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A Prayer of Sorrow

from The United Nations Environmental Sabbath Service

We have forgotten who we are.

We have alienated ourselves from the unfolding of the cosmos

We have become estranged from the movements of the earth

We have turned our backs on the cycles of life.

We have forgotten who we are.

We have sought only our own security

We have exploited simply for our own ends

We have distorted our knowledge

We have abused our power.

We have forgotten who we are.

Now the land is barren

And the waters are poisoned

And the air is polluted.

We have forgotten who we are.

Now the forests are dying

And the creatures are disappearing

And the humans are despairing.

We have forgotten who we are.

We ask forgiveness

We ask for the gift of remembering

We ask for the strength to change.

Tomorrow is Earth Day. It goes without saying that saying that, in language similar to that which we use in the Prayer Book, "we have not loved you [God] with our whole heart; [and] we have not loved God's world." This prayer from The United Nations Environmental Sabbath attempts to remind us who we are.

On December 7, 1972, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt said something telling moments before taking the photo to the left (i.e., The Blue Marble). He said:

"If ever there was a fragile-appearing piece of blue in space, it's the earth right now."

Fragile.

In the image, it certainly looks it, surrounding by immense darkness.

I wonder, is that how we think about the planet on a daily basis, though? Discuss the fragile nature of the world - and yourself - with some close to you this week.

It's one of the BEST Sundays of the year - Youth Sunday! You'll lead us in worship at 10:30 am and we'll recognize this year's graduating senior, Elias Lokken!

Here's what we need:

• OT Testament / NT Testament Lesson Lector - Sara Reed Thompson
• Prayers of the People - Jake Wilder
• Preacher - Elias Lokken
• Ushers - Anne Hatcher Thompson & Leo Salerno
• AV/Tech Support - Ezra Lokken
• Cookies and lemonade servers - 2 needed
• Acolytes
• Flower Rearrangers - 2 needed

Let me know how you want to serve, and I will provide everything you need to lead us!

Inspired by the lives of saints like Francis and Martin or Tours and Therese and Catherine, St. John’s Hero Academy VBS invites children to consider how following Jesus’ call to love and serve others is the most heroic thing of all. Children will create projects in the Hero Maker Design Studio, play high-energy games in the Gamer’s Gauntlet, hear stories of the faithful in the Hero Archives, and relax with a treat or two and the Holy Hero Caf?. All the while, they will discover that we can indeed serve like the saints!

This year, we are partnering with the 3^rd Street Boys and Girls Club once more and hope to show God’s love and care to even more children than last year! But this means that WE NEED YOUR HELP! IF you would like to volunteer to help with VBS, read the volunteer descriptions HERE. Then sign up next to your desired work area with your name and availability HERE.

Acolytes for Sunday

You can find the NEW acolyte schedule from now - June, 2026 HERE!

Questions? Contact Sam

sam@stjohnsdecatur.org |662-656-653