Finlandia

Perhaps one of our greatest roadblocks to seeing. nature and creation as being bound intimately as a concern for all people is our tendency to divide our environment into territories and nations, and forgetting their essential unity.

The Indigo Girls here sing a song with a tune by Jean Sibelius that reminds us of this important consideration.

This is my song
O God of all the nations
A song of peace
For lands afar and mine

This is my home
The country where my heart is
Here are my hopes
My dreams my holy shrine

But other hearts
In other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams
As true and high as mine

My countries skies
Are bluer than the ocean
And sunlight beams
On clover leaf and pine

But other lands
Have sunlight too and clover
And skies are everywhere
As blue as mine

Oh hear my song
Oh God of all the nations
A song of peace
For their land and for mine

Classical music and Creation

For years, I was a cellist, and was a member of orchestra at school as well as groups such as Tulsa Youth Symphony. I even played in college with a music scholarship. Many "classical" composers have written pieces that were inspired by the natual world, and enjoying these pieces can help deepen our appreciation about nature.

Brian Wise, at WQXR, has put together an interesting piece for Earth Day 2015 about how the natural world influenced four great composers: Vivaldi, Wagner, Debussy, and Copland. Here's an excerpt:

Readers of musical biographies know that many composers have beenpassionate lovers of nature. Beethoven confessed that he often preferred the company of a tree to that of a man, and some of his best ideas came to him on his daily outdoor walks (the "Pastoral" Symphony among them). Mozart composed everywhere from a stage-coach to a workroom but his favorite workspace was an open garden. 

Some composers traveled to find inspiration. Felix Mendelssohn visited the island of Staffa on Scotland's west coast before writing the concert overture The Hebrides (also known as Fingal's Cave). Olivier Messiaen dropped by Bryce Canyon in Utah before composing Des canyons aux étoiles... Charles Ives paid homage to natural settings in his native Connecticut for Three Places in New England. 

Other composers have taken stances on issues of ecology and the environment. John Luther Adams won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for his work Become Ocean, a piece about rising sea levels brought on by climate change, and several of his earlier works evoke the landscapes of his home in Alaska. But just how closely do composers do their homework before setting pen to paper?

Look to the post above for my suggestions for a playlist (mixtape if you're old school) for those seeking classical inspiration.

Psalm 104, by Amy Grant

I am usually a bit leery of Christian pop music, but this song by Amy Grant is simply lovely, starting off with sounds from the natural world. Although the title is "Psalm 104," the lyrics are really only cover vv. 24-25. The version of scripture used is the New American Standard Bible.

Psalm 104, by Amy Grant and Will Farris

O Lord, how many are Thy works
In wisdom Thou hast made them all
The earth is full of Thy possessions
There is the sea great and broad
In which are swarms without number
Animals both great and small
O Lord, Thou hast made them all

In which are swarms without number
Animals both great and small
O Lord, Thou hast made them all

Ecumenical Resources for prayer, worship, and activism centered on creation

Please feel free to contribute any other online resource of which you are familiar in the comments section.

UCC:
The UCC's Environmental Ministries page: http://www.ucc.org/environmental-ministries/
Faith Engaging Science and Religion: http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/unitedchurchofchrist/legacy_url/1489/pastoral-letter.pdf?1418424941http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/unitedchurchofchrist/legacy_url/1489/pastoral-letter.pdf?1418424941

United Methodist:
God's Gift of the Earth: a Photo Prayer: http://www.umc.org/resources/gods-gift-of-the-earth-a-photo-prayer
Earth Day Prayer of Confession: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/prayer-of-confession-for-earth-day-and-the-festival-of-gods-creation
Resources for Creation Care: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/resources-for-creation-care

Presbyterian Church USA:
Materials on Earth Day Sunday: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/environment/earth-day-sunday/


ELCA:
Lutherans Restoring Creation: http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org
Care for Creation Commentary on the Revised Common Lectionary from Lutherans Restoring Creation: http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org/Home/care-of-creation-sermon-reflections
Let All Creation Praise: http://www.letallcreationpraise.org/home
David Rhoads, "reflections on a Lutheran Theology of Creation Foundations for a New Reformation": http://www.letallcreationpraise.org/reflections-on-a-lutheran-theology-of-creation-foundations-for-a-new-reformation


General:
Resources from the World Council of Churches: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/what-we-do/climate-change/time-for-creation
Web of Creation: http://www.webofcreation.org
"Care for God's Creatures"--Resources for animal blessing's/St. Francis's feast day: http://www.creationjustice.org/creatures.html
Creation Justice.org list of resources: http://www.creationjustice.org/world-day-of-prayer-for-the-care-of-creation.html
Reformed Worship.org article- "The Heavens Declare the Glory of God: Resources on the Theme of Creation": http://www.reformedworship.org/article/march-2004/heavens-declare-glory-god-resources-theme-creation
Worship resources on the environment from the United Church of Canada: http://www.united-church.ca/worship-theme/environment
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Offertory Prayers for Stewardship: http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/node/2621/view
Earth Ministry from Washington State's chapter of Interfaith Power and Light: http://earthministry.org/worship/prayers/
Green Faith Interfaith Partnership for the Environment's Green Worship resources list: http://www.greenfaith.org/resource-center/spirit/greenworship-resource/christian-resource-1/christian-web-based-resources/web-resource-full-listing
Creation-Centered Hymns from Interfaith Power and Light: http://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Creation-Centered-Hymns.pdf

Eucharistic Prayer for Creation from the Church of England

From the Church of England, there is available online a creation-themed Eucharistic Liturgy, entitled "All Creation Worships." Although still using predominantly masculine pronouns for God, it still has some lovely prayers within it:

Gathering

The Greeting

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
AllAmen.

The Lord be with you
Alland also with you.

The Spirit of God hovered over the water
Alland brought life to all creation.

Come, Holy Spirit
Alland renew the face of the earth.

Silence is kept.

Prayer of Preparation

AllAlmighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Human sin disfigures the whole creation,
which groans with eager longing for God's redemption.
We confess our sin in penitence and faith.

cf Romans 8.22,23

Our misuse of creation could be represented in some way, such as by holding up or projecting images.

We confess to you
our lack of care for the world you have given us.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We confess to you
our selfishness in not sharing the earth's bounty fairly.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We confess to you
our failure to protect resources for others.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.

Gloria in Excelsis

The Gloria, or some other song or hymn of praise, may be sung.

The congregation may be sprinkled with water as a sign of forgiveness during the singing.

AllGlory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

The Collect

The president says the Collect, the prayer of the day.

In a time of silence,
let us pray that our worship will bring us closer to the one who has
created all things.

The Collect is said, and all respond

AllAmen.

¶The Liturgy of the Word

Readings

Reader: None

At the end of each reading

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.

The psalm or canticle follows the first reading; other hymns and songs may be used between the readings.

Gospel Reading

This acclamation heralds the gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things.
AllAlleluia.

When the Gospel is announced, this response is used

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.

At the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Preacher: None

Affirmation of Faith

We say together in faith

AllHoly, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
Allfor by his will they were created
and have their being.

We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
Allfor with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
Allthe Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

cf Revelation 4.8,11;5.9;22.17,20

Prayers of Intercession

Creation groans with pain like the pain of childbirth,
and longs to share the freedom of the children of God,
so we offer you our prayers for the healing of all creation.
Let us pray.

This response is used

Lord of creation
Allhear the cry of our hearts.

At the end

Merciful Father,
Allaccept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

¶The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Peace to you from God who is our Father.
Peace from Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit who gives us life.
The peace of the triune God be always with you.

Alland also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Preparation of the Table

Hymn

The gifts of the people may be gathered and presented.

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

If the bread, wine and water are brought forward it is appropriate that on this occasion they are clearly visible, perhaps using see-through vessels rather than opaque ones. A glass bowl full of soil may also be presented and placed on the altar.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Eucharistic Prayer E

The Lord be with you
Alland also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
AllWe lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
AllIt is right to give thanks and praise.

Father, we give you thanks and praise
for your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is the image of the unseen God,
the first-born of all creation.
He created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
thrones, dominions, sovereignties, powers,
all things were created through him and for him.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is the radiant light of your glory:
he holds all creation together by his word of power.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is first to be born from the dead.
All perfection is found in him,
and all things were reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

The Church is his body,
he is its head.
He takes his place in heaven
at your right hand,
where we worship you with all of your creation, singing:

cf Colossians 1.15-18

AllHoly, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.

Jesus Christ is Lord:
AllLord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.

Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with [N and] all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
AllAmen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

AllThough we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei is used as the bread is broken

AllJesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

God's holy gifts
for God's holy people.
AllJesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The president and people receive communion.

Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

The deacon (or president) then lights a large (green) candle and says the following prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
creator of light and giver of life,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
In Jesus your light has shone out;
and you have given your Holy Spirit
as a mighty stream of life-giving water
to refresh and renew the face of the earth.
Let your light shine in us
that we may be beacons of justice
and bearers of hope.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

Hymn

During the final hymn the candle is taken to the door for the Blessing and Dismissal.

¶The Dismissal

Blessing

May God
who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the sky,
who leads the lambs to pasture and the deer to water,
who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine,
lead us, feed us, multiply us,
and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator
now and through all eternity;
and the blessing …

The Dismissal

A minister says

Go in the light and peace of Christ.
AllThanks be to God.

Links for more information:
Chrurch of England-- New Patterns for Worship: All Creation Worships: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/newpatterns/sampleservicescontents/npw22.aspx

World Prayer Day for the Care of Creation on September 1

September 1 has been designated since 1989 to be a world day of prayer by the Orthodox Churches for the environment; Pope Francis designated the same date as a day of prayer for Creation, as well, and the members of the Anglican Communion are encouraged to join in as well.

News release from the Church of Enland initiating this program from August, 2015:

The Church of England's lead Bishop for the environment, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam is calling on congregations to join Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew, members of the global Anglican Church and Christians around the world to fast and pray for the care of creation on 1st September.

Bishop Nicholas said:

"It will do us all good to stop, fast, think and pray about the need to care for God's good but fragile creation. We live at a time when human activity has caused a dramatic reduction in the earth's biodiversity and when people are causing climate change through our profligate use of fossil fuels. A consensus has emerged about the need to move to a low carbon economy.

"Whatever the scientific, economic and political difficulties at root this is a spiritual problem. Prayer helps clarify what we want and strengthens our determination for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. On 1st September, join the prayer for the care of creation."

The latest commitment by the CofE to transition to a low carbon future seeks to join with other denominations including the Orthodox Church, which has celebrated a Day of Prayer for the Environment on 1 September since 1989; and with the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis established a 'World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation' for the [Roman] Catholic Church which will be held annually on the same date.

Other members of the Anglican Church across the world have pledged their support for praying on the 1st September for climate justice, including the Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba.

Links for more information:
Chruch of England's lead Bishop for the Environment info: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2014/09/new-lead-bishop-for-environmental-affairs.aspx
Church of England's Shrinking the Footprint campaign: http://www.churchcare.co.uk/shrinking-the-footprint
Catholic Climate Movement's page on the World Day of Prayer: http://catholicclimatemovement.global/world-day-of-prayer/
Climate Caretakers resources for the Day of Prayer: http://climatecaretakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Pray-for-Creation.pdf

Draft prayers for creation from the Episcopal Church

EpEN, The Episcopal Ecological Network (http://eenonline.org, also listed in the links in the right sidbar of this site) has posted prayers and liturgies that were offered to the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2012 designed to be used in ecologically-themed worship. Although they were not approved by the House of Bishops, and thus are still in need of some "prefecting," there are some lovely things here. Below are some alternative prayers of confession that were proposed, from the Blue Book of the 77th General Convention.

A Confession of Sin against God’s Creation

The Deacon or Presider may introduce the Confession with these words Let us confess our sin against God and God’s creation. Silence may be kept. Minister and People Holy and merciful God, we confess that we have failed to honor you by rightly claiming our kinship with all your creatures. We have walked heavily on your earth, overused and wasted its resources, taken for granted its beauty and abundance, and treated its inhabitants unjustly, holding future generations hostage to our greed. Have mercy on us and forgive us our sin. Renew in us the resolve to tend and keep your earth as you desire and intend, with grateful and compassionate hearts, through your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. or this Merciful and sustaining God, we have sinned against you. We confess our lack of gratitude for the beauty and bounty of your creation: teach us to see that your earth sustains us and all that lives. We confess that we have misused your earth: grant us amendment of life. We confess that we have been intemperate in our appetites: strengthen us in self-control. We confess that we have taken the abundance of your world for granted: make us urgent now for its protection. Forgive and renew us now through our Savior Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen. or this God of compassion, have mercy upon us. Bring healing to our relationship with all your creation. Forgive us for our mistreatment and neglect of the creatures with whom we share your earth: for what we have done to harm them, and for what we have not done to help them. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. We ask you to fill us with your Spirit, that we may care for one another and for all your creatures, according to your will and in the fullness of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go to this link to see all of the resources, which include:
A Prayer of Confession (3 options)
A Litany for the Planet
A Rogation Day Procession and Liturgy, including collects for Rogation Days
Prayers for Rogation Day: A Rite for a Blessing of a Garden and All Who Labor
A Liturgy of Thanksgiving for Creation and in Honor of the Feast of St. Francis, with the Blessing of Animals
Additional Readings and Resources for St. Francis Day
Burial Office for a Beloved Animal
Prayers Suitable for Use in Church or Other Gatherings, at the Adoption, Illness, Loss, or Death of a Companion, Service, or Other Beloved Animals

There is also a draft on the EpEN site for Daily Prayers for All Seasons with an ecological focus.


Links for more information:
Episcopal Ecological Network: http://eenonline.org
Original Post of prayers and liturgies at EpEN: http://eenonline.org/reflect/liturgy/propers/prayers.htm
Blue Book of the 77th General Convention: https://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/gc_reports/books/bb_2012.pdf
Propers Honoring God in Creation:  http://eenonline.org/reflect/liturgy/propers/propers.htm
Prayers of the People Honoring God in Creation: http://eenonline.org/reflect/liturgy/propers/pop.htm
Daily Prayers for All Seasons: http://eenonline.org/reflect/liturgy/propers/daily.htm

Be a Gardener- Dame Julian of Norwich

Be a Gardener.
Dig a ditch. Toil and sweat.
And turn the earth upside down.
And seek the deepness.
And water plants in time.
Continue this labor.
And make sweet floods to run,
and noble and abundant fruits to spring.
Take this food and drink,
and carry it to God as your true worship.

--Julian of Norwich, whose feast day is today, ca. 1430

Immanence- Evelyn Underhill

Morning visitors in St. Lucia

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Not borne on morning wings
Of majesty, but I have set My Feet
Amidst the delicate and bladed wheat
That springs triumphant in the furrowed sod.
There do I dwell, in weakness and in power;
Not broken or divided, saith our God!
In your strait garden plot I come to flower:
About your porch My Vine
Meek, fruitful, doth entwine;
Waits, at the threshold, Love’s appointed hour.

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Yea! on the glancing wings
Of eager birds, the softly pattering feet
Of furred and gentle beasts, I come to meet
Your hard and wayward heart. In brown bright eyes
That peep from out the brake, I stand confest.
On every nest
Where feathery Patience is content to brood
And leaves her pleasure for the high emprize
Of motherhood—
There doth My Godhead rest.

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
My starry wings I do forsake,
Love’s highway of humility to take:
Meekly I fit My stature to your need.
In beggar’s part
About your gates I shall not cease to plead—
As man, to speak with man—
Till by such art I shall achieve
My Immemorial Plan,
Pass the low lintel of the human heart.

The Dreaming Fields- Trisha Yearwood (Matraca Berg cover)

Nashville singer-songwriter Matraca Berg wrote this, and Trisha Yearwood interprets it beautifully. This song pairs nicely with John Gorka's Houses in the Field.

The Dreaming Fields- Matraca Berg (2011)

Oh, the sun rolls down, big as a miracle
And fades from the Midwest sky
And the corn and the trees wave in the breeze
As if to say goodbye

Oh, my grandfather stood right here as a younger man
In nineteen and forty three
And with the sweat and his tears, the rain and the years
He grew life from the soil and seed,

Oh I'm going down to the dreaming fields

But what will be my harvest now
Where every tear that falls on a memory
Feels like rain on the rusted plow, rain on the rusted plow

And these fields they dream of wheat in the summertime
Grandchildren running free
And the bales of hay at the end of the day
And the scarecrow that just scared me

Now the houses, they grow like weeds in a flower bed
This morning the silo fell
Seems the only way a man can live off the land these days
Is to buy and sell

So I'm going down to the dreaming fields

But what will be my harvest now
Where every tear that falls on a memory
Feels like rain on the rusted plow, rain on the rusted plow

Like the rain on the roof on the porch by the kitchen
Where my grandmother sings, I can hear if I listen
Running down, running down to the end of the world I loved
This will be my harvest now

And the sun rolls down, big as miracle
And fades in the Midwest sky
And the corn and the trees wave in the breeze
As if to say goodbye, as if to say goodbye

Here is Matraca Berg's version: