Environmental Stewardship Commission

Date: June 8, 2006

To: Clergy and Congregations of the Diocese of Minnesota

From: The Rt. Rev. James Jelinek

Regarding: Creation Celebration

In accordance with the resolution passed by the 148th Convention of the Diocese of Minnesota, I hereby declare the period from October 1 through November 5, 2006 to be a "Period of Celebration of Creation."

I am convinced that creation care is one of the most critical issues facing humanity at this time. We must learn to honor and steward the natural world. Otherwise all will suffer, and the poor will suffer most.

I ask each worshipping community in the diocese to give special attention during that time to God's gifts in creation and our responsibility of care for them. Please highlight creation care in liturgy, preaching and education.

It is our joy to celebrate the beauty and fecundity of nature, through which God sustains all life on the planet.

The Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC) has prepared outlines for liturgies, adult education, and children's education programs for each of the Sundays from October 1 through November 5, 2006. You can access the outlines at http://www.env-steward.com/lectionary/lectb/b-creat-lit.htm.

These outlines are intended as resources. You are, of course, welcome to plan your own liturgies and education programs on the creation theme if you wish. MEESC invites you to share whatever prayers or learning opportunities you do develop with the rest of the diocese by sending to The Rev. Tom Harries for posting on the MEESC website.

Please join this diocesan wide celebration of God's glorious Creation.

The MEESC assumes that all correspondence received is for publication on this web site. If your comments are not for publication, please so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right to decide which items are included on the web site.