Humanity Sunday (Australian Version 2)
Introduction
Humanity refers to human beings as an integral part of creation. All human beings are included, regardless of ethnic origin or visual appearance. Human beings, as part of creation, are kin with all other living creatures.
Setting
Artists are invited to create a sanctuary scene which celebrates both the diversity of all human beings and their kinship with creation. A special symbol of our kinship may be a large whale that whose tail rises up before or behind the sanctuary. The whale is a special symbol of what humans have tried to dominate, but who is now coming home to be with humans again. Visuals of larges whales first killed and now cavorting could be included on a screen. (Thousands of whales are still killed every year, especially by Japanese fleets).
Special Focus
This service may include several sections in dramatised form. These are attached as options at the end of the liturgy. The first section of this optional form is a dramatisation based on three readings for the day, with a conflict emerging from the first two and a resolution arising from the third. A second dramatic dialogue takes place as part of the confession as we listen to the voices of whales past and whales present. The voices of the whales return with the commission at the end of the service.
Themes
In our call to worship we invite all peoples of all lands to worship with us, including our Indigenous brothers and sisters. The way we have related to creatures such as whales in the past and our current concern for this species is typical of how humanity has related to the rest of creation. The readings highlight that we have, in the past, chosen the mandate to dominate (in Gen. 1.26-28) over the commission to serve (in Gen. 2.15). The message of Mark 10.42-45 offers a Gospel answer. The return of the whales is a sign of hope. The risen Christ is the source of our hope.
Optional Liturgies
Another liturgy which comes to terms with the force of Gen. 1.26-28 is Song of Healing in Seven Songs of Creation, published by Pilgrim Press (2004). Especially powerful is the dramatic dialogue between humanity and Jeremiah, who speaks for Earth. Dramatised options are attached below.
Songs
A song/hymn based on the image of waters flowing from down from the heights of Eden (Gen. 2) and the throne of God (Rev. 22.1-2) to bring healing to all humanity, all nations on Earth, is located in Habel Hymns Volume One. The melody is the well-known hymn Morning has Broken. The words follow.
SONG OF HEALING
1. Healing is flowing, deep in the waters, Flowing from Eden, flowing from old. All through creation, God sends forth waters, Oceans of healing, for all the world.
2. Healing is rising, fresh with the morning, Healing is rising, bursting with grace. Christ, our rich healing, deep in creation, Heal Earth’s deep wounds and rise in this place.
3. Healing is offered, leaves from the life tree, Healing is offered nations at war. Come, wounded Healer, torn by the violence, Rise from the grave, bring peace to our shore.
4. Healing is given, flows from forgiveness, Healing is given, flows from our faith. Christ, give us heart to love your deep healing, Living forgiveness, even in death.
5. Healing is rising, free in Christ’s body, Healing is flowing, free with Christ’s blood. May this deep healing pulse through our bodies, Heal the world’s wounds still bleeding and red.
Words: © Norman Habel 2000
Second Sunday in the Season of Creation (Australian Version 2)
Humanity Sunday We worship with all humanity and all creation
“Hear this all you peoples, give ear all inhabitants of the world, both high and low, rich and poor. Ps. 49.1-2
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
In the name of the Creator, who creates all peoples, the name of Christ, who gives new life to all peoples, and the name of the Spirit, the same breath in all peoples.. Amen. Holy! Holy! Holy! Earth is filled with God’s presence.
The Lord of life be with you. And also with you.
Christ, we gather in your name to worship in this sanctuary called Earth, a planet filled with your presence, quivering in the forests, vibrating in the land, pulsating in the wilderness, shimmering in the rivers.
God, reveal yourself to us in this place and show us your face in all creation. Holy! Holy! Holy! Earth is filled with God’s presence.
Peoples from every corner of creation, Celebrate with all creatures on Earth!
Young and old across the planet, Rejoice in the day that God has made!
Indigenous peoples of every land, Help us sense the spirit deep in each land!
Black and white and brown and grey, Celebrate with us the colours of creation!
All humanity on Planet Earth, Praise God for our planet home.
Sing, peoples, sing! Sing, creation, sing!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
As we rub this fragrant symbol in our hands we remember that we are all human beings created by one God. O God, we thank you for the wonder and wisdom of the many tongues of humanity.
We remember and confess that we were created in God’s image to serve and sustain our planet. Christ, the true image of God, hear our cry.
We regret that we have forgotten that Earth is our home and treated this garden planet as a beast to be tamed and a place to be ruled. Christ, the hope of all creation, we lament our failings.
We have also treated our fellow human beings shamelessly, abusing some because of ethnic differences and alienating others because of differing backgrounds. Christ, our God become flesh, we are sorry. We are sorry.
We have, as human beings, sought to dominate nature and in so doing have killed our animal kin without concern and plundered our planet with abandon. Christ, the source of all life, we are sorry. We are sorry.
Christ hears your confession and forgives your sins against humanity. Christ, teach us to love all human beings as your children and all creatures of Earth as our kin.
I speak for Christ: I invite you to come home to Earth as one by rejoicing with all creation. Shalom! Shalom! We are coming home!
11. The Kyrie. The minister may add the Kyrie Eleison.
As we come home to Earth, Christ, have mercy.
As we seek to love our home, Christ, have mercy.
As we seek to care for our planet, Christ, have mercy.
Glory to God in the highest! And on Earth peace with all creation!
13. The Collect of the Day. The presiding minister may say:
Let us pray.
The community may pray silently. The following collect is said or sung.
God, our Creator, as we reflect on the ways that humans have sought to dominate creation help us to hear the cries of creatures such as the whale. Fill us with you risen power. Help us to serve and preserve our planet home and to celebrate life with people from all lands and all nations. In the name of Christ, the Risen Servant, who is the true image of God among us. Amen
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
‘To rule or to serve Earth?’ — Does creation in the image of God mean domination of all creation? Or does the reading from Genesis 2 interpret the first text to mean ‘serve’ Earth?
16. Psalm 8 may be said or sung. ‘What are human beings’ – The Psalmist declares that humans are honored by God with the responsibility of being stewards over the creatures of Earth.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
‘Not to be served, but to serve’ – Jesus warns his disciples against seeking power and dominion like that of the Romans. The disciples are to serve like Christ, rather than be served. The Son of Man came to serve, not to be served.
This is the Gospel of the Lord, Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
God made the whales! God made the whales! God made the whales to swim and play! So when you go watching the whales swim Watch for God who made the whales. (Melody: For all the saints)
God creates all things, renews all things and celebrates all things. This we believe.
Earth is a sanctuary, a sacred planet filled with God’s presence, a home for us to share with our kin. This we believe.
God became flesh and blood, a piece of Earth, a human being called Jesus Christ, who lived and breathed and spoke among us, suffered and died on a cross, for all human beings and for all creation. This we believe.
The risen Jesus is the Christ at the centre of creation, reconciling all things to God, renewing all creation and filling the cosmos. This we believe.
The Holy Spirit renews life in creation, groans in empathy with a suffering creation and waits with us for the rebirth of creation. This we believe.
We believe that with Christ we will rise and with Christ we will celebrate a new creation.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God, our Creator, as we reflect on the ways that humans have sought to dominate creation help us to hear the cries of creatures such as the whale. Fill us with you risen power. Help us to serve and preserve our planet home and to celebrate life with people from all lands and nations. In the name of Christ, the Risen Servant, who is the true image of God among us. Amen.
23. A hymn or song may be sung.
THE GREETING OF PEACE
Christ has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross. We meet in Christ’s name and share God’s peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
God, our Creator, through your love you have given us these gifts to share. Accept our offerings as an expression of our deep thanks and signs of our concern for peoples in need, including our fellow creatures on planet Earth. With all creation we praise our Creator.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Creator be with you and all creation. And also with you.
Open your hearts. We open them to our Creator.
Let us give thanks to the Maker of heaven and Earth. It is right to join creation in thanking God.
It is right to give you thanks, loving Creator. Your word is the impulse for all things to be, for space, stars and stardust to appear, for Earth to emerge from the deep, for life to be born of Earth and for humans to be born of Earth and the Spirit.
Your Spirit is the life impulse in all things, renewing the barren and healing the wounded, groaning in anticipation of a new creation, stirring a new life born of water and the Spirit.
You chose to be born a human being, to become a part of Earth, to suffer, die and rise from death to redeem humankind, renew creation and affirm all born of Earth and the Spirit.
Your presence is the living impulse in all things, the Christ deep among us, filling Earth—land, sea and air—filling every element and place, filling the grain and the grape we share with you this day.
Therefore with angels and archangels, ancient voices in the forest, high voices from the sky, deep voices from the sea and the whole company of creation, we proclaim your presence among us.
Holy, holy, holy, God of all life, Earth and sea and sky are full of your presence and glorify your name. Amen.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND THE COMMUNION
Come, for all things are now ready. Come to the table with all your kin and share with all in need: the gift of healing for those in pain, the gift of forgiveness for those in sin, the gift of assurance for those in doubt, and the gift of hope for those in tears. May we who share these gifts share Christ with one another and all our kin.
