Special Forms of Worship
Highlighting
Creation and Environmental Themes and
Reflections on Creation
We feel that the writings, music, and traditions of our Christian
faith are rich in seasonal and natural reflection. It is our current
times that overlook the call to the earth, our home, from every
nook and cranny of our historic spiritual practice. In support
of this tradition, the Environmental Stewardship Commission has
begun collecting and posting various forms of worship not found
in formal prayerbooks, missals, or service books, that highlight
creation and environmental themes.
Worship Services:
Creation Season Sermons:
Creation Season Materials:
Creation Season in Easter
Season 2011 and other times
(Easter 2 through Easter 7, Year A; and other
times you may wish to use them)
For use in the Easter Season, Year A, using the
Revised Common Lectionary with a focus on six themes (oceans,
the land, rivers, forest, underground, arctic/the poles) that
are not tightly tied to the lectionary. The project consists
of Bulletin Inserts and support information for homilists, liturgists,
and musicians, and religious education. To get to the entire
listing, click
here.
Creation Season in Pentecost
2009
(Proper 22 through 25, Year B)
For the month of October (Proper 22 through 25)
using the Revised Common Lectionary with a focus on "this
fragile Earth, our Island home." The project consists of
Bulletin Inserts, support for homilists, liturgists, and musicians,
and related materials. To get to the entire listing, click
here.
Creation Season in Pentecost
2008
(Proper 22 through 25, Year A)
For the month of October (Proper 22 through 25)
using the Revised Common Lectionary with a focus on "Special
Recognition of the Place of Food in our Lives". The project
consists of Bulletin Inserts, support for homilists, liturgists,
and musicians, and related materials. To get to the entire listing,
click
here.
Creation Season 2008, March
30 through May 4, 2008
(Easter 2 through Easter 7, Year A)
The Easter Season, Year A, materials apply to
the current Liturgical Year using the Revised Common Lectionary
and some related readings from the Episcopal (Standard) Lectionary.
The focus of this season is water. The project consists of Bulletin
Inserts, support for homilists and liturgists, and related materials.
To get to the list, click
here.
Creation Season 2006:
October 1 through November 5, 2006
(Propers 21-26 Year B, Standard Lectionary)
The overall theme this year is the spiritual and
environmental aspects of food production. For all the skill
we humans have developed in farming, God still provides the
growth. Rich soil and fresh water remain essential ingredients.
Since we care for that which we love, the commission seeks to
encourage creation care by celebrating the beautiful gifts we
have received.
We have selected a theme for each Sunday based
on articles in our booklet on implementing the diocesan convention
resolution on the Spirituality
of Food Production. On the liturgical pages you will find
prayers, links to reflections on the lectionary texts for each
Sunday, as well as hymns that fit with the theme of the day.
On the education pages we've placed ideas for adult education
and children's education programs on the same theme.
The information is available for
Creation Season Reflections:
Reflections on an Ecumenical
Season of Creation
At the request from David Rhoads, Professor of New
Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, MEESC members
are offering ecological sermon notes for the alternative lectionary
lessons for Creation Season Sundays in 2005 for use by pastors.
The links below are to the sermon notes.
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September
4, 2005—Forest Sunday: "All the trees of
the forest sing for joy (Ps. 96:12)
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September
18, 2005—Wilderness Sunday: "Let the wilderness
lift up its voice" (Isaiah 42:11)
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