I Speak for the Bees

Service of Worship

Prelude – Hani

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
J.S.Bach
Public Domain

Welcome and Opening Prayer

Opening Prayer
Come and worship Christ,
the visible image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of creation,
the eternal God:
the one through whom all things were created,
and in whom all things are held together.

This is our God!
Let’s worship together.

Opening Hymn — #2146 His Eye is on the Sparrow

1. Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion my constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

Refrain
I sing because I’m happy I sing because I’m free
For His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

2. Let not your heart be troubled
His tender words I hear
And resting on His goodness
I lose my doubt and fear
Tho’ by the path He leadeth but one step I may see
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

Refrain

3. Whenever I am tempted whenever clouds arise
When songs give place to sighing
When hope within me dies
I draw the closer to Him from care He sets me free
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me

Refrain

His Eye Is On The Sparrow (Why Should I Feel Discouraged)
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel | Civilla Durfee Martin
© Public Domain

Scripture Reading — Genesis 9:8-17 (NRSV)

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.a 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Children’s Time with Ms Becky

Announcements, Joys and Concerns, and Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer
O God,
We thank you for this earth, our home;
for the wide sky and the blessed sun,
for the ocean and streams,
for the towering hills and the whispering wind,
for the trees and green grass.

We thank you for our senses
by which we hear the songs of birds,
and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat,
and taste autumn’s fruit,
rejoice in the feel of snow,
and smell the breath of spring flowers.

Grant us a heart opened wide to all this beauty;
and save us from being so blind
that we pass unseeing
when even the common thorn bush
is aflame with your glory.

For each new dawn is filled with infinite possibilities
for new beginnings and new discoveries.
Life is constantly changing and renewing itself.

In this new day of new beginnings with God,
all things are possible.
We are restored and renewed in a joyous awakening
to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be. Amen.

Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory — Marshall, Richard, Leah and Margie

For the Beauty of the Earth
F.S. Pierpoint | Arr. John Rutter
© 1980, Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Used by Permission.
CCLI License # 656051 | ONE LICENSE Streaming License: M-401420

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Ever-present God who speaks in thunder and earthquakes and in the softest whisper: we long to hear your voice over all the noise of the world this day. In a world so divided and polarized, we need to hear not only the voice of the Shepherd but the cries of other sheep who are being marginalized, forgotten, and abandoned. May the gifts we offer today be our response to hearing the one who speaks in the language of love and compassion. In his holy name, Amen.

Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
I Speak for the Bees

Closing Song – Marshall and Richard

Benediction

May the Spirit of God, who is above all and in all and through all,
fill you with the knowledge of God’s presence in Earth
and the pulsing of Christ within you.
Go in peace!
Serving Christ and loving all creatures!

Postlude – Hani

With a Song Ringing
Ross Anderson
© 2000 Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE Streaming License: M-401420