Lent, Easter & the Beauty of the Earth

1 For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

2 For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light,  R

3 For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,  R

4 For each perfect gift sublime
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,

flowers of earth and buds of heaven,  R

                                         Voices United 226

I've been leading study groups in our Trenton United Church congregation and I've really enjoyed the thoughtful, spiritual people who attend. They are quick to express their gratitude but I feel that I receive so much from them.

Currently we are exploring the biblical concept and Christian practice of hospitality. During Lent I'll work with Rev. Isaac (my kid & pastor) with the devotional book For the Beauty of the Earth by Leah Schade, an ordained Lutheran minister and professor. It moves us through this reflective season of the Christian year using lines from the traditional hymn of the same name as the foundation for each week.

 The book also offers eco-faith ideas for the 50 days of the Easter season as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The United Church has slowly but surely included Creation and Earth-care themes into our worship life with Earth Sunday in April and Creation Time in September/October. I really appreciate this Lenten resource as well. In a time of climate crisis we need challenging and hopeful faith and worship resources through which God can speak to us about our responsibility and sense of wonder in Creation. 

I'm including this post on both this Groundling and my Lion Lamb blogs, even though it is really Groundling material. In the event that any reader closer at hand is interested in a copy of the Lenten book we ordered plenty, and at $7 they are a steal. With 40 days in Lent and 50 days in Easter that works out to less than 8 cents a day! And for a limited time only we'll included free Sunday worship services. Go ahead and order now!

Here is a youth choir singing John Rutter's wonderful version of For the Beauty of the Earth. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTOfSKXkRa0