We are preparing for Season of Creation 2023, let justice and peace flow! September 1 – October 4
The Climate Justice Council is urging parishes to begin planning for the Season of Creation which officially gets underway on September 1. Its observance can range from outdoor services, labyrinth walks, new liturgies to book groups — whatever holds a focus on God’s Creation and the urgency of protecting it. These celebrations stem from the 2021 Diocesan Convention which passed a resolution committing the Diocese to the observance of the Season of Creation, worded as follows:
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the Episcopal Diocese of Maine permits and encourages all of our parishes, missions and congregations to observe the Season of Creation by making use of the various liturgical resources published each year by the ecumenical Steering Committee and Advisory Committee of the Season of Creation. Our congregations are also encouraged, during each year’s Season of Creation, to host or participate in at least one ecumenical or interfaith event in their local community that highlights the connection between the earth and the spiritual lives of our people.
This years theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, in recognition of the call of the Prophet Amos:
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24)
The Season of Creation will extend from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Season of Creation to St. Francis Day on October 4.
In creating events for Sundays in the Season of Creation (9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24 and 10/1), please consider using the following resources:
All of us are called to join the river of justice and peace, to embrace climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities that are most impacted by climate injustice and biodiversity loss.
Our prayers must call for justice not only for human beings, but for all creation. In covenant with peace, we are called to repent of our ecological sins and to change our attitudes and actions.
“A mighty river” is the symbol chosen to go with this theme, representing biodiversity at risk. The urgency is growing and we must make peace with the Earth and on the Earth visible, while justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. When we join the river of justice and peace with others, it creates hope instead of despair.
We are invited to join the river of justice and peace on behalf of all Creation and to converge our individual identities, of name, family or faith community, in this greater movement for justice, just as tributaries come together to form a mighty river.
Prophet Isaiah proclaims “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43: 19)
A mighty river can move mountains.
Our individual actions during the Season of Creation are important. Celebrating creation, participating in cleanups, planting trees and reducing our carbon footprint are some of the immediate actions we can take. Get ready to organize your events!
