The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

bowl of fruit, water, flowers, blooming plants, things that show growth reaching fruitfulness

 

Leader: 

The summer brings us light and warmth that help to bring forth the fruits of the earth. The summer for many of us brings rest, relaxation, retreat, vacation, that hopefully brings forth fruit in ourselves, in our communities, and in our ministry. Today we are invited to spend some time reflecting on the fruits that have been produced this summer in our lives or the fruits we would like to produce during the summer that we are enjoying at this moment.

 

Hymn Suggestions:
All Good Gifts (Keil)

Canticle of the Sun (Haugen)

For the Beauty of the Earth (DIX)

For the Fruits of This Creation (AR HYD Y NOS)

Give Thanks to the Lord (Schutte)

How Great Thou Art (Hine)

Let All Things Now Living (ASH GROVE)

Parable (Ridge)

Sing, O Sing (Schutte)

Table of Plenty (Schutte)

We Have Been Told (Haas)

Any song that speaks of growth and fruitfulness

 

Speak an allegory to the house of Israel. Say: Thus says the Lord God:

A great eagle, with great wings and long pinions,

rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon.

He took the top of the cedar, broke off its topmost shoot;

he carried it to a land of trade, set it in a city of merchants.

Then he took a seed from the land, placed it in fertile soil;

a plant by abundant waters, he set it like a willow twig.

It sprouted and became a vine spreading out, but low;

its branches turned toward him, its roots remained where it stood.

So it became a vine; it brought forth branches, put forth foliage.

 

There was another great eagle, with great wings and much plumage.

And see! This vine stretched out its roots toward him;

it shot out its branches toward him, so that he might water it.

From the bed where it was planted it was transplanted

to good soil by abundant waters, so that it might produce branches

and bear fruit and become a noble vine. (Ezekiel: 17:2-8)

 

All:  They are like trees planted by streams of water that yield fruit in due season. (Ps.1:3)

Reader Two: 

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:13–20)

 

All: They are like trees planted by streams of water that yield fruit in due season. (Ps.1:3)

Reflection and Sharing: