Sunday 12 September 2021 | Season of Creation: Ecology

Theme: Ecology - Protecting our common home COLLECT Jesus, redeemer of our common home and provider for all of creation; Teach us to value the habitats of all your creatures given into our care, so that we can preserve the world in all of its diversity Inspire us to value your precious gifts and never to take more than we can give, for you live and reign in the diversity of the Blessed Trinity, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen. Reading from Proverbs 1: 20-23 20 Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. 21 At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates, she speaks: 22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. Reading from James 3: 5-6, 8-10 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 8 but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. THE GOSPEL according to Mark 8: 27-38 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Prayer for COVID Author of life, Saviour of the nations COVID is humbling, your grace is sufficient. The deaths, we mourn; For the recoveries, we give thanks; The compassionate care, we applaud; For the vaccines, we are grateful; For compliance, we plead; For the common good, we pray; In the healing name of Jesus. Amen © Rodney Whiteman – 29/04/2021. SENDING OUT All this day O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for you. And every life I touch, may you by your spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe or the life I live. Amen BENEDICTION Walk with love and care on God’s earth. walk with vital awareness of God’s comprehensive vision and purpose for creation. Walk with awe and gratitude to ensure justice to the trees and rivers as well as the person next to you – they are not without purpose in God’s vision. Amen COMMISSIONING Go in peace with courage, to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.