Creation Time, Season of Creation, Creationtide

 

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 enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor,  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.  For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 Romans 8:19-25 NRSVue Creation Time, Season of Creation, Creationtide theme verses

Today marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, or Creation Time as it's called in the United Church of Canada. My favourite term for this liturgical period during what is early Autumn in Canada is Creationtide. The Church of Scotland resource describes it well: 

Since 1989, the ‘Season of Creation’, ‘Creation Time’, or ‘Creationtide’ has grown to be  a lively  global and ecumenical movement in Christian churches, dedicating the Sundays of September and the first in October (closest to St Francis’ Day, 4th October) to worship, prayer, reflection and action on the Commission of the Risen Christ, to bring Good News to All Creation. 

This year we visited the islands of Haida Gwaii in the Pacific Ocean and Change Islands/Fogo in the Atlantic. We delighted in the constantly changing sea and appreciated the gifts of the tides, the daily inhalation and exhalation of the planet. In this way Creationtide has special meaning for us this year. 

I hope you are part of a community of faith that acknowledges this important time of reflection and action. All of us can be hopeful, mindful of Creator and Creation during these weeks.

Triune God, Creator of all, 

We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created, making us a cosmic family living in a common home. Through the Earth you created, we experience love and nourishment, home and protection. 

We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures, and the groans of the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us. 

May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully, so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her, so that the firstfruits of hope may blossom. 

Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image. 

In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation, Jesus Christ. 

Amen.