Worship Resources

It is important for us to incorporate our care for the environment in all aspects of our congregational life, particularly in worship services. GIPL has collated and created some helpful resources for your worship planning below. You can also download a document file of this information here.

Liturgical, Audio and Visual Suggestions for Worship
Bulletin Resources
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for April 20, 2008
Other Scripture Suggestions
Sermon Inspiration
Sermon Samples
Hymns
Meditations and Prayers
Benediction
Online Resources
Print Resources 

Liturgical, Audio and Visual Suggestions for Worship

·      Provide children with an opportunity to participate in a service honoring God’s creation by carrying baskets of fresh, local produce, a pitcher of water, a bowl of soil, a basket of bread, and a lively plant, into the sanctuary at some point in the service like during the processional, offertory, or children’s moment.

·      During a children’s sermon or class, children could be led in planting seeds in small pots for a home or congregational garden.

·      Consider placing enlarged photos and/or posters of creation scenes in the entry way of your worship space. Particularly startling would be pictures of the effects of deforestation and the destruction of natural habitat, such as endangered species, pollution, erosion, and loss of fertile land for farming. Or, display pictures of mountaintop removal landscapes and coal-fired power plant smoke stacks.

·      In addition to placing live plants and flowers in the entry way of the church or sanctuary, play music which incorporates sounds from nature, such as waterfalls, bird songs, or wolf howls.

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Bulletin Resources

Include suggestions for faithful creation care in your worship service’s bulletin. Developing a specific project and goal for the congregation will encourage greater participation and response to greening initiatives. Give “how to’s” in the bulletin. Some general suggestions include:

·      Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

·      Walk and bike more

·      Drive less

·      Carpool

·      Drive fuel efficient vehicles

·      Buy local, organic produce and meat

·      Compost lawn and food scraps

·      Conserve fresh water—turn facet off while brushing teeth and soaping up in shower

·      Capture rainwater and use it for watering lawn and garden

·      Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs

·      Use EnergyStar appliances in your home

·      Turn off and even unplug computer, TV, other electronics when not in use

·      Install two to three paned windows

·      Encourage politicians to pass environmentally sound legislation

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Revised Common Lectionary Readings for April 20, 2008

While comparing God’s protective presence to an earthly refuge of unscalable rock, the psalmist also takes for granted the ways in which God’s earth provides special protection and nourishment to humans and all living creatures.

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.  Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. (Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16)

From John 14:1-14, the preacher could reflect on the ways in which Jesus mirrors the Father’s activity in creation. Just as God created the world with a diversity of living and non-living entities and generously gave a niche to them all (implying, then, that we too ought to maintain and protect these niches and species), so too does Jesus generously prepare a home in God’s presence for each person.

In my Father’s house are many mansions, many dwelling places. This is an image of hospitality to the multiplicity of persons in God’s domain. In God’s world are many ecosystems with room for a great variety of creatures. Like the rooms of a house, the cells of a monastery, or the homes of a neighborhood, somehow there is an organizing principle, a unity of parts that contains all (Jennifer M. Phillips, Preaching Creation Throughout the Church Year (Cambridge: Cowley Publications, 2000), 40-1).

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:1-14)

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Other Scripture Suggestions

God has commanded us to care for creation.           
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

The idea of "dominion" is best expressed as "stewardship".           
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ (Genesis 1:26)

Our survival depends on the natural world, which in turn depends on God.           
He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth. (Psalm 104:10-14)

If we do not follow God's commandments, ecological consequences can result; there is a connection between the moral world and the natural world.           
The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:4-5)

It is unethical for us to use more than our fair share of the world’s resources; a heavy "ecological footprint" is contrary to God's covenant with his people.
Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?" (Ezekiel 34:17-18)

Jesus' call to care for the poor includes care of natural resources for all the people of the earth.           
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:13-14)

We have the responsibility to care for the earth as a heritage for our children and children's children.
The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ (Exodus 34:6-7)

The beauty of the earth is necessary for people to live fully.           
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)

A substantial change in our common lifestyle will have significant positive effect on the environment.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

Our understanding of the natural world and its interrelatedness is far from complete.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)

Our covenantal responsibilities include the preservation of species.
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. (Genesis 6:18-19)

God has a significant relationship with animals and the earth separate from his relationship with humans.
God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:12-15)

The fate of creation is bound up with the fate of humanity.  Both wait in hope for redemption.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:19-23)

Creation itself has a role in praising God.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.  He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:1, 3-6, 9-10, 13)

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Sermon Inspiration

Old-growth forests inspire a sense of awe—especially with regard to time and hospitality—which also can lead us to reflect on God’s own awesome existence above time and hospitality toward humans and all creation. Consider this excerpt from Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray who grew up in South Georgia:

Something happens to you in an old-growth forest. At first you are curious to see the tremendous girth and height of the trees, and you sally forth, eager. You start to saunter, then amble, slower and slower, first like a fox and then an armadillo and then a tortoise, until you are trudging at the pace of an earthworm, and then even slower, the pace of a sassafras leaf’s turning. The blood begins to languish in your veins, until you think it has turned to sap. You hanker to touch the trees and embrace them and lean your face against their bark, and you do. You smell them. You look up at leaves so high their shapes are beyond focus, into far branches with circumferences as think as most trees.

Every limb of your body becomes weighted, and you have to prop yourself up. There’s this strange current of energy running skyward, like a thousand tiny bells tied to your capillaries, ringing with your heartbeat. You sit and lean against one trunk—it’s like leaning against a house or a mountain. The trunk is your spine, the nerve centers reaching into other worlds, below ground and above. You stand and press your body into the ancestral and enduring, arms wide, and your fingers do not touch. You wonder how big the unseen gap.

If you stay in one place too long, you know you’ll root.

I drink old-growth forest in like water. This is the homeland that built us. Here I walk shoulder to shoulder with history—my history. I am in the presence of something ancient and venerable, perhaps of time itself, its unhurried passing marked by immensity and stolidity, each year purged by fire, cinched by a ring. Here mortality’s roving hands grapple with air. I can see my place as human in a natural order more grand, whole, and functional than I’ve ever witnessed, and I am humbled, not frightened, by it. Comforted. It is as if a round table springs up in the cathedral of pines and God graciously pulls out a chair for me, and I no longer have to worry about what happens to souls (Janisse Ray, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1999), 68-9).

Use this reading from Ray to illustrate the hospitality of God as implied by the scripture reflection on John 14:1-14 noted above.

Or, use it in connection with Job 38:4-7 and the fact that humans cannot comprehend the majesty of God and the inner workings of creation. Yet, everywhere we look there is evidence of God’s ongoing creation and renewal. Because the Earth is the place where God’s creative and redemptive powers unfold, we should relate to God’s creations with gratitude and appreciation, working to heal rather than injure the earth. 

Ray’s conception of a table in the forest could easily connect to Psalm 23 and / or to the liturgical practices of either the Jewish Passover Feast or Christian Eucharist.

“What Shall We Drink?” is a question which plagued the wandering Hebrews of time past and plagues parched Georgians today. Exodus 15:22-27 presents us with a miraculous story of water purification carried out by human agency.

In preaching or teaching on Exodus 15:22-27, one might emphasize the Hebrew nation’s dire need for water and its encounter with contaminated and bitter water. God recognizes the people’s need yet expects Moses to act on behalf of them, apparently inspiring him to throw a piece of wood into the water to make it potable. Now, the multitude of people needs to use the water sparingly and responsibly.

Since north GA is in a significant drought, we too need to use water sparingly and responsibly. But sometimes the water we need to use is polluted—are we responsible for cleaning it up? Can we use our God-given ingenuity to engineer new, cost-effective and energy-efficient purification methods? We all contaminate water, but some of this “gray water” could be reused for other purposes. We can capture our shower water in a bucket and use it for watering lawns and plants. We can all reduce the ways we do pollute water—cutting back on lawn fertilization, pouring kitchen grease onto newspaper rather than down the drain, keeping litter out of the streets and therefore out of the water ways. Like the ancient Hebrews, we have a limited water supply for a huge mass of people, so we must reduce our use of water as much as possible. Although God does graciously provide rain for the earth (Psalm 147:8), God also expects us to manage and use that water carefully.

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Sermon Samples

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s Investiture Sermon reflects on the theological notions of home and the interdependent relationship between home and the issues of social justice and care of creation.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78703_79214_ENG_HTM.htm

Hot and bothered: Facing up to global warming, by Bill McKibben, July 11, 2006, gives some basics about the science of global warming and how the interfaith community was beginning to respond in 2006. http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=2196

The National Interfaith Power & Light page provides Earth Day Sermon samples from many different traditions.  http://www.theregenerationproject.org/Resources.htm?tr=y&auid=3528040           

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Hymns

UMH=United Methodist Hymnal 1989; CP=Common Praise; VU= Voices United

• “All Creatures of Our God and King” UMH 62; CP 355; CU 217
• “All Things Bright and Beautiful” UMH 147; CP 415; CU 291
• “Cantemos al Señor” [Latino] UMH 149
• “Fairest Lord Jesus” UMH 189; CP 619; CU 341
• “For the Beauty of the Earth” UMH 92; CP 429; VU 226
• “God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale” UMH 122; CP 414; VU 229
• “God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens” UMH 150
• “How Great Thou Art” UMH 77; CP 423; VU 238
• “I Sing the Almighty Power of God” UHM 152; VU 231
• “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” UMH 89; CP 425; VU 232
• “Let All Creation Bless the Lord” CP 419; CU 870
• “Let All Things Now Living” CP 403; VU 242
• “Morning Has Broken” UMH 145; CP 3; VU 409
• “Mountains Are All Aglow” [Korean] UMH 86            
• “Thank You, God, for Water, Soil and Air” by Brian Wren (http://www.reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=550)
• “This is My Father’s World” UMH 144
• More Hymns http://www.earthministry.org/Congregations/worship_aids.htm#litanies

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Meditations and Prayers

Infinite Spirit, when I pray each day
for shelter for the homeless,
let me not ignore the pet without a home;

As I ask for protection for those in areas
of turmoil and unrest,
let me not forget endangered species of life;

When I pray that the hungry be fed,
let me be mindful
that all God’s creatures have need of sustenance;

As I ask Divine assistance for those afflicted
by fire, flood, earthquake, storm or drought,
let me remember that this includes every living thing;

In seeking miracle cures for human disease,
may I also speak for the well-being of the planet itself. 

Let the words of my mouth,
the meditations of my heart
and the actions of my life be as one,
that I may live each day in harmony
With Mother Earth. Amen.

                        Jennie Frost Butler, Earth Prayers

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

                        Rumi

We think of Thee, worship Thee, bow to Thee as the Creator of this Universe; we seek refuge in Thee, the Truth, our only support. Thou art the Ruler, the barge in this ocean of endless births and deaths. In the name of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations. Give us wisdom that we may know each other and not despise all things. We shall abide by thy Peace. And, we shall remember the servants of God are those who walk on this earth in humility and, when we address them, we shall say Peace Unto Us All.

                        Islamic Peace Prayer

I desire neither earthly kingdom, nor even freedom from birth and death. I desire only the deliverance from grief of all those afflicted by misery. Oh Lord, lead us from the unreal to the real; from darkness to light; from death to immortality. May there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficient beings bring peace to us. May thy wisdom spread peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to all and to me. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti (Peace, Peace, Peace).

                        Hindu Peace Prayer

Creator God, You who are Holy Trinity,
By your spoken Word you created all that is seen and unseen.
That Word is Jesus Christ, through whom and for whom you created this and all worlds.
We thank you for making creation astounding with complexity and variety
And for calling it very good.

We praise you for entrusting us with so great a responsibility, that of caring for creation.
We acknowledge our dependence on your world—
The air we breathe
The water we drink
The food we eat.

We confess our polluting influence we so often have on your world—
The air we breathe
The water we drink
The land we farm.

Open our eyes, O gracious Creator, to see the destruction we cause by our careless consumption.
Open our ears, O merciful God, to hear the groaning of all creation and the cries of those without voice.
Open our hearts, O compassionate Lover, to feel remorse for our unfaithful care of your creation.

And so, enable us to change our ways.
Give us a vision of faithful living on this great globe.
Empower us to make both the simple and complex changes you desire for us. Amen.

                        Prayer of Confession by Presian Burroughs

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Benediction

Deep Peace of the running wave to you
Deep Peace of the flowing air to you
Deep Peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep Peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the shades of night to you
Moon and stars always giving Light to you.

                        Celtic Peace Prayer from Antiquity

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Online Resources

Sermons and Sermon Ideas:

Evangelical Environmental Network http://www.creationcare.org/resources/sunday/sermon.php

Environmental Stewardship Commission (Episcopal) http://www.env-steward.com/lectnry.htm

Earth Ministry Sermons http://www.earthministry.org/Congregations/sermons.htm

Creation Care for Pastors http://creationcareforpastors.com/

Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light http://www.gwipl.org/sermons.asp#starters

Interfaith Service of Prayer and Witness For Climate Action http://www.religiouswitness.org/june11event.html

Links to many sermons through GBGM http://www.gbgm-umc.org/NCNYEnvironmentalJustice/worship_resources.htm

National Council of Churches (three sermon starters on pg. 4 of doc) www.nccecojustice.org           

Liturgy:

Earth Ministry Liturgy http://www.earthministry.org/Congregations/worship_aids.htm#litanies

Web of Creation http://www.webofcreation.org/Worship/index.htm

Evangelical Environmental Network http://www.creationcare.org/resources/sunday/worship.php

GBGM (UMC)   http://www.gbgm-umc.org/NCNYEnvironmentalJustice/index.html

GIPL http://www.gipl.org/worship.html

Green Faith http://www.greenfaith.org/

National Council of Churches (information on poverty and climate) www.nccecojustice.org

Scientific Information:

How to talk to a climate skeptic http://gristmill.grist.org/skeptics

Union of Concerned Scientists http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy http://www.cleanenergy.org/

Energy Star for Congregations

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations

RealClimate—Climate Science from Climate Scientists http://realclimate.org/ 

Faith-based Environmental Groups

National Religious Partnership for the Environment http://www.nrpe.org/

Evangelical Environmental Network http://www.creationcare.org/

Earth Ministry - Caring for all creation http://www.earthministry.org/

Eco-Justice Ministries http://www.eco-justice.org/

Environmental Justice - New York UMC http://www.gbgm-umc.org/NCNYEnvironmentalJustice/index.html

National Council of Churches of Christ: Eco-justice Programs http://www.nccecojustice.org/

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Print Resources

Barnett, Tanya Marcovna, ed. Greening Congregations Handbook: Stories, Ideas, and Resources for Cultivating Creation Awareness and Care in Your Congregation. Seattle: Earth Ministry, 2002.

Habel, Norman C. Seven Songs of Creation: Liturgies for Celebrating and Healing Earth. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2004.

Hessel, Dieter T., ed. Theology for Earth Community: A Field Guide (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1996).

Hessel, Dieter T. and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds. Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-being of Earth and Humans (Boston: Harvard University Press, 2000).

Phillips, Jennifer M. Preaching Creation Throughout the Church Year. Cambridge: Cowley Publications, 2000. 

Rhoads, David, ed. Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet (New York: Continuum Publishing, 2007).  

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