HOLIDAY — With hearts filled with gratitude, members of the Holiday United Church of Christ gathered recently to thank God for the rain received so far this year.
And to ask for more.
Pastor Drew Willard said they also discussed taking responsibility for the care of the environment — water in particular.
"We had a call to repentance and then we turned to God for help," said Willard.
Steve Turner, from Giving Tree Music, held a drum circle at the beginning of the morning ceremony. He also drummed for a rain dance at the end of the service.
Stanley Lachut, a member of the church, sang a solo: Showers of Blessings with a refrain that asks God to send blessings that are needed.
There were other songs of praise and thanksgiving including This Land is Your Land.
Rita Brown, a 30-year member of the church, said it was a wonderful service.
"We prayed for rain in proper proportion. We don't want a flood," she explained. "And we talked about the importance of water and our responsibility to it."
A special guest was Wilmore Sadiki, an imam from the St. Petersburg Islamic Center.
"He told an Islamic parable about when God created the world," said Willard.
The story tells of God calling forth the angels and showing them his creation.
The angels said: How could anything go wrong?
Then after humanity was created and put their touch on the world, the angels said: How could anything go right?
"It's all about responsibility," said Willard.
The Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi was read. It is also known as Praise of the Creatures as it is a song of praise to God for his entire splendor and for the weather.
At the end of the service people were asked to join Turner in either drumming or dancing. He brought extra drums so those who wanted to drum could join in.
The service closed with the song Kumbaya reminding God that someone was praying, someone was singing and someone was dancing.
The church is at 4826 Bartelt Road in Holiday. Call (727) 937-1520.
St. Francis speaks
Words of praise
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and Clouds and Storms and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
— From the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi
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