Order of Service for June 5, 2022
Blessing of the Animals
Chimes
Greeting and Announcement
Prelude
Welcome and Land Acknowledgment
Hymn of the Month
Chalice Lighting
The Calling of the Creatures by Ian W. Riddell
Come hoof and trunk and tail and horn
and paw and wing and claw;
Come bird and reptile, mammal born
all full of nature’s law.
Bring bark and crow and rabbit, too
and silent stare and hiss;
Bring purr and trill and warble, too
and voice no ear can miss.
We gather here each life and all
to celebrate and sing
to honor creatures large and small
our love to them we bring.
Hymn All the Critters Got a Place in the Choir
Chorus (starts with chorus)
All the critters got a place in the choir.
Some sing low,
some sing higher.
Some sing out loud on a telephone wire.
And some just clap their hands or paws
or anything they got now.
Listen to the bass,
it’s the one on the bottom
where the bull frog croaks
and the hippopotamus
moans and groans with a big t’ do,
and the old cow just goes ‘Moo.” (everybody MOOOOO)
Chorus
The dogs and the cats they take up the middle
while the honey-bee hums and the cricket fiddles,
the donkey brays and the pony neighs,
and the old coyote howls. (everybody howl!)
Chorus
Listen to the top where the little birds sing
on the melodies with the high notes ringing.
The hoot owl hollers over ev’ry thing
and the jay bird disagrees. (no no no)
Chorus
It’s a simple song sung ev’ry where
by the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,
the grumpy alligator and the hawk above,
the sly racoon and the turtle dove. (coo, coo, coo)
Chorus (sing twice)
Time for All Ages
Sharing our Abundance
From You I Receive (sing 2x)
Hymn We Love the Flowers Music by Ron Klusmeier and words by Walter Farquharson.
Words adapted by Rev. Rosemary
We love the flowers, we love trees
caterpillars, and bumble bees.
Puppies and kittens, hamsters and fish,
Turtles and lizards that
live in a dish
Chorus
We all need to love and care
laughs and giggles and hugs to share. (x2)
Pets love children, grown-ups too,
pets can give us work to do.
Help us now to love them more,
keep good friends and find some more.
Chorus (sing twice)
Candles of Joy and Concern
Blessing of the Animals
Congregational Response by Rev. Karen G. Johnston
Animal Companionship Responsive Blessing
May we honor our best presence as part of the animal family.
Hymn 203 All Creatures of the Earth and Sky
Extinguishing the Flame by Elizabeth Selle Jones
We extinguish this chalice, but not the light of truth,
the warmth of community or the fire of commitment.
These we carry in our hearts, until we are together again.
Benediction
Carry the Flame
Postlude
