Our Community Extends Beyond the Table

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Our Community Extends Beyond the Table
Call to Worship Touch the Earth Lightly Unison
Reading Homily Litany for Food and Justice For
the Fruit of All Creation Benediction Service by
The Rev. Quentin Chin Litany by Meagan Manas
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We will delight in the flavors that God has
created
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We will let food and drink awaken our senses to
the glory of Gods creation
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Touch the Earth Lightly
Touch the earth lightly, use the earth
gently, Nourish the life of the world in our
care Gift of great wonder, ours to
surrender, Trust for the children tomorrow will
bear.
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We who endanger, who create hunger, Agents of
death for all creatures that live, We who would
foster clouds of disaster God of our planet,
forestall and forgive!
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Let there be greening, birth from the
burning, Water that blesses, and air that is
sweet, Health in Gods garden, hope in Gods
children, Regeneration that peace will complete.
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God of all living, God of all loving, God of the
seedling, the snow, and the sun, Teach us,
deflect us, Christ reconnect us, Using us gently,
and making us one.
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Unison Reading Psalm 104 (excerpts)from New
Century Hymnal
Bless God, O my soul. O God, my God, you are
very great. You make springs gush forth in the
valleys they flow between the hills, giving
drink to every wild animal the wild asses
quench their thirst.
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By the streams the birds of the air have their
habitation they sing among the branches. From
your lofty abode you water the mountains the
earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
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You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and
plants for people to use, to bring forth food
from the earth, and wine to gladden the human
heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread
to strengthen the human heart.
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O God, how manifold are your works! In wisdom
you have made them all the earth is full of
your creatures.
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These all look to you to give them their food
in due season when you give to them, they
gather it up when you open your hand, they are
filled with good things.
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When you hide your face, they are dismayed
when you take away their breath, they die and
return to their dust. When you send forth your
spirit, they are created and you renew the
face of the ground.
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I will sing to God as long as I live I will sing
praise to my God while I have being. May my
meditation be pleasing to God, for in God do I
rejoice. Bless God, O my soul. -- Praise be to
God!
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Pittsfield
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The average distance in the United States food
travels from farm to plate is 1500 miles
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From 1992 to 1997 an average of more than 1
million acres of agricultural land was developed
every year. And the rate is increasing.
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Productive agricultural land is a finite and
irreplaceable resource
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Benefits of agricultural land

• Provide wildlife a habitat
• Flood control
• Groundwater recharge
• Generates more local tax revenues than it costs
  in services
• Preserve open space and scenic views

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Benefits of supporting local farmers

• Preserve agricultural lands near our urban areas
• Helps the local farmer gain better economic
  stability
• Keeps income in the local economy
• They harvest the food at its peak, when it tastes
  best

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This farmer grows corn and Christmas trees
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Todays sausage was made here
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We purchase our corn from this farmstand
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This dairy delivers milk to homes and local
stores throughout the Berkshires
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We will probably get the milk from these cows
delivered to our house tomorrow
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Todays fresh pressed cider came from Bartletts
Orchard
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Another orchard made the hard cider
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Todays camembert came from this farm in Old
Chatham, NY
A Tasting
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May our eating bring justice to farmers and to
the earth
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For the Fruit of All Creation
For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to
God. For Gods gift to every nation, thanks be to
God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent
growth while we are sleeping, Future needs in
earths safekeeping, thanks be to God.
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In the just reward of labor, Gods will is
done. In the help we give our neighbor, Gods
will is done. In our worldwide task of caring for
the hungry and despairing, In the harvests we are
sharing, Gods will is done.
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For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to
God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to
God. For the wonders that astound us, for the
truths that still confound us, Most of all that
love has found us, thanks be to God.
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