1. Liturgical Cosmology / Cosmological Liturgy Rick Wright Church of the Nations 5 th Sunday of Easter (C) April 28, 2013

2. Astronomy week! Hubble Space telescope 23 rd birthday Horsehead Nebula in infrared light

3. Astronomy week! Type 1a supernova 10 billion light years away

4. Astronomy week! 3 planets that could have water Kepler 62-e and 62-f

5. Psalm 148 Halleluia! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights! Psalm of praise – Who God is / what God does From the heavens. In the heights. Praise him all his angels. Praise him all his host. Sun and moon. Shining stars. Highest heavens. Waters above the heavens. – Begins with heaven not earth

6. Psalm 148 Halleluia = Praise the Lord – Invite heaven Halleluia – 7x Reasons for praise = Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever. He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed? will never pass away? – Invite earth Halleluia – 1x Reasons for praise = His name alone is lifted up. His glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up praise for his people who are close to him. Halleluia = Praise the Lord

7. Liturgical cosmology Poetry / song / hymn? – Heavens – Earth Deeps Natural world Human beings – Psalm 148 = liturgical cosmology Shape and structure of the universe Worship

8. Cosmological liturgy Psalm 148 invites whole universe to praise God – How does natural world praise God? – Being / doing what God made them to be / do – Everything has a purpose! The Lord has given us praise as our special honor and power. We are near him and know him and can speak his name. God gives us the praise with which to voice the unspoken praise of all creation. Praise is our place and purpose. In our praise the name that is the truth about the entire universe is spoken on behalf of all creation. (James Mays)

9. Humans = priests of creation Created in image of God – Represent God in creation – Manage creation with/for God – Human beings as priests (Margaret Barker) – Responsible for the world – Offer universe to God in praise (Vladimir Lossky) Human beings turned against God – Under power of sin and death

10. Jesus Christ the true human God enters world Becomes human Experiences death Defeats death Restores human beings to true nature and purpose Priests of creation