ORDER FOR THE BLESSING OF SEEDS AT PLANTING TIME
OPENING OF WORSHIP
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The grace, the love, and the mercy of God be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us praise God, who plants the seeds and reaps the harvest.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed be God for ever.
Today we seek God's blessing on these seeds and the crops they will produce. Christ reminds us that, unless the seed is planted in the earth and dies, it will not yield fruit. As these seeds grow and are cared for, may they be signs of the new life that comes from God.
THE WORD OF GOD
Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians: (15:35-39) The seed you sow does not germinate unless it dies.
[or]
Genesis 1:27-31—Creation
Isaiah 55:10-13—God gives seed to the one who sows.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10—God will increase the harvest.
Matthew 13:31-32—Parable of the mustard seed.
Mark 4:26-29—The seed and the kingdom of God.
Luke 12:16-21—Be rich in what matters to God.
John 12:23-25—Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies.
One of the following psalms may be sung:
Psalm 126—Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Psalm 65—To you we owe our hymn of praise, O God, in Zion.
Sermon
LITANY
The Lord of the harvest sustains us, let us call upon him:
Deliver us, O Lord.
From despair in times of drought:
Deliver us, O Lord.
From wastefulness in times of plenty:
Deliver us, O Lord.
From neglect of those in need:
Deliver us, O Lord
From blindness to your presence in our work:
Deliver us, O Lord.
From hunger and thirst:
Deliver us, O Lord.
Remember us, O Lord, in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
Our Father…
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Lord of the harvest,
you placed the gifts of creation in our hands
and called us to till the earth and make it fruitful.
We ask your blessing
as we prepare to place these seeds (seedlings) in the earth.
May the care we show these seeds (seedlings)
remind us of your tender love for your people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[An ordained minister concludes the service by saying]
May God nourish you and care for you, now and for ever.
Amen.
And may almighty God bless you all,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
[A lay leader concludes the service by saying]
May God nourish us and care for us, now and for ever.
Amen.
This service was adapted from The Book of Blessings © 1987, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscribers to RW may reproduce this service for church or school use. For more information on this collection of services see pp. 2-3.
FOR ADDICTS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS
OPENING OF SERVICE
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise God our creator, who gives us courage and strength, now and for ever.
Amen.
God created the world and all things in it and entrusted them into our hands that we might use them for our good and for the building up of the church and human society. Today we pray for N________, that God may strengthen him/her in his/her weakness and restore him/her to the freedom of God's children. We pray also for ourselves that we may encourage and support him/her in the days ahead.
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians (4:6-9)—We are afflicted, but not crushed.
[or]
Isaiah 63:7-9—He has favored us according to his mercy.
Romans 8:18-25—I consider the sufferings of the present to be
as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us.
Matthew 15:21-28—Woman, you have great faith.
One of the following psalms may be said or sung:
Psalm 121—Our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 130—My soul trusts in the Lord.
INTERCESSIONS
Our God gives us life and constantly calls us to new life; let us pray to God with confidence.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those addicted to alcohol/drugs, that God may be their strength and support, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For N________, bound by the chains of addiction/substance abuse, that we encourage and assist him/her in his/her struggle, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For N________, that he/she may trust in the mercy of God through whom all things are possible, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the family and friends of N________, that with faith and patience they may show him/her their love, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the church, that it may always be attentive to those in need, we pray.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray to our merciful God as Jesus taught us:
Our Father-----
PRAYER OF BLESSING
For addiction
God of mercy,
we bless you in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who ministered to all who came to him.
Give your strength to N________, your servant,
bound by the chains of addiction.
Enfold him/her in your love
and restore him/her to the freedom of God's children.
Lord,
look with compassion on all those
who have lost their health and freedom.
Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy,
and strengthen them in the work of recovery.
To those who care for them,
grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For substance abuse
God of mercy,
we bless you in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who ministered to all who came to him.
Give your strength to N________, your servant,
enfold him/her in your love
and restore him/her to the freedom of God's children.
Lord,
look with compassion on all those
who have lost their health and freedom.
Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy,
strengthen them in the work of recovery,
and help them to resist all temptation.
To those who care for them,
grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May God give you light and peace.
Amen.
May God raise you up and save you.
Amen.
May God give you courage and strength.
Amen.
And may almighty God bless you all,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
[A lay leader concludes the service by saying]
May our all-merciful God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and embrace us in love for ever.
Amen.
Doxology
This service is suggested for pastoral visits, although portions of the service may be very meaningful within the context of Sunday worship, especially a healing service. This service was adapted from The Book of Blessings © 1987, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscribers to RW may reproduce this service for church or school use. For more information on this collection of services see pp. 2-3.