Priest: Blessed be God, Creator of the Universe
All: And blessed be God's Kingdom, now and forever. Amen
Priest: God be with you
All: And also with you.
Priest: Let us pray. O merciful creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
First Reading: Hosea 2:18
Lector: "And I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety." Here ends the reading.
All: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel:
Priest: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Priest: "The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him." The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Homily
The Blessing of the Animals
Priest: Holy God, bless this water with your grace that every creature upon which it falls may know your love and care for them. Amen.
The Prayers:
Deacon: We praise you for the creation of the world and all living creatures in the earth, sky and sea.
All: Hear us, O God.
Deacon: For the gentle eyes of the deer, the friendship of dogs, the purr of cats, the strength of bears, the beauty of a hippo, the humor of chimps, the intelligence of gorillas, the grace of dolphins, and the magnificence of whales. Help us to keep them safe.
All: Hear us, O God.
Deacon: Keep us mindful of the vision of the peaceable kingdom in which all living creatures dwell in harmony.
All: Hear us, O God.
Deacon: Give us eyes to see our responsibilities, not just to the human community, but to the community of all living creatures. Let us be mindful of the rabbinic injunction that, 'The way a person treats an animal is an index to their soul.'
All: Hear us, O God.
Deacon: Help us to be kind and gentle like our Lord Jesus. And may we remember St. Francis' love of animals whenever we see one of your creatures hurt, suffering, and in need of help. In Christ's name we pray.
All: Amen.
The Sharing of the Peace, and the Offertory
Eucharistic Prayer:
Priest: The Spirit of life is upon us.
All: who gives breath to all creatures.
Priest: The Spirit is moving on the face of the earth
All: and we feel the Spirit in our hearts.
Priest: The Spirit is renewing us
All: and all the creatures on the earth.
Priest: Holy God, your Spirit fashioned us from the beginning, created us from the dust of the ground and breathed upon us; and all creation too was enlivened by your Spirit, free and abroad in all creation, making life by your work of love.
Nothing living is untouched by your Spirit, or without your gift of grace. The earth is full of your treasures; great and small are the works of your hands. everywhere we behold your glory and the superabundance of your Spirit. By the same Spirit we are molded together into one fellowship of life; such is your pattern that everything speaks of you and every speck of dust is transfused with glory.
You set us in the midst of life to care and serve; to walk humbly with you and trust in your Spirit; but we have betrayed that trust and have served ourselves, worshiping our own image and frustrating your Spirit within us. Only your Son filled with the Spirit has set us free and liberated us to walk again in newness of life; yet the Spirit of your Son stills cries in our hearts so that all creation may be free again with your love.
Through the same creative Spirit we pray that these creatures of bread and wine may be to us the very life of your Son in flesh and blood; signs of life renewed for the whole creation.
At the last supper, Jesus took bread and said "This is my body" and he took the cup of wine and said "This is my blood." As we remember your Son's saving work we pray that you will remember us and all creation when we come into your kingdom.
All: Driven by the same Spirit we confess you, Lord of Life, source of all that is good, beautiful and true, and we commit ourselves to that life of care manifest in your Son, Jesus Christ. Lead us Holy Spirit to the pace of our hearts where we e see and know the living God; and find in that place a world of life, always praising, always joyful, saying together:
Holy, Holy, Holy, you are the true life without end and for evermore. Amen.
Priest: These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Closing Prayer:
All: Thank you, O God, for your abundant gifts: the world about us, our brother and sister animals, and for our life in Christ. Move us to share what we've been given in loving service and bearers of hope to all around us. In Christ's name and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Blessing:
Priest: May the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer + and Sanctifier be upon you and remain with you always.
All: Amen.
The Dismissal
Priest: Go in piece to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.