Becoming One

Call to Worship

The roots of the Tree of Life run deep into the sacred soil.
The limbs of the Tree of Life reach out to embrace the goodness of all creation.
The trunk of the Tree of Life stands strong in the face of hatred and malice toward the least, the lonely, the left out.
The branches of the Tree of Life struggle toward the heavens, hoping to bring about God’s reign of justice and love for all.
The winds of the Spirit breathe through the Tree of Life, bringing renewal and hope.
May our worship this day be a worthy offering that supports the Tree of Life and brings the goodness of the Sacred to our world.

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Opening Prayer

Gracious Creator, you invite us into relationship with every breath. Settle us, center us, and calm us to the ever-moving flowing of your Spirit calling us to become one with you. We pray in humility and hope of grace. Amen.

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

Pastoral Prayer

Creating God, we look forward to the arrival of your city,
And we recognize our part to play.
The tree of life needs clean water;
The ground needs to be prepared.
Our work has begun.
Guide our hands in seeing to it.

We see that you are calling all people back to you
And that you have charged us with invitation and welcome.
There are those whom we might have called enemies before.
Open our hearts for reconciliation.

Loving God, open our minds to see the vision you have for us.
Allow our imaginations to take control
When our minds say, “That’s not possible.”
Make us dream of a city, not another empire.

Returning God,
Give us urgency
Let us not say what has been said too long,
“The next generation will fix it.”
Raise us up as prophets
To proclaim the good news
That the time has come.

God-throughout-Creation,
Strengthen our hands to do the work
And make them soft to reach out to those on the fence.
Make our city one that knows no division.
Make us a prismatic reflection of your great love for us.

May we be the builders you ask us to be. Amen.

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

Benediction

We are surrounded by the presence of the Holy.
We are held in the love of the Creator.
We are filled with the inspiration of the Spirit.
We are called by the life and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
May we go from this place to live lives that hold this world in care and compassion, dreaming a New Creation as God’s beloveds.
Go in peace…

Written by Sally Johnson, United Methodist Creation Justice Movement

FROM THE ANCIENT BREATH OF WISDOM

Tune Hyfrdol, 87.87 D

From the Ancient Breath of Wisdom,
We, God’s people now have come.
To embody what was spoken
To give life to what was begun.
Clothed in garments of holy boldness
Here we stand on sacred ground.
God’s own image now unfolded
In the glory of sight and sound.

Here we bring our lives of passion.
Here we bring our voice of prayer.
In this place, we speak your Presence
By the stories that we share.
Make us truthful in our telling,
Filled with caring, held in hope.
As we claim your faithful promise,
Blessed on Earth as signs of Love.

In Communion now we gather
Christ’s own body we become.
Women, bring your gifts for living;

Men, embrace this place, our home.
Children, teach us by example,

Simple joy and playful soul.
As we celebrate God’s kin-dom,
Gracious Spirit, make us whole.

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.