Blessing of the Animals

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or viewing the sanctuary television, or in person at the woods stage.  Join us!

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Gathering Music                   Polly Dunford          

Welcome and Announcements     Manella Calhoun                            

Call to Worship 

The animals of God's creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea.
They share in the fortunes of human existence
and have a part in human life.
God, who confers gifts on all living things,
has often used the service of animals
or made them reminders of the gifts of salvation.

Animals were saved from the flood
and afterwards made a part of the covenant with Noah. (GENESIS 9:9–10)

The paschal lamb recalls the passover sacrifice
and the deliverance from slavery in Egypt. (EXODUS 12:3–14)

A giant fish saved Jonah; (JONAH 2:1–10)

ravens brought bread to Elijah; (1 KINGS 17:6)

animals were included in the repentance of Nineveh; (JONAH 3:7)

and animals share in Christ's redemption of all God's creation.
We, therefore, invoke God's blessing on these animals.
As we do so, let us praise the Creator
and thank God for setting us as stewards
over all the creatures of the earth.

Opening Hymn                “O God, Your Creatures Fill the Earth”                    Handout

Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette; Tune: Forest Green, Traditional English melody

Text: Copyright 2011 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved

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

And every 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 everywhere.

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 every 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.

Scripture Various lessons from our Call to Worship

                       

Sermon                  Dr. Keith Ray

“Amy-Jill Levine’s Dog and the Lessons of the Animals"

Thought to ponder:  We are part of an interconnected universe that includes all of creation. Today we pause to mindfully give thanks for the companionship of animals.

How can we best honor them and the awesome creation in the coming days?

Blessing of the Animals  

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn/Offertory     “A Place in the Choir”        Handout

Words and music by Bill Starnes

Copyright@1978 Mineral River Music. All rights reserved.

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

Benediction

Discussion

Shalom   (“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 

November 5 - Dr. Keith Ray  (Indoors)  1st Sunday Potluck

November 12 - Dr. Keith Ray (Outdoors, weather permitting)

November 19 - Dr. Keith Ray  (Indoors)

November 26 - TBD

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Church Clean-up days are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually take no more than 90 minutes.  The sign-up sheet is in the church.  Our next clean-up day will be Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 9:30 am. 

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Choir practice will be on the first and third Sundays in November (November 5 and 19) at 9:25 AM in the choir room.  Questions? Call or text Polly Dunford at (864) 940-0640.

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Thor Raines is looking for volunteers for the Children’s Museum Halloween event on October 28th. If interested, please contact Thor.

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A new GAMAC Chorale concert, “How the West Was Sung” will be performed at First Baptist Church on November 3 at 7:30 pm. You can purchase tickets at gamac.org.

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Upcoming shows featuring our NACCP family to watch for: “She Kills Monsters” at Market Theatre, November 10 – November 20.    “Willy Wonka” at Greenville Theatre, November 30 – December 17.

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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Dave Johnson is guiding us through the book of Exodus. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!

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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)!  Bring your non-perishable items to the church.  This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.

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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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Remember in prayer:  Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Jackie Moore; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Mike Johnston; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine; People of Acapulco and Lewiston, Maine. 

NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions

and the journey to the answers.

Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com

Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford

Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622

Phone: 864-225-3575

Website:  naccpchurch.org

Church News:  naccpnews@yahoo.com

Instagram:  northandersonccp

Facebook:  NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian