Day 1
"God, Creator of the Universe"
A. Opening Song
How Great Thou Art
-- Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes
O Lord my God
when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the world
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow'r throughout
the universe displayed.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art,
how great Thou art!
(Repeat Refrain)
B. SCRIPTURE READING
(Gen 2, 1-4)
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work hat he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
C. MEDITATION
The Old Testament suggests and the New Covenant reveals the creative action of the Son and the Spirit, inseparably one with that of the Father. this creative co-operation is clearly affirmed in the Church's rule of faith: "There exists but one God... He is the Father, God, the Creator, the author, the giver of order. He made all things by Himself, that is, by His Word and by His Wisdom," "by the Son and the Spirit" who, so to speak, are "His hands." Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC 292]).
D. PRAYER
(Psalm 8, 1-9)
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all he earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also he beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whtaever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
E. LITANY TO GOD THE FATHER
Leader: O God, Father of Heaven
All: * Have mercy on us.
: O God, Son, Redeemer of the World *
: O God, Holy Spirit *
: Father, Creator of the world *
: Father, eternal wisdom *
: Father, infinite goodness *
: Father, bountiful *
: Father, fount of everything *
: Father, most sweet *
: Father, infinite mercy *
: Father, and defender *
: Father, our glory and happiness *
: Father, wealth of all people *
: Father, triumph of all nations *
: Father, hope of all Christians *
: Father, splendor of the Church *
: Father, splendor of kings *
: Father, overturner of idols *
: Father, consolation of people *
: Father, happiness of priests *
: Father, guide of men and women *
: Father, gift of family life *
: Father, help of the poor *
: Father, guide of youth *
: Father, friend of childen *
: Father, freedom of slaves *
: Father, light of those who live in darkness *
: Father, destroyer of the proud *
: Father, wisdom of the just *
: Father, rest in tribulations *
: Father, hope in toil *
: Father, harbor of safety in danger *
: Father, consolation of the afflicted *
: Father, refuge of the hopeless *
: Father, refuge of orphans *
: Father, refuge of the aged *
: Father, refuge of the dying *
: Father, that relieves our thirst and poverty *
: Father, life of the dead *
: Father, glory of all the saints *
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* forgive us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
* have mercy on us, O Lord.
Prayer:
(taken from "The Father Speaks to His Children" p.68-69)
Father, the world needs You
Every person needs You
The heavy and polluted air needs You.
We beg You, dear Father
Come back to walk the streets of the world
Come back to live among Your people
Come back to guide the nations
Come back to bring peace with Your justice
Come back to bring the fire of Your love.
So... redeemed by sorrows
we can become a new creation.
Amen.
F. CLOSING SONG
From Heaven The Lord Looks Down
From Heaven The Lord Looks Down
upon the children of men
To see if there be but one
who does good
and keeps the law in his heart.
Refrain:
My heart overflows
I sing my ode to the King
My tougue flows
life the pen of a scribe
I sing the praise of the Lord
hmmm, hmmm.
How lovely is this place
The dwelling place of the Lord
My heart and soul
have yearned and pined
for God the living God.
(Repeat Refrain)