Worship resources and Ark procession
This is a resource sheet for Operation Noah, the community climate change campaign.
Further modules can be downloaded from www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah (your local library will be able to help you if
you do not have internet access at home), or by telephone from 01949 861516.
Operation Noah is a project of Christian Ecology Link, registered charity number 327844.
This resource sheet will help you plan your Operation
Noah day. Either do it yourself using the suggestions
below or follow one of the two sample services at the
end.
Scripture passages

a dozen pegs
In addition ask each of the volunteers to bring the
following items (labelled with their names, so you don’t
go home with everyone’s lost property!):

a white bed sheet
The story of Noah, especially the following parts:

an umbrella
Genesis 6: 9-14, 7:11-24; 8:13-14; 9:8-17.

animal masks or outfits
Psalm 104:24-31

inflatable rubber rings
Psalm 65 (suitable for use before the presentation)

placards (if you’ve managed to make some in time).
Isaiah 35:1-10 and 41:17-20 (especially suitable towards
the end of a session)
Issue eight people (or preferably more) with a sheet,
arrange them in the form of the hull of the Ark – one at
the bow, one at the stern, and two or more to form either
side of the Ark. Then in the middle, arrange two or more
people to hold up the tent frame, which will form the
house on top of the Ark. Issue them with the tent frame
and two sheets.
Matthew 14: 22-33 (Jesus calms the storm and Peter is
saved by his faith in him)
See also passages quoted in ‘What the Bible says’ (see
Climate change – call to conversion)
Festivals
You might like to plan your Operation Noah day to fall at
one of these times.
Harvest (October), Rogation tide (May), Conservation
Sunday (first Sunday in June), Feast of St. Francis,
Patron saint of ecology (October), Creation Time
(September 1st to the second Sunday of October)
Talks
Choose from the Ark in a Box resource sheets: Two
talks for an adult audience, Talk for an all-age audience
or PowerPoint presentation (NB this is based on Ps 104)
How to build an Ark Procession
A procession creates a shared sense of movement and
purpose, and it is a great way of getting people ‘on
board’. There are a number of occasions when a
procession would be suitable. You can organise one as
part of a service, at the beginning or the end.
Or you could hold the procession out of doors – round
the churchyard, or even up the main street on a
Saturday or at the local carnival. Remember that you
will need to check with the local police if you want to use
a public thoroughfare. But a public procession would
really turn heads and stimulate local commitment to
climate justice, because no-one wants to be left out of
the action!
You will need:

at least twelve volunteers

a lightweight tent frame or Wendy House, ideally
with a pitched roof

a long rope
Drape the tent frame with two sheets, and ask the
people in the middle to hold it up above eye level, so it
can be seen above the people surrounding it. Some
ingenuity may be needed to ensure the tent gives the
right effect as Noah’s house perched on the deck of the
Ark. For instance the whole frame may need lifting up
on poles to give it sufficient height. Also the bearers
need to be comfortable carrying the frame for the
procession – although of course they can hand it on to
other bearers for after a while.
For the hull of the Ark, run the rope round the outer
shoulders of the outer people, and hang a sheet off the
rope between each person so that it nearly touches the
ground. You may need the pegs to keep the sheets in
position. Ask them also to cover their outer shoulder
with the sheet. The result should be a continuous ‘wall’
forming the hull of the Ark.
Depending on the effect you want to create, you can
then have people follow the Ark, singing songs (such as
the Arky Arky song), handing out leaflets, carrying
umbrellas or placards, with children (or grown-ups!)
dressed as animals and as Mr and Mrs Noah. You could
also fix a looped lifeboat rope, rubber rings, or messages
(such as ‘Time to build the Ark’, ‘Climate justice’ etc) to
the hull.
Worship resources and Ark procession
This is a resource sheet for Operation Noah, the community climate change campaign.
Further modules can be downloaded from www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah (your local library will be able to help you if
you do not have internet access at home), or by telephone from 01949 861516.
Operation Noah is a project of Christian Ecology Link, registered charity number 327844.
Prayers and readings
(With suggested slides to show on overhead screen if
appropriate)
The Operation Noah Prayer
(Photo of a rainbow)
Creator God, how deep are your designs!
You made a living earth, cloud, rain and wind,
and charged us with their care.
We confess that the way we live today
is changing the climate, the seas and the balance of life
dispossessing the poor and future generations.
Build our lives into an Ark for all creation,
and, as you promised Noah never to repeat the Flood,
so makes us heralds of a new rainbow covenant:
choosing life for all that is at risk for creation, neighbours near and far,
our children and ourselves.
Amen
If the Earth were only a few feet in
diameter
(Photo of the earth from space with “In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth”)
If the Earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a
few feet above a field somewhere, people would come
from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk
around it, marvelling at its big pools of water, its little
pools and the water flowing between the pools. People
would marvel at the bumps on it, and the holes in it, and
they would marvel at the very thin layer of gas
surrounding it and the water suspended in the gas. The
people would marvel at all the creatures in the water.
The people would declare it precious because it was the
only one, and they would protect it so that it would not be
hurt. The ball would be the greatest wonder known, and
people would come to behold it, to be healed, to gain
knowledge, to know beauty and to wonder how it could
be. People would love it, and defend it with their lives,
because they would somehow know that their lives, their
own roundness, could be nothing without it. If the Earth
were only a few feet in diameter.
From Threads of Creation copyright of the United
Reformed Church 1989
A Celtic Prayer from the Iona
Community
(Photo of plant/animal/bird with “Everything got started in
him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16
(Msg))
There is no plant in the ground
But tells of your beauty, O Christ.
There is no creature on the earth
There is no life in the sea
But proclaims your goodness.
There is no bird on the wing
There is no star in the sky
There is nothing beneath the sun
But is full of your blessing.
Lighten my understanding
Of your presence all around, O Christ.
Kindle my will to be caring for Creation
Prayer for forgiveness
(Photo of damage – flood/smoke stacks/drought)
Lord we marvel at the beauty and the intricacy of your
world given to us,
We are sorry we do not look after one another as we
should,
Lord we abuse your creation, misusing the earth’s
precious resources,
Forgive us and help us to consider the way we live,
Teach us how to carefully use and conserve the planet
for everyone’s benefit.
Lord we want to live in a way that does little damage in
this world and we ask for wisdom and a desire to limit
any harm we inflict on this earth.
The earth is the Lord’s
(Photo of beautiful things with “the earth is the lord’s and
all that is in it” written across it)
Almighty God, Creator and Lord of all things, we praise
you for the marvels of the world you have made, for the
varied beauty of earth and sky and sea, and for your
provision of all things needful for our bodies.
The psalm says, “The earth is the lords and all that is in
it.”
(Psalm 24. 1)
We know, Lord, that while the earth is yours,
You have appointed us stewards of your property.
Keep us faithful to this trust;
And make us mindful of our responsibility both to
conserve the earth’s resources
And to distribute its benefits justly and unselfishly,
Give us as Christians such reverence and gratitude for
the created order that we may conserve and not destroy
our rich inheritance, and share its bounty with the needy
peoples of the world;
For the good of mankind, and for your great glory.
Amen
Worship resources and Ark procession
This is a resource sheet for Operation Noah, the community climate change campaign.
Further modules can be downloaded from www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah (your local library will be able to help you if
you do not have internet access at home), or by telephone from 01949 861516.
Operation Noah is a project of Christian Ecology Link, registered charity number 327844.
Hymns
Most of these hymns are included here with kind permission of
EcoCongregation
All creatures of our God and king
St. Francis/W H Draper
All things bright and beautiful
Cecil Alexander
All things praise thee, Lord most high
G W Condor
Beauty for brokenness
Graham Kendrick
Bless the Lord, created things
Judy Davies
Come let us worship the Christ of creation
Allred & Saward
Creator of the earth and skies
Donald Wynn Hughes
Fairest Lord Jesus
Lilian Stevenson
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness (Psalm 147)
Timothy Dudley-Smith
For beauty of meadow, for grandeur of trees
W H Farquharson
For the beauty of the earth
F S Pierpoint
For the fruits of all creation
Fred Pratt Green
For the healing of the nations
Fred Kaan
From you all skill and science flowed
Michael Perry
Give to our God immortal praise (Psalm 136)
Isaac Watts
God in his love for us lent us this planet
Fred Pratt Green
God who made the earth
Sarah B Rhodes
God who spoke in the beginning
Fred Kaan
God, who stretched the spangled heavens
Catherine Cameron
God, whose farm is all creation
John Arlott
Great is thy faithfulness
T O Chisholm
Hills of the North rejoice
Charles E. Oakley
I love the sun
Gwen F Smith
I sing the almighty power of God
Isaac Watts
I, the Lord of sea and sky
Dan Schutte
Immortal, invisible, God only wise
W Chalmers Smith
Jesus is Lord! Creations voice proclaims it
David Mansell
Joy to the world
Isaac Watts
Let us gladly with one mind
Michael Saward
Like a mighty river flowing
Michael Perry
Lord, bring the day to pass
Ian Fraser
Lord of creation
Jack Winslow
Lord of the boundless curves of space
A F Bayly
Lord of the changing year
David Mowbray
Morning has broken
Eleanor Farjeon
Not the grandeur of the mountains
Michael Perry
Now join we to praise the creator
Fred Kaan
Now praise the protector of heaven
Christopher Idle
O all you works of the Lord / Bless the Lord
(the Benedicite)
O come, and let us to the Lord (Psalm 95)
Metrical Psalm
O Lord, all the world belongs to you
Patrick Appleford
O Lord my God
tr. Stuart Hine
O Lord of every shinning constellation
A F Bayle
O Lord our God, how majestic is your name
Phil Lawson Johnston
O praise him, O praise him! (Song of Caedmon)
Arthur Scholey
O worship the King (Psalm 104)
Robert Grant
Praise and thanksgiving
A F Bayly
Praise him, praise him
Michael Perry
Praise my soul, the King of heaven (Psalm 103)
H F Lyte
Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him
Timothy Dudley-Smith
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Psalms 103, 150)
Joachim Neander
Praise ye the Lord, tis good to praise (Psalm 147)
Isaac Watts
Roar of the waves, the waters pressing
Michael Perry
Sing praise to God on mountain tops
John Bell and Graham Maule
The earth is the Lord’s
Graham Kendrick
The heavens declare
Andy Silver
The Lord told Noah to build him an arky arky
(The Arky Arky song)
The universe to God in silence sings
David Fox
The works of the Lord
Christopher Idle
Think of a world without any flowers
Bunty Newport
To God who makes all lovely things
J M C Crum
Touch the earth lightly
Shirley E Murray
Yes, God is good
John Hampden Gurney
You shall go out with joy
Stuart Dauermann
Worship resources and Ark procession
This is a resource sheet for Operation Noah, the community climate change campaign.
Further modules can be downloaded from www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah (your local library will be able to help you if
you do not have internet access at home), or by telephone from 01949 861516.
Operation Noah is a project of Christian Ecology Link, registered charity number 327844.
Sample Services
Traditional service


