Order of Service

2012 October 14

Service Leader: Terry Woehr

Welcome and Introduction of Visitors

Announcements

Opening Words:

     Welcome to all our brothers and sisters this morning.

     We enter into this half circle of diversity,
     Celebrating the ways that we upright walking two-legged wanderers share
     With the four-leggeds lounging, lunging and leaping among us,
     With Winged warblers,
     With slithering, sliding snaky beings,
     With circling cavorters in a watery world, and
     With those who carry their house on their backs.

     We look so different, moving according to the way we were made,
     Yet look at us here in this circle,
     We are part of one family sharing one planet,
     May our celebration bring us into a deeper relationship
     With the diverse beings in the interdependent web of all life,
     Remembering we all have common needs
     For safety, care and respect.
     Welcome to all our brothers and sisters gathered here today-and those 
     Who have gathered in our lives who are no longer with us in being

Chalice Lighting:

     As the flame is lit, sing:
     Rise up, o flame, by thy light glowing
     Show us beauty, vision, and joy.

Opening Hymn: #331, Life is the Greatest Gift of All

Candles of Community (including for our animal companions no longer with us)

Responsive Reading: Blessings, by Christine C. Robinson

Meditation

Offering
Doxology

Introduction of speaker: Lord David-Michael Searcy

Sermon: We give Thanks for our furry companions who are at times our children and we Bless them on the life journey.

Blessing of the Animals: Bless the Beasts and the Children

Closing Hymn: #175, We Celebrate the Web of Life

Closing Words/Extinguishing the Chalice:

     Gracious Creator,
     Hear and bless
     Thy beasts and singing birds
     And guard with tenderness
     Small things that have no words.

     Blessed be
     Go in peace!