Embodied Believing

Call to Worship

In the rising of the morning sun, the Holy speaks:
You are my children. Shine!

In the greening of the Earth and blooming of creation, the Holy speaks:
You are my children. Grow!

In the mountains reaching toward the sky, the Holy speaks:
You are my children. Stand with strength!

In the darkness of the winter days, the Holy speaks:
You are my children. Trust!

In the presence of the skies that float above us and the assurance of the Earth beneath us
And with the calm of the Spirit within us, the Holy speaks:
You are my children. Live!

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Opening Prayer

Creator God, you call us to take on the holiness you have planted within us. In our worship this day, open our eyes and hearts to your movement that longs to make a home in us. So be it. Amen.

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Pastoral Prayer

Maker, Healer, Gatherer God,
You formed our bodies from the dust and called them good.
You made all creation to be in fellowship with one another.
Just as the fungi and the trees have connections so deep that we cannot see them on the surface,
So, too, do we have connections to you and one another.

Remind us of our calling to maintain this world;
Guide us in our pursuit of justice for every body that calls this place home;
Enliven us and energize us with the glow of your love.
May we show that love to every being that comes near to us.

Ever near God, draw us in to see the wounds of the world.
Give us the strength to bear witness.
Grant us the courage to proclaim what we have seen.
Open the ears of all that are there to hear.

God, gather us together in your love;
Strengthen our resolve to collaborate;
Open our hearts to your possibilities.
May it be so.

Written by Rev. Chad Hornsby, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Benediction

May we go from this place to embody God’s love of all creation.
May we rise like those with wings.
May we know the lightness of those that swim.
May we have the courage of the four-leggeds.
And may the Holy be embodied in all our comings and goings, this day and every day.
Go in peace to love and serve our God.

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Rev. Sally Howell Johnson is a retired deacon in the United Methodist Church. She has written and led liturgies in the tradition of Creation and Celtic Spirituality for over 30 years and is the author of two books: Barefoot Zone: Walking the Sacred Path and The Practicing Life: Simple Acts. Sacred Living and writes a blog, Pause, at sallyhowelljohnson.com.

Rev. Chad Hornsby grew up in Brinkley, Arkansas, the native home of the Quapaw and Osage people, working with his family on the rice and soybean farms. In high school, Chad was active in his home Methodist Church. At that time he felt a call to ordained ministry as an Elder to serve churches like the one that raised him. He graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois in May of 2023, and Chad finished a Master of Theological Studies researching Christianization in the Viking Age in May of 2024. Now Chad serves as the Pastor at Vilonia UMC. Chad loves to spend time with his wife, Rev. Miranda Hornsby, and dog, (not Rev.) Sven. In his free time you can find him in nature, learning new skills, playing games, and reading fantasy and history.