Earth Day and Creation Care

 

Finding ourselves in a world of beauty and mystery,

   of living things, diverse and interdependent,

   of complex patterns of growth and evolution,

   of subatomic particles and cosmic swirls,

we sing of God the Creator,

the Maker and Source of all that is.

Each part of creation reveals unique aspects of God the Creator,

   who is both in creation and beyond it.

All parts of creation, animate and inanimate, are related.

All creation is good.

We sing of the Creator,

   who made humans to live and move

   and have their being in God.

In and with God,

   we can direct our lives toward right relationship

   with each other and with God.

We can discover our place as one strand in the web of life.

We can grow in wisdom and compassion.

We can recognize all people as kin.

We can accept our mortality and finitude, not as a curse,

   but as a challenge to make our lives and choices matter.

from A Song of Faith United Church Statement of Faith 

The United Church of Canada has made the connection between caring for the planet and honouring the Creator for more than forty years. This has included activism in various forms, and in developing a sense of wonder and praise within services of worship. We are encouraged to observe both Earth Sunday and Creation Time in the Fall as part of the liturgical calendar. I can say that I took up this important challenge through most of my ministry, leading study groups and worship services and congregational hikes, all of which were an attempt to "live with respect in Creation" (A New Creed.) 




Creation Time Banner

This year Earth Sunday would have been Easter Sunday, so it was a challenge for congregations to focus on Creation when Resurrection was the big deal. Still, we can do so personally on this Easter Monday and all through the year. 

Check out some of the Earth-honouring initiatives of the United Church on the website. Happy Earth Day!

https://www.united-church.ca/tags/environment