Theme “Nature”
Psalm 85, reimagined
Holy One, restore us.
Forgive us our iniquity, for all the ways we damage the earth, our fellow creatures and ourselves; show us we are all one.
Turn to us in Your compassion and revive us, that we may rejoice.
Show us your steadfast love and grant us peace.
Promise well-being to those who revere
Earth blessings
The Earth –
Soil feels in your hands
As life itself
Blessed Earth thank you
May we remember Earth
Commit to our connection
Today and every day.
The Air –
This breath in your lungs
As life itself
Blessed Air thank you
May we remember Air
Commit to our connection
Today and every day.
The Sun –
This heat and light
As
Meditational prayer
Let my prayer be a path of discovery towards knowledge of that which I cannot see.
Let my prayer be a question to the something which is in everything and is everywhere around me.
What is it, who is it, that touches the heart when the sun rises on the morning, or splashes the sky with
Hope
This poem first appeared in the BUF News, June 2023. The author, Iris Jubb, was 11 years old when she wrote it, making her our youngest Worship Words author so far.
Hope is a sea birds eyes, cold and lost
Hope is a heartbroken love
High in the heavens above
Hope is the snow and
The divine embrace, viewed through a window
Written following worship by Julio Torres – Beloved Community in the Divine Empathetic Embrace and a meditation while Peter Flower played ‘Spring’ by Vivaldi on the piano. The rain was steadily and silently falling on the trees outside.
The Fingers of the Fir.
Evergreen, save the touches of
Injury from her long life, waved.
Moved, conducting
Chalice lighting for an animal service
We light this chalice thinking of the Spark of Life which infuses all creation.
From the smallest bacterium to the greatest whale, through the myriad shapes and sizes,
We recognise the Life-Force sustaining all,
And we give thanks that we are able to share it.
Guided meditation for Epiphany
This meditation can be practiced with the movements described, while walking or in a sitting position, as desired.
Facing the centre of the circle:
Close your eyes. Take three deep, relaxing, cleansing breaths. Join me on the journey of the magi.
It is night. You are standing in a garden, which now lies fallow. You consider all the
Beltane garden
May morning sun blesses the day
While I walk amongst the garden blooms
Admiring the Mother’s handiwork
Woven on dear nature’s loom.
Trees standing tall, branches outstretched,
Limber arms reaching towards the sky,
Leaves of olive, emerald and mauve –
Quiv’ring with the song of life.
Long-stemmed bell flowers, cupped flowers
And broad clusters of