Blessing of the Animals

Today’s service will be held outdoors at the woods stage.  The service will NOT be live-streamed as this is not yet possible outdoors.   However, the service will be recorded and posted afterwards.  Bring a chair.   Join us!   

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Gathering Music                                  Laurie Gentry         

                                                               Dave Johnson

                                                                                 

Welcome and Announcements            Cierra Donnelly                                 

Call to Worship

Leader:  Come, all you creatures of the earth—great and small, wild and tame, feathered and furred.
People:  We come to honor the life we share with every living being.

Leader:  From the tiniest insect to the largest whale, from the whisper of wings to the splash of fins—
People:  Each creature holds beauty and purpose in the web of life.

Leader:  We gather to remember that we are not above creation, but within it—
People:  Connected, interdependent, part of one breathing world.

Leader:  Today we give thanks for our animal companions, teachers of joy, loyalty, and love.
People:  Their presence blesses our days and reminds us to live with compassion.

Leader: So let every heart be open, every voice lifted, every spirit joined in celebration-
People:  For all life is sacred, and all creation belongs.

Opening Hymn             “If I Were a Butterfly”                                    Handout                                                                                                by Brian Howard

1)  If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you, Lord, for giving me wings.

If I were a robin in a tree, I’d thank you, Lord that I could sing.

If I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee;

but I just thank you, Father, for making me me.

Refrain:  Oh, you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile.

You gave us Jesus and you made me your child,

and so I thank you, Father, for making me me!  

2)  If I were an elephant, I’d thank you, Lord, by raising my trunk.

If I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you.

If I were an octopus, I’d thank you, Lord, for my fine looks;

but I just thank you, Father, for making me me.Refrain

3)  If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you, Lord, that I could squirm.

If I were a fuzzy fuzzy bear, I’d thank you, Lord, for my fuzzy wuzzy hair.

If I were a crocodile, I’d thank you, Lord, for my great smile;

but I just thank you, Father, for making me me.  Refrain

       

Scripture Lesson          Genesis 1:24–31

Psalm 104:10–14, 24–30

Matthew 6:25–26

                   

Sermon                              “Todos, Todos, Todos”                               Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to Ponder:

Theologian Sallie McFague once wrote that the earth is “the body of God.”

Not that God is the earth, but that God is revealed in and through it.

If that’s true, then every creature, every river, every paw print carries a spark of sacredness. To bless an animal, then, is to recognize God already dwelling within it—to say, “You belong, and you are beloved.”

In blessing our animals, we practice seeing holiness beyond human faces.

We acknowledge that our salvation is not apart from creation, but within it.

Hymn                                         “A Place in the Choir”         Handout

by Bill Staines

Refrain:  All God’s creatures got a place in the choir, some sing low,

some sing higher, some sing out loud on the telephone wire,

and some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.

1)  Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom where the bullfrog croaks

and the hippopotamus moans and groans with a big t’ do,

and the old cow just goes “Moo.”Refrain

2)  The dogs and the cats they take up the middle while the honeybee hums

and the cricket fiddles, the donkey brays and the pony neighs

and the old coyote howls.Refrain

 

3)  Listen to the top where the little birds sing on the melodies

with the high notes ringing.  The hoot owl hollers over ev’rything

and the jaybird disagrees.Refrain

4)  Singing in the night time, singing in the day the little duck quacks,

then he’s on his way.  The possum ain’t got much to say,

and the porcupine talks to himself.Refrain

5)  It’s a simple song of living sung ev’rywhere by the ox and the fox

and the grizzly bear, the grumpy alligator and the hawk above,

the sly raccoon and the turtle dove.Refrain

 

Joys and Concerns 

Prayers of the People 

Closing Hymn and Offertory       “O God, Your Creatures Fill the Earth”           Handout                                                                 Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette;  Music by an anonymous German composer

1)  O God, your creatures fill the earth with wonder and delight,

And ev’ry living thing has worth and beauty in your sight.

So playful dolphins dance and swim; Your sheep bow down and graze.

Your songbirds share a morning hymn to offer you their praise.

2)  You made the pets we welcome in: they’re wondrous blessings, too.

With paws and whiskers, wings, and fins, they offer praise to you.

O Lord, you call us to embrace these creatures in our care.

May we show kindness, love and grace to all pets ev’rywhere.

3)  You made the creatures on each farm; You know the things they need.

May they grow healthy, safe from harm, and safe from human greed.

Just as a shepherd loves the sheep, you know their joy, their pain.

Lord, bless the animals we keep; May all farms be humane.

4)  Your creatures live in ev’ry land; They fill the sky and sea.

O Lord, you give us your command to love them tenderly.

We’re called to have dominion here: to care for them always.

By loving creatures you hold dear, we offer you our praise.

             

Benediction        

Discussion 

Shalom  (meaning - “May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.                       *************************************************************************************

Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711.  All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Service -  

October 26 - Worship and lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center

November 2 - Dr. Keith Ray; Potluck Meal; Worship Committee meets

November 9 - Dr. Keith Ray

November 16 - Dr. Keith Ray

November 23 - TBD

November 30 - TBD

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October’s Keenager Event will be a A Who-Dunnit Murder Mystery; you may be part of the cast or a guest.  It will be held at the Red Shutter Bed & Breakfast in Starr, SC, on Saturday October 25, 11:30 am-2:30 pm.  David Sanders and Michael Crump are hosting the event and serving a lasagna lunch.  Sign up at church for this fun event!

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The Concert of Hope and Remembrance (“Believe”) will be held on Saturday, October 25, at 7:00 PM at Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson. This concert benefits the Cancer Association of Anderson County. Call (864) 222-3500 for ticket information.

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A GAMAC Chorale concert (“Make ‘Em Laugh”) will be held on Thursday, November 6, at 7:30 PM at 1st Baptist Church in Anderson. Call (864) 231-6147 for ticket information.

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It’s time for seasonal choir practices. We’ll have choir practice beginning Sunday, November 2 to continue through November and most of December until Christmas Eve. Practices begin at 9:25 AM.  Contact Polly at (864) 940-0640 with questions.

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During October, Undie Sundays will collect underwear items for South Main Chapel and Mercy Center for both men and women, all sizes.

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NACCP is conducting a love offering to benefit World Central Kitchen in their efforts to alleviate starving in Gaza.  We will accept donations through the middle of October.

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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom.  If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.

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Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries).  An extra item when you shop is a great help to others in our community.

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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP?  Would you like to make this community your spiritual home?  Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.

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