Order of Worship

26 November 2023

We are on unceded O’odham and Hohokam land.

This piece of earth that we call Shadow Rock

is Indigenous land.

Indigenous people are not part of the past. They continue to share their talents and gifts among us, amidst ongoing colonialism and oppression. Their contributions and their historical care of this land are worth our acknowledgment and gratitude.

Land acknowledgement is a small part of supporting Indigenous communities. We have much work left to do. This statement is part of our best efforts to stand in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives and with all oppressed people.

A Service of Gratitude

Prelude ~ Native American Flute

Shared by Jenn Steege

Welcome and Announcements

Pastor Ken

Opening Words

Led by Pastor Ken

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called

to create a world where every person is radically

affirmed and barriers between people become

bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.

Call to Worship

Led by Peter Johnston

One: O sing to the Lord a new song! God has

done marvelous things. God has made

known the beauty of Creation. Let us give

thanks to God as we steward the earth.

All: We give generously to all from all God has given to us.

One: We give of our time to care for each other.

We give of our time to care for the earth.

We give of our time to care for all of

creation. We give of our talent and treasure,

clapping our hands and rejoicing.

All: We give generously to all from all God has given to us.

Singing Our Faith ~ Now, Thank We All Our God

1. Now thank we all our God

with heart and hands and voices,

whom wondrous things have done,

in whom God’s world rejoices;

who from our mothers' arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God

through all our lives be near us,

with ever-joyful hearts

and blessed peace to cheer us,

to keep us in God’s grace,

and guide us when perplexed,

and free us from all ills

of this world and the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God

the Creator now be given,

the Son and Spirit blest,

who reign in highest heaven

the one eternal God,

whom heaven and earth adore;

for thus it was, is now,

and shall be evermore.

Gathering and Centering Prayer

Shared by Pastor Ken and Travis Meyers

Celebrations and Celebration Song

Led by Pastor Ken

At this time, we share moments from our lives: birthdays,

anniversaries, and words of peace and justice. We celebrate

sorrows and grief as part of our comprehensive view of life.

Give voice to goodness!

Celebrate your heart and your spirit.

Celebrate your life while you live it.

Even when it’s hard to do,

celebrate the best of you!

Celebrate your dreams and your visions.

Celebrate the love you’ve been given.

Cherish all that you’ve been through.

Celebrate the best of you!

Offerings and Offertory ~   It's A Great Day

Shared by Travis Meyers by Daniel Scott

Dedication of Our Offerings

Led by Susan Wadell

We give these gifts freely. We receive these gifts gratefully. We dedicate these gifts to the work of our congregation: serving human wholeness, caring for our planet, upholding religious freedom, welcoming the stranger, and loving one another.

Word About Life With Thanksgiving Litany

Led by Worship Leaders and Jenn Steege                

The litany is a Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. This

translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee This

Address was developed and published in 1993, provided courtesy of

Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project. It is available

online via The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

The People (Peter Johnston)

Today we have gathered, and we see that the cycles

of life continue. We have been given the duty to live

in balance and harmony with each other and all living

things. So now, we bring our minds together as one

as we give greetings and thanks to each other as

people.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother (Cindy Gattorna)

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she

gives us all that we need for life. She supports our

feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that

she continues to care for us as she has from the

beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings

and thanks.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Waters (Marilyn Rampley)

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for

quenching our thirst and providing us with strength.

Water is life. We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers, and

oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and

thanks to the spirit of Water.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Fish (Susan Wadell)

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the

water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the

water. They also give themselves to us as food. We

are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we

turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and

thanks.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Plants (Barb Zaborowski)

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As

far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working

many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With

our minds gathered together, we give thanks and

look forward to seeing Plant life for many

generations to come.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants (Travis Meyers)

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the

Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the

beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and

berries have helped the people survive. Many other

living things draw strength from them too. We

gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send

them a greeting of thanks.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs (Sue Stuart)

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world.

From the beginning they were instructed to take

away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to

heal us. We are happy there are still among us those

special few who remember how to use these plants

for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and

thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the

Medicines.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Animals (Peter Johnston)

We gather our minds together to send greetings and

thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have

many things to teach us as people. We are honored

by them when they give up their lives so we may use

their bodies as food for our people. We see them

near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad

they are still here and we hope that it will always be

so.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Trees (Cindy Gattorna)

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth

has many families of Trees who have their own

instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter

and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful

things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a

symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we

greet and thank the Tree life.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Birds (Marilyn Rampley)

We put our minds together as one and thank all the

Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The

Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they

remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was

chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds—from the

smallest to the largest—we send our joyful greetings

and thanks.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds (Susan Wadell)

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four

Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they

refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us

to bring the change of seasons. From the four

directions they come, bringing us messages and

giving us strength. With one mind, we send our

greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers (Barb Zaboworski)

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the

Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering

voices, they bring with them the water that renews

life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things

made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds

together as one to send greetings and thanks to our

Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Sun (Travis Meyers)

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest

Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the

sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day.

He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind,

we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

All: Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon (Sue Stuart)

We put our minds together to give thanks to our

oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-

time sky. She is the leader of women all over the

world, and she governs the movement of the ocean

tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it

is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children

here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and

thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Stars (Peter Johnston)

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across

the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night,

helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing

dew to the gardens and growing things. When we

travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds

gathered together as one, we send greetings and

thanks to the Stars.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers (Cindy Gattorna)

We gather our minds to greet and thank the

enlightened Teachers who have come to help

throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in

harmony, they remind us of the way we were

instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send

greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.

All: Now our minds are one.

The Creator (Marilyn Rampley)

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great

Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts

of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is

here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still

around us, we gather our minds together as one and

send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to

the Creator.

All: Now our minds are one.

Closing Words (Pastor Ken)

We have now arrived at the place where we end our

words. Of all the things we have named, it was not

our intention to leave anything out. If something was

forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such

greetings and thanks in their own way.

All: Now our minds are one.

Words For Mission   

Led by Travis Meyers

One: We depart this place taking with us grace and

gratitude.

All: Let this week of mindful celebration

strengthen us for work and joyful

service. Let the mind of Christ and the

Spirit of all Creation be in us all.

One: These are the times!

All: We are the people.

One: All of Creation is blessed!

All: May we love all and serve all!

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.

Sending Forth Song ~ Joy to the World

by Three Dog Night

Jeremiah was a bullfrog

Was a good friend of mine

I never understood a single word he said

But I helped him drink his wine

And he always had some mighty fine wine

Singin'

Joy to the world

All the boys and girls, now

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

Joy to you and me!

Sermon Reboot is ON for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.