Faith communities in Ireland are being urged to join with Christians throughout the globe during Creation Time in celebrating creation and considering how they care for the earth. The theme of this year's Creation Time, which falls on 1st September to 4th October, is "Creation Flourishing - A Time for Celebration and Care".
In the wake of BP's disastrous oil spill, Eco Congregation Ireland (ECI) hopes that people will take time to consider the impact of human activity on the environment as well as celebrating the beauty of the natural world and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
"Everytime we allow any species or habitat to become extinct through greed or carelessness, we remove something unique of God's self-revelation in Creation," says ECI chairperson, Catherine Brennan SSL.
We would ask you to share the following prayer with your meetings one Sunday during Creation Time. Also to consider practical initiatives you could undertake in your meetings e.g. planting fruit trees, organising a litter pick, teaching environmental awareness in Sunday School etc. (Earthcare for Friends published by Quaker Earthcare Witness is an excellent resource.)
Prayer:
All creation comes from you, O God, and you have invited us to be its stewards. Give us eyes to see Your handiwork in every creature, give us love for the whole of creation. The whole earth is full of Your glory, O God, help us to live compatibly with our environment. Show us creative ways to live simply and to conserve the earth's natural resources for future generations. For the gifts of light, life and love are yours, now and for ever and from age to age. Amen.
Eco Congregation Ireland is an inter-denominational project that encourages churches to adopt an eco approach to worship, lifestyle, community outreach and contact with the developing world. The Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian churches are involved as well as the Religious Society of Friends. It offers resources and practical suggestions for faith communities and indiviual Christians who wish to live out their vocation to care for God's Creation as part of their Christian faith. For further info see:
www.ecocongregationireland.org
Terrific post, Michael!
ReplyDeleteLovely prayer. Good link too. Many thanks!