Gathering Music
Welcome and Announcements
Centering
Prelude
“Verdant Meadows”
George Frederick Handel (arr. Van. A. Christy)
Dorothy Bognar, piano
Chalice Lighting and Opening Words
Opening Hymn
#76 “For Flowers That Bloom about Our Feet”
Words: Anonymous
Music: Severus Gastorius
Dorothy Bognar, piano
For flowers that bloom about our feet,
for tender grass so fresh and sweet,
for song of bird and hum of bee,
for all things fair we hear or see: Giver of all, we thank thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
for pleasant shade of branches high,
for fragrant air and cooling breeze,
for beauty of the blooming trees: Giver of all, we thank thee.
For this new morning with its light,
for rest and shelter of the night,
for health and food, for love and friends,
for everything thy goodness sends: Giver of all, we thank thee.
Introduction to the Service
Reflections from Sharon Gresk
Joys and Concerns
Musical Interlude
Reflections from Jim Adams
Offering
Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of August will be split among three area food pantries: MACC Food Pantry, Hockanum Valley Food Pantry and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry.
Offering Music
“My Master Hath a Garden”
Eric H. Thiman
Dorothy Bognar, piano
Reflections from Mary Ellen Vigeant
Musical Interlude
Closing Reflections from Kate Kimmerle
Closing Hymn
#207 “Earth was Given as a Garden”
Words: Roberta Bard
Music: Roland Hugh Prichard
Dorothy Bognar, piano
Earth was given as a garden, cradle for humanity;
tree of life and tree of knowledge placed for our discovery.
Here was home for all your creatures born of land and sky and sea;
all created in your image, all to live in harmony.
Show to us again the garden where all life flows fresh and free.
Gently guide your sons and daughters into full maturity.
Teach us how to trust each other, how to use for good our power,
how to touch the earth with rev’rence. Then once more will Eden flower.
Bless the earth and all your children, one creation: make us whole,
interwoven, all connected, planet wide and inmost soul.
Holy mother, life bestowing, bid our waste and warfare cease.
Fill us all with grace o’erflowing. Teach us how to live in peace.
Extinguishing the Chalice and Closing Words
Closing Circle
May faith in the spirit of life
And hope for the community of earth
And love of the light in each other
Be ours now, and in all the days to come
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