Lamb of God, who takes away all sin against God, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away all sin against Earth, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away all sin from the world, receive our prayer.
30. The Distribution. The people receive the Holy Communion. As the people return to their places, they may light a candle in memory of departed loved ones or one of their kin on the land who has become extinct.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE
31. The presiding minister says:
Let us give thanks for this meal.
The people say the following prayer or another suitable prayer.
We thank you, Christ, for the meal we have celebrated with you, and we pray that through your body and blood we may be healed and become agents of healing for Earth. Amen.
Christ calls you to be his disciples, to serve him with love and compassion, to serve Earth by caring for creation, so that we, all peoples, and all our kin may live.
We will follow our Servant Lord, listening for cries of injustice from Earth and groaning with creation.
We will follow our risen Christ, to become partners in healing our planet.
We will care for creation, loving our kin and celebrating life.
Now may the penetrating power of Christ’s body and blood reach deep into your heart, your mind and your body to heal your wounds and, through you, to bring healing to Earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
or
May the Spirit of God, who is above all and in all and through all, fill you with the knowledge of God’s presence in Earth and the pulsing of Christ in creation, through whom all things are reconciled and renewed. Amen.
35. The presiding minister or another minister may say: Go in peace, serving Christ and loving Earth! We go in peace, serving Christ and loving Earth.
OPTIONAL LITURGICAL UNITS
Dramatised Readings for Humanity Sunday
Reading 1: Genesis 1.26-28
Reader 1: Then God said, ‘Let us make humanity in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of Earth and over every creeping things that creeps on Earth. So God created humanity in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill Earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon Earth.
Reading 2: Genesis 2.7-8, 15, 19
Reader 2: Then the Lord God formed a human being from the dust of the ground and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life. And the human being became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the East. Then the Lord God took the human being and put the human being in the garden of Eden to serve and preserve it. Then out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal in the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the human being.
Voice 1 I am like God, created in God’s own likeness.
Voice 1 I can conquer creation. I rule! I rule! Voice 2 I groan with creation. When you rule, I suffer. I suffer!
Voice 2 I am a servant on Earth, caring for creation.
Voice 1 I am king! God said so! God said so! Voice 2 I am a servant, God said so!
Voice 3 Wait just a minute! Stop your arguing!
Voices 1 & 2 I have God’s word on my side! Voice 3 Sure you have! But do you have the final word? Do you have Jesus’ word? Do you? (Silence)
Voice 1& 2 Jesus Christ!
Voice 3 Who is the true servant of God? Come on. Who? Voice 1& 2 Jesus Christ!
Reading 3: Mark 10.42-45
So Jesus called the disciples and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognise as their rulers lord it over them and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not to be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.
Voice 1, 2 & 3 This is the Gospel of our Lord. We are to serve as Christ served.
People Lord teach us to serve.
2. Dramatised Confession for Humanity Sunday
Confession with ‘The Voices of the Whale’
Speakers stand on either side of the whale tail. Images of whales and other relevant scenes may be shown overhead. A musician may play sounds with a double base, recorder or some other instrument that gives a sense of the mysterious sounds of the deep as background or at points between the words of the speakers.
Voices 1 & 2 ‘We rule the waves! We rule the whales’
Voices 1 & 2 ‘We rule the waves! We rule the whales’!
People We are sorry, whales, we are sorry! (Music)
Voices 1 & 2 ‘Whales help us wonder! Worship and wonder!
Voices 1 & 2 Will you join with us as we remember the past and promise to care for the wonders of creations.
People We are sorry. As humans, we have slaughtered species without concern. As humans, we have sought to dominate nature. As humans, we have been cruel to our kin. We are sorry. We are sorry.
Leader We are sorry.
People We are sorry. We are sorry. Absolution Leader I speak for Christ: I forgive your sins of destructive domination. I forgive your lack of concern for creation.
I invite you now to celebrate your humanity both as servants of Christ and servants of Earth.
People Shalom! Shalom! Let the whales come home!
3. Dramatised Sending Out for Humanity Sunday
Voice 2 And all the other creatures that humans have exploited.
Voice 2 And working with Christ to keep life alive on Earth!
Leader Christ calls you to be his disciples, to serve him with love and compassion, to serve Earth and the peoples of Earth.
Will you care for creation?
People With Christ, we will care for creation! With Christ, we will keep our planet green! With Christ, we will celebrate life!
Blessing
to praise the Creator and help revive creation.
Go in peace! Serving Christ and loving Earth!
People We go in peace, Serving the Risen Christ and celebrating all creatures--including whales!
Recession and Song
We join the children in song as they cavort like whales and portray the peoples of Earth.
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