04-Listen

Entrance:

"Draw the Circle Wide," Worship & Song, 3154

(Reader 1) Reading: I Am Leaf [by Nakakakena (Boe Harris)]

In the Spring I am rebirth, a mere leaf on a mighty tree nourished by Creator God
I am Leaf --

In the summer, I shimmer in the daylight sun and welcome the cool breezes of the evening.

I rejoice in my creation, my Creator, and my relationship with all living things --
I am Leaf--

In the fall, I feel my nourishment being drained and I cry out in pleading breath --
"Where are you?"

But in the depth of my connection to my Creator, I know He shall raise me up again --
I am Leaf --

In the winter, I am no more -- as a seed I am dormant --
But He is, always has been, always shall be -- and at His hands . . . so shall I!

I am Leaf, one of the many gifts given to humankind.

"Draw the Circle Wide" " (from div. on)

Word

(Reader 2) Reading: Mark 4:1-9

Silence

A Native American hymn may be sung or Native flute may be played as prelude to the Holy Feast.

Offering of Hospitality and Welcome to the Feast
(To be led by laity)

Welcome family! Welcome relations! Welcome all!
The house of the Creator is our gathering place today.
The feast has been prepared for us all.

Welcome to the table that binds us all together!

God, who walked with our ancestors, who walks among us now,
and who will walk with our children's children for generations to come,
we give you thanks for your presence.

In the air that we breathe, in the sound of rustling leaves and in the waving grass.
we give you thanks for your presence.
In the sound of children's laughter, and in the songs of our elders,
we give you thanks for your presence.

To be led by clergy. Stand as you are able.

(Presider)
Let us help each other stand and take off the robe of mourning.
Lift up your broken hearts.
We lift them up to God

Let us honor God
People: It is right to honor God.

Leader: It is right to honor God and to give our thanks.
People: We give our thanks to God.

Why We Are Here (Reader 2)

We send to you, Creator God, our dreams, visions, and prayers.

The playing of a Native flute or the burning of sage, cedar, or sweetgrass is appropriate at this time.

For our mission,
Let your Spirit move us to honor and respect one another – from the least to the greatest.
May we treat everyone we encounter with dignity and love.
May we affirm the image of the Creator within each one of us.
May we help restore the image of the Creator on earth.
May our words, thoughts, and actions nourish and sustain your creation.

For the Church,
May she lead and dance with honor.
Let all who follow her steps and rhythm know and feel righteousness and strength.
May her regalia exemplify purity and perfection.

For the world,
May the nations of the earth gather to listen to the heartbeat of God.
May they sit in silence as the Great Peacemaker teaches and shows them how to walk upright.
May the war clubs and instruments of destruction be transformed into life-giving means of grace.

For the hearts of the people,
Created with your sacred fire burning within us,
we confess that we struggle to live out of our great potential.
When we do harm to your Creation, your creatures and fellow human beings, forgive us.
When we fail to do all the good we can, in all the places we can, forgive us.
When we turn away from your love and grace, forgive us.

Let us hear now the good news of Jesus Christ,

You are forgiven. I am forgiven. We are forgiven.

(Presider)
Peace be with you.

And also with you

The presider instructs people to pass the peace by word and handshake.

We Prepare for the Feast

(Presider)
Be glorified, Everlasting Light who ends our mourning.

Be glorified, Planter of righteousness whose hands have formed us with strength. Be glorified!

All honor to the Son of God who brings good news to the poor.
All honor to Jesus Christ who brings freedom to the oppressed and sight to the blind. All honor!

All praise to the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness.
All praise to the Sacred Spirit who teaches us how to pray and intercedes on our behalf. All praise!

Jesus Christ, Creator's Son, our brother and friend,
with honor and respect, we remember the great sacrifice of your life for us and for our people.

With awe and humility, we remember the miracle of your resurrection from death.
With faith, hope and trust, we remember the promise you made to return and lead us home.

Creator God, Jesus, Your Son, understood the importance of community and relationship.
On the night he gave himself up for us, he gathered his disciples from many tribes,
and shared a meal with them in preparation for his death and resurrection.

As he stood in the midst of them, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it and gave it to his disciples and said,
"Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

After the meal, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said,
"Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

As the grain was given by Creator God to all peoples of the world,
Jesus Christ was also given to nourish and sustain.

As the fruit of the vine was given by Creator God to all peoples of the world,
Jesus Christ was also given to bind us to God and one another.

As the women from many tribes knead, fold, and make the bread in holy stillness,
so the women tended and cared for the broken body of Jesus Christ:

A sacrifice for us.

Spirit, help us now. Come and breathe into these gifts of bread and juice.

As we receive these gifts into our bodies,
may our breath become the sweet breath of Christ.

Rise up, Nations of God,
Give God your praise!

Rise up, Clans of Nations,
Come together and give God your praise!

Rise up, Bands of Nations,
Lift your hands and give God your praise!

The bread is broken. All share in bread and cup.

Spoken to each as elements are given:

The body of Christ given for you
The love of Christ poured out for you

After all have received, congregation returns to the circle.

(Reader 2)
As the rivers flow, let us hear his song.
As the winds blow, let us hear his whispers.
As the grasses sway, let us see them dance.

As the eagle soars, calm our minds.
Christ's love is always there.
Open our arms to embrace his love.

Let us embrace one another and share his message of love.

Words for the Journey

(Reader 1)
We have taken Jesus into us,
we now go out into the different directions
to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We go out to correct what we did wrong,
what others did wrong,
and sometimes to take the blame for another's mistake
as Jesus did for us.

(Reader 2)
We go out to stand up
for the powerless, the voiceless, and those invisible.

(Presider)
Gracious God, let your mercy and grace fall on us
and give us courage to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Creator God, as we walk from this place
with renewed strength for the journey before us;
let us follow the path of Jesus
as the Spirit guides our steps.

(Reader 1)
Help us to make wise choices in the days ahead,
to serve those in need,
and to remember our place in the circle of life.

Remind us to listen to our elders,
to teach our children the traditions of our people,
to respect one another and all creation.

As we wait for the day
when we will be reunited with you
and those who have gone before us,
keep our hope alive
and our footsteps on the path
toward home.

(Presider)
As we depart from one another, remember,
Creator God was here before we came
and will be here after we depart.
Creator God came in with us
and will stay with us when we depart.
We are all connected to each other
and to our Creator.
All praise to Creator God! Amen.

Reprise and Sending: "Draw the Circle Wide" (from div. on)

Download this service in pdf.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"Draw the Circle Wide" Words: Gordon Light. Copyright © 2008 Common Cup Company Music: Mark Miller. © 2008 Abingdon Press, admin. by The Copyright Company. Used by permission LICENSE TYPE AND NUMBER.

"I Am Leaf" Copyright © 2009 Nakakakena (Boe Harris). Published by the Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church. Used by author’s permission.

Native American Great Thanksgiving, by the Native American Writer’s Group of the Open Source Liturgy Project (Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church). Used by permission under Creative Commons License 3.0 (BY, NC, ND).