September 1st, has been designated as World Day of Prayer for Creation. It is also the beginning of the Liturgical Season of Creation (or known by some other denominations: Creation Time). During this time we acknowledge the wonderful aspects of God’s creation and as caretakers of all of creation we need improve our sense of unity with creation. In other words, we are co-creators with God and stand with all that God has created not apart from it.
The extreme weather and disasters of this year has is a loud cry from creation as our common home is jeopardized. In response to this cry, the members of the Season of Creation Advisory Committee of the World Council of Churches, the theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow” has been chosen with a seasonal logo of a mighty river.
Two of the Bishops on the Season of Creation Advisory Committee share the following quotes as to the importance of this liturgical season within the church:
“There has never before been a time, in the history of human existence, when we have so gravely threatened not only our own existence, but that of the rest of the living world. But it’s not too late to act, if we do it now, if we do it together.” – Bishop Olivia Graham, Diocese of Reading, Church of England.
“The Season of Creation is a vital and necessary reminder that God’s saving, healing, justice-seeking love extends to every part of creation. As the Church, the household of God, we are called to live out this life-giving love for the benefit of all.” – Rev Faith Whitby, Bishop of the Central District, Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
I pray that you will use the coming weeks to ponder the needs of creation and the small ways you can contribute to living a more just and peaceful life that allows all of creation’s life to flourish.
The prayer below can be prayed often during this coming season.
Creator of All,
From your communion of love life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being. On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation.
You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life. We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth.
Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation. Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation.
Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation.
Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth. In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessings, Rev. Gloria