Worship Leader:  Joan Ferguson-Sones                                       Music Director: Tim Hallman, B.Mus.,B.Ed.

Rogation Service - April 27, 2025     

Welcome / Announcements / Celebrations 

Rainbow Camp – Affirming Team 
Supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Allied Youth
Good morning,
An Affirming Ministry is a voice and a support for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
As most of you will remember, in November 2011 we, as a congregation chose in a unanimous vote to embark on the very intentional process of becoming an Affirming Congregation within the United Church, completing and celebrating this decision on May 20, 2012 becoming the 67th congregation across Canada to do so, the 2nd in our region. At Christ United Lyn, we continue to live as witness to God’s inclusive love.

We are here as your Affirming Team at Christ United Church, Lyn. We want to bring to your attention that today, April 27th, 2025 is Camping Sunday. We want to talk specifically about Rainbow Camp.

Rainbow Camp, near Sault Ste. Marie, is a United Church of Canada Mission and Service supported event. Rainbow Camp is a welcoming/inclusive camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 12 to 17.

We believe strongly in the power of inclusive and affirming spaces for young people. Rainbow Camp provides a safe and supportive environment where 2SLGBTQ+ allied youth can connect, build community, and celebrate their identities.

After we watched this video, we can say whole heartedly how we would have loved to have an opportunity like this when we were that age. Rainbow Camp provides the chance for these youths to discover they are not alone; they are not different and unlovable. It will allow them to discover their own individuality, provide inclusiveness and support. Some people may think at this age between 12 to 17 is too young for adolescents to understand what they are feeling. However, we are voices of experience and at that age, it is when you are going through these emotions and trying to figure out where you fit, why you feel differently than your friends do.

Rainbow Camp is a wonderful opportunity for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. We are asking for donations to support sending youth, perhaps someone in our area to this camp.

We the Affirming Team want to raise awareness about the importance of affirming spaces for the 2SLGBTQ+ allied youth, along with promoting Mission and Service initiatives that support inclusivity and justice. Please help encourage the youth in your community to explore the valuable opportunities offered by Rainbow Camp.

If you are interested in donating to this cause, please see either of us, Judy Pearson, or mark your monetary donation on an envelope as “Rainbow Camp” and place it in the collection plate.

In light of the troubling situation involving our neighbours to the South, we feel this cause is worthy of our support more than ever, as so many youths will never get this opportunity.

Thank You,
Affirming Team,
Heather Murdock & Fay Simpson

Land acknowledgement 

Lighting of Christ Candle 

Call to Worship: 
One:  Let us ask the God of creation to send a blessing upon us. 
Upon the rich earth send a blessing, O Lord. 
Let the earth be fruitful and its resources be hallowed. 
We ask in faith:
All:  We ask you to hear us, good Lord
One:  Upon human labour send a blessing, O Lord. Prosper the work of our hands. 
May all find just reward and dignity in their work; We ask in faith: 
All:  We ask you to hear us, good Lord. 
One:  Upon the produce of the earth send a blessing, O Lord. 
Guide us into a sustainable future, and give us the will to share the fruits of the world. 
We ask in faith: 
All:  We ask you to hear us, good Lord. 
One:  Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the waters of the earth, 
And to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We ask in faith: 
All:  We ask you to hear us, good Lord. 
One: Upon aid agencies send a blessing, O Lord.  
Where the earth is parched and the well has run dry; where war has brought want, and children go hungry, and cries for justice ring out, give hands to care and heal, and let us be generous. We ask in faith:  
All:  We ask you to hear us, good Lord. 

Hymn:  VU 409  “Morning Has Broken” 

Passing of the Peace 

Opening Prayer:
Creator God, Jesus teaches us through the beauty and abundance of creation to put our trust in you for all things. We ask you now to bless our fields and gardens, our hills and streams, our rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas, that in all these things we might glimpse a reflection of your glory and your gracious love for each one of us. Bless, O Lord the houses and farms and all the homes in this community. Give us good health, purity of spirit, strength and humility, hospitality, a spirit of forgiveness and firm knowledge of our need to seek you in things. We pray in the name of Jesus, creative Word of God.   Amen. 

Scripture:
Psalm 23
Psalm 50: 1-2, 10-11

Anthem: “Fall in Love with the Earth” 

Reflection:  Rogation Sunday

Today we celebrate Rogation Sunday, and pair it with Earth Day celebrations. We are just five days after Earth Day, and only one day after our city wide clean up. How fitting that we blend the two celebrations together since they both essentially honour creation.

The term Rogation is derived from the Latin word Rogare, and it means to ask or request. It has been celebrated by a traditional service that asks for God’s protection of the agriculture industry, livestock and crops. It is meant to be a day of prayer and supplication, and often includes a procession outdoors.

Since Medieval times Rogation was linked to a practice called Beating the Bounds. Before ordnance survey maps existed, there were not always clear lines between parishes, especially with the open fields.

The custom grew of clergy walking the boundaries once a year, stopping at intervals to tap the boundary markers-stones, gate posts, walls, and trees  with sticks or canes. Thus beating the bounds.

Rogation is a time of asking, asking God’s blessing on emerging crops. In times gone by when everything depended on the local harvest, this was vital. A failed harvest meant starvation, so asking God’s blessing at various points was seen as important.

Rogation days remind us that we are all part of creation, and dependent upon both nature and our fellow humans for the necessities of life. Rogation Sunday takes place in the springtime when there is a renewing of the earth, and it falls into the Easter cycle, the season of resurrection.  It is easy to see the signs of new life with daffodils springing up, and robins singing.

Rogation invites people to ask for blessing for a particular place, for all of its inhabitants, for every endeavour to promote the common good. It is totally inclusive, joining everyone in seeking sustenance and a commitment to play their part in its provision.

We are to be stewards, or caretakers of God’s creation. Too often we treat it disrespectfully and pillage our natural resources for our own personal gain. Story: The Giving Tree: Shel Silverstein(Joyce)

Though this story was written as a children’s book, it speaks to everyone. It is symbolic of God’s unconditional love for us regardless of our self- indulgent ways. It is also a poignant reminder of how we should attempt to be leavers in nature, rather than takers.

Unfortunately, we have become a disposable society and seem to create waste in all that we do. We throw away food thoughtlessly as others go hungry. We literally create mountains of rubbish. Earth Day promotes reduce, reuse, and recycle. Here at Christ United, we included respect and rejoice in the beauty of our Earth.

There have been some wonderful quotes from people that resound with me in regards to Earth Day, and I would like to share a few.

The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.-Pope John Paul 11

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not every man’s greed.-Gandhi

Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you- Aboriginal Proverb
To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash.-Bill Nye

Let’s use Rogation Sunday to reconnect us with the earth, and help us to mend this creation in which we live. Remind us to seek God’s blessing in all that we do. Let us truly celebrate and acknowledge the soil of this bountiful land.

Hymn:  VU 703  “In the Bulb There Is a Flower" 

Invitation for offering:

Offering Hymn:  VU 541  “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Offering Prayer: 
Loving God, we present to you our gifts. With our time, talents, and treasures, we are returning a minute fraction of the gifts you have given us. We pray that these gifts will be used well, wherever they are needed. Amen 

Prayers of the People / Lord’s Prayer 
Heavenly Father, teach us to love your world so that we are careful stewards of your creation. On this Sunday when we remember especially the countryside and all who work there, we pray for farmers, growers, all who tend to livestock, and all who by their labour here and in every place, bring food to us.

 We pray for those ill or infirmed, for those mourning the loss of a loved one. We pray for those unemployed, and for ongoing sustainability of the local economy. We pray for those who seek to serve others, and for those who are homeless, or struggling with debt or financial pressures. We pray for Christian unity, for a better understanding between different faith communities. We pray for our schools, the staff, and children, and for our political leaders, and for this great country we live in. Lord’s prayer.

Hymn: VU 227 “For the Fruit of All Creation” 

Benediction:
God the Father, who created the world, give us the grace to be wise stewards of his creation. 
God the Son, who redeemed the world, inspire us to go out as labourers into his harvest. 
God the Holy Spirit, whose breath fills the whole of creation, help us to bear his fruits of love, joy,

and peace. 
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. 
Amen 

Closing Song:  “Ontario Song” 

 

         "A Village Church With A Heart For The World"

Christ United Church

12 Perth St., Lyn, ON, K0E 1M0
(613)498-0281 (Phone)   (613)498-2589 (Fax)

 lynunitedchurch@cogeco.net               www.lynunitedchurch.com               Follow on Twitter:  @Ch1United