Leaves

Closing liturgy from 'Clean service

[illuminated white tree placed on sheet among leaves from part 3. congregation invited to stand around the sheet looking at the leaves]

here are our harmful actions and desires
lying as dead leaves on the ground
their beauty is brief
and then we are left with the withered remains

how shall these leaves live again?

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

our actions and desires can only live and prosper if they are offered back to god
and if the life of god flows through them

they will only bring fruit and healing if they are part of the tree of life where they truly belong

the tree of life breathes in pollution and breathes out clean air
the tree of life turns dead leaves into healing leaves
the tree of life turns our bad works into good fruit
that we can eat and not die

Lord we offer our freedoms back to you
replant them in your tree of life
and let us bear your fruit and healing

as a sign that we are offering these things to god, let's tie the leaves to the tree

[congregation tie leaves to tree with white cotton]