PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
“Being Indian has never been about returning to the land. The land is everywhere or nowhere.”
― Native American, Tommy Orange, There There (2019)
CALL TO WORSHIP | Written by Chief Seattle
The earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.
We did not weave the web of life, we are merely strands in it.
Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.
Yes, all things are connected.
OPENING HYMN | Peter Mayer’s “Blue Boat Home”
HEBREW READING | Psalm 1, A Book of Psalms (1991) by Stephen Mitchell
Blessed are those
who have grown beyond their greed
and have put an end to their hatred
and no longer nourish illusions.
They are present to the way things are
and keep their hearts open…
They are like trees planted near flowing rivers…
Their leaves will not fall or wither.
Everything they do can succeed.
ANOTHER VOICE | The Prophecy of Crazy Horse
“Upon suffering beyond suffering; the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again.
I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of humankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again.
On that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am in that place within me, we shall be as one.”
THEME VIDEO | “We n’ de ya ho” – The new Cherokee morning song with translation
SERMON
“Think Global, Act Local:
We n’ de ya ho”
Rev. Don Ludwig
To read the sermon text, click here.
GUIDED MEDITATION & PRAYER | Sayings from Black Elk in Black Elk Speaks
“All over the sky a sacred voice is calling your name.”
“Peace will come to the hearts of people when they realize their oneness with the universe, It is everywhere.”
“At the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit. And that center is really everywhere. It is within each of us.”
“Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus we should do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World.”
“There can be no power in a square.”
CORPORATE PRAYER | A Native American Prayer for Peace, U.N. Day of Prayer for World Peace
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, we raise our peace pipe to you.
To your messengers the four winds,
and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect,
and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.
A-men.
SPECIAL MUSIC | “Shine Your Light” (Song of Refugees)
Featuring: Ricky, Kej, Aditya Narayan, Neeti Mohan and Salim Merchant
Minute for Mission, Offering and Announcements:
As we reflect on all of our blessings, individually and as a community, may we consider how we may give of ourselves so that the work of Christ’s love and peace may continue throughout our world.
(Please contact Amanda at staff@southmin.org to discover simple ways you may give electronically or via mail. Thank you for supporting the staff and on-going ministries of Southminster Presbyterian Church).
DOXOLOGY
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
FINAL BLESSING & BENEDICTION | Apache Blessing
May the sun bring you new energy by day,
may the moon softly restore you by night,
may the rain wash away your worries,
may the breeze blow new strength into your being,
may you walk gently through the world and
know it’s beauty all the days of your life. A-men.
