In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the

Earth.Earth.

and darkness was on the face of the deep.and darkness was on the face of the deep.

The earth was without form, and void;The earth was without form, and void;

““Let there be light”; and there was light.Let there be light”; and there was light.

““Let there be a firmament in the midst of the Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters, and let it divide the waters from the

waters”waters”

““Let the waters under the heavens be gathered Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear”; together into one place, and let dry land appear”;

and it was so.and it was so.And God called the dry land Earth, and the And God called the dry land Earth, and the

gathering together of the waters He called Seas. gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.And God saw that it was good.

Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it

was so.was so.

                                            

““Let there be lights in the firmament of theLet there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and them be for signs and seasons, and for days and

years; “and let them be for lights in the firmament years; “and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”, and it of the heavens to give light on the earth”, and it

was so.was so.

He made the stars also.He made the stars also.

God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on thelight on the earth, and to rule over the day and over earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.

And God saw that it was good.And God saw that it was good.

““Let the waters abound with an abundance of living Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across

the face of the firmament of the heavens”the face of the firmament of the heavens”

So God created great sea creatures and every living So God created great sea creatures and every living

thingthing that moves, with the waters abounded, that moves, with the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was according to its kind. And God saw that it was

good.good.

““Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”and let birds multiply on the earth.”

““Let the earthLet the earth bring forth the living creature bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and

it was so.it was so.

““Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of

the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping

thing that creeps on the earth.”thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in His own image; in the image So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created of God He created him; male and female He created

them.them.

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that birds of the air, and over every living thing that

moves on the earth.”moves on the earth.”

Then God saw everything that He had made, and Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.indeed it was very good.

When I consider Your heavens,When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your the work of Your fingers,fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,What is man that You are mindful of him.What is man that You are mindful of him.

Psalm 8: 3-4a

Amen