of the incredible Earth!
The harmony of, the harmony of, the harmony of the incredible Earth!
2) Oh, good is the heart that is grateful to Earth
for gifts of a tangible, practical worth,
but better the heart with a reverent joy
in even the treasures it cannot employ:
the scent of the flower, the song of the lark,
the weed in the meadow, the wolf in the dark,
the harmony of the incredible Earth!
The harmony of, the harmony of, the harmony of the incredible Earth!
3) So clever of intellect, nimble of hand,
more able than any to alter the land,
we’re called to be careful, to save and protect,
to serve and conserve and to treat with respect,
that all generations may hear and may see
the song of the whale, the dance of the bee,
the harmony of the incredible Earth!
The harmony of, the harmony of, the harmony of the incredible Earth!
4) Oh, wise is the one with the wit and the will
to nurture the Earth with benevolent skill,
but wiser the one who attends to her song,
who joins in her music and follows along,
who humbly hears the harmonious call of God,
the Creator and Singer of all
the harmony of the incredible Earth!
The harmony of, the harmony of, the harmony of the incredible Earth!
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)
Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.
Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.
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Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711. All rights reserved.
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Calendar of Service -
April 28 - Dr. Keith Ray
May 5 - Rev. Hillary Taylor, SC for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
May 12 - TBD
May 19 - TBD
May 26 - Service and Lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center; NO service at NACCP
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News from Rev. Mike Johnston — “I have completed my radiation for prostate cancer - 5 weeks out and my PSA was 0.03. Doctor was hoping for 0 within 5 months - radiation did its job.” Great news to hear!
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Joanne and Cynthia play in the Handbell Choir at CUMC. Their spring concerts will take place on May 1 and 3. Both are free, and parking is easy. We hope you will consider attending! The Director’s words follow:
It's that time of year, dear friends! The Celebration Ringers of Clemson United Methodist Church offer a free concert, and you have two opportunities to attend!
We will share Hymns We Love to Ring on May 1st (Wednesday) and May 3rd (Friday). In this free concert, we’ll play a collection of well-known hymns—handbell style! So whether your favorite hymn is “Be Thou My Vision” or “Trust and Obey” or maybe even something new, you’re invited to join us in the Clemson United Methodist Church Worship Center on Frontage Road in Clemson, on May 1st at 6:15 pm or May 3rd at 5:00 pm. Hope to see you there!
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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!
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Doug Booth encourages everyone to volunteer at PAWS – there is something for everyone, from socializing with the dogs on-site to taking a dog to lunch to hosting weekend visits. There are many dogs at the facility who crave human interaction. Additionally, don’t forget to bring in any donations of blankets to the church.
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Split Creek Farm will be having its Spring Means Babies Festival on Saturday, April 20 from 10 am until 4 pm. Don’t miss spending some quality time with the baby goats!
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Karen highlighted that the Prayer Tree has been moved into the sanctuary. If you have a prayer request to add to the tree, write in on one of the provided tags and hang it on a branch.
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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)! Bring your non-perishable items to the church. This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.
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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP? Would you like to make this community your spiritual home? Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.
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Remember in prayer: Nancy and Charlie Blakely; Michael Little’s friend Becky; Shea Marsden; Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Jackie Moore; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.
NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions
and the journey to the answers.
Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com
Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford
Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622
Phone: 864-225-3575
Website: naccpchurch.org
Church News: naccpnews@yahoo.com
Instagram: northandersonccp
Facebook: NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian