Earth Day & Earth Year

Our Urgent Prayer – EcoCongregationScotland

Sustaining God, we pray with urgency for the leaders of our species and those with concern for our common home. Give to those who make decisions a freedom from the burdens of a past which have pushed us to this cliff-edge. Give a dawning vision of your offer of healing greater than the blocked horizon […]

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Creation Care poem — Susan Brecht, USA

The Light of God, a poem for Creation Care Month The light of God surrounds me, guiding me on my path. It opens my eyes to wonder, as the world around me bursts into colour. It fills me with joy and awe at the beauty of God’s creation. Leaves shimmer and dance in the breeze as […]

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Earth Prayer — Manitoba Buddhist Temple, Canada

We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home. Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend. We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air. We have filled you with the […]

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Eco-prayer — Jenny Smith, UK

Loving God, you are the Creator You have created the world in which we live And you love it You have also created us Our community and our families to live in this world which you love And we continue to alter the world to serve our immediate advantage We are greedy for more, regardless […]

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Our Mother Earth (hymn) – George Stuart, Australia

For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. Tune: Nun Danket  It is our Mother Earth To whom we owe allegiance, For ever since our birth She’s shared from her abundance; The air we need for breath, The plants we need for food, Cycles of life and death, All have our gratitude. From […]

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Bleak Gaia — Sam Goodman, UK

Bleak Gaia* A climate kairos worship resource responding to the climate crisis All at peace Slowly rotating Tomorrow creeps Procrastinating Swirled in mists Alone in space Where we exist On a wafer-thin face Clothed in blue Silently screaming And wrapped anew Resplendently dreaming Suspended and drifting A mountain of wealth And angels are lifting More […]

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Climate prayer — Cara Heafey, UK

God our creator and provider the world you have made reflects your glory. Your praises are sung by the birds in their daybreak chorus and the wolf in her plaintive howl. Sacred melodies are played by the wind as she dances among trees or sweeps across grasses. Gentle percussion can be heard in raindrops and […]

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God’s Garden — Alice Robson, USA

Alice, age 7, shared this poem as part of an eco-service for the United Reformed Church in Great Britain. This is God’s garden, God wants us to care. God also has asked, ‘Could we manage to share?’ God’s words plant a seed in our mind And God really wants us to try and be kind. […]

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When Philip landed in 1788 — Australia

Ladies Original Poem Award — Snowy Mountains Poets Championships, Australia 1998 (I have not been able to locate the poet’s name.) Possible introduction to using this poem in worship: On World Environment Day, may we be mindful of the sins against the environment and the creator that we have committed in the name of beauty, expediency, and […]

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World Environment Day Prayer — Ana Gobledale, UK

This prayer incorporates the promises of the World Environment Day Pledge created in Australia in 2007. God, empower me to make a difference. Forgive me for taking travel, convenience and electronics for granted. Grant me the willingness to: boil only the water I need, rather than filling the kettle every time. turn my bio-degradable waste […]

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Call to worship for Endangered Species — Creation Justice, USA

Written for Endangered Species Day, 17 May by Creation Justice USA. This resource has been adapted for inclusive language and imagery.  The last two lines are additions. How many are your works, Creator! In wisdom you made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.  You call your creation ‘very good.’  It is good, and […]

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A Transplant’s eco-confession — Ana Gobledale, Australia

Each of us can act now to restore God’s creation to a place of health and wholeness. My neighbours may be a bit aghast at my commitment to return our ‘English’ garden to a sustainable form, a home for indigenous plants that need no extra water, an environment that is content with the rains that […]

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Golden Ball, reflections at sunset–Joyce Dent, UK

My golden ball hangs by a golden yarn From my wood-gold curtain rail; It is half-obscured by the golden drape With its pattern of golden sun-rays. Behind it the fading golden sky Is streaked with the grey of evening