The service could follow your church’s usual pattern
with the following adjustments:
The leaflet “The future is in your hands” is handed
out as people come in.

Choose, or let your organist choose, hymns from the
EcoCongregation module 2 – Celebrating Creation
(www.ecocongregation.org) included below with kind
permission from EcoCongregation.

The Operation Noah part of the service could replace
the reading and sermon and go like this:
1. Briefly introduce what it’s all about – “today we’re
going to focus on climate change and why
Christians should be concerned – we’re having a
short drama sketch, our reading and then a
presentation explaining what it’s all about and
what we can do about it”
2. Drama sketch
3. Reading - Psalm 104
4. Power point presentation (NB this is based on Ps
104)

Prayers can be relevant and could include those
below or choose some from EcoCongregation’s
module 2 at www.ecocongregation.org.

At the end of the service the minister could remind
people to fill in the covenant forms and hand them to
you as they leave.

Have someone at the door to collect the signed
postcards and hand out additional leaflets to
interested people as they leave.
The Operation Noah Posters may be borrowed from Jill
Vogler, jill@vogler.demon.co.uk, 0113 266 5165. We are
currently making posters that focus on people and
animals and how they are impacted by climate change. If
Jill does not yet have these, please call 01252 849904.
The leaflet “The future is in your hands” is handed out as
people come in.
Order of service:
1. Welcome and briefly introduce what it’s all about
– “today we’re going to focus on climate change
and why Christians should be concerned – we’re
having a short drama sketch and also a
presentation explaining what it’s all about and
what we can do about it”
2. Songs – Our God is a great big God and Let
everything that has breath
3. Drama sketch
4. Readings – If the Earth were 3 feet in diameter
(see below), read by a child, but have an adult
introduce it with the title to make sure it is heard,
followed by Psalm 104 read by adult.
5. Power point presentation (NB this is based on Ps
104)
6. Prayers around the church. Explain that there
are three areas set up around the church to pray
for the people affected by climate change, for the
animals and biodiversity and for what we can do.
Ask the congregation to go to one of the areas
and pray. Pray with the children at the front.
7. End prayers with Celtic prayer read by child (see
below)
8. Songs – Father of creation, Praise him you
Heavens
9. Remind congregation to fill in the covenant forms
and hand them to you as they leave.
10. Blessing
Contemporary all-age service
Prior to service:
Hand out around the community and put in shop windows
etc. little flyers publicising the service.
In Sunday school make plastercine/play-dough animals to
display in the church with the animals posters.
Put posters in 3 places around the church focusing on:
1. People
2. Animals
3. What can you do (Operation Noah Posters)
11. Have someone at the door to collect the signed
postcards and hand out additional leaflets to
interested people as they leave.