Creation Time 2021

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

from the United Church New Creed 1968

amended in 1994 to add the words "to live with respect in Creation."

It has been months since I posted a Groundling blog entry and I know why. While I tried to keep up with two blogs (Lion Lamb is the other) I found that while I usually had the time for both I didn't have the mental energy. It's meant that I've reflected on eco-faith issues as well as celebrated both Creation and Creator in Lion Lamb.

Today, though, is the beginning of Creation Time or the Season of Creation in the Christian liturgical year and I'm compelled to acknowledge this as a Groundling. Creation Time is roughly five weeks from the first of September to October 4th, which is the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of the environment. In Canada we often stretch the season to our Thanksgiving which is the second weekend of October. 

This year the theme of Creation Time/Season of Creation is A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God. The question mark intrigues me because it suggests that humans have botched an expansive, inclusive perspective on what it means for the Earth or Turtle Island to be home. If we are wise and faithful Christians we will rediscover and renew our commitment to our planet being home for all creatures, great and small. 

That odd word oikos is actually Greek for household, home, or family. The English words ecology and economy both come from oikos which serves as a reminder that the two concepts are intertwined. We are all involved in "home economics." a school term from the past for some of us, the class where the practicalities of caring for a household were taught. 

It happens that during this Creation Time are in the throes of an election here in Canada and some are claiming this is the Climate Change election because of the sense of urgency in addressing the issue. I'm not so sure that Canadians are concerned enough to make the Climate Emergency a high profile issue but I think we should. As Christians we can choose to vote according to which party demonstrates "home economics" seriously and with a credible action plan. 

We can also focus during these weeks on the gift of Creation as our home and ask what we will do to humbly respect our place in the world which our earthy God has brought into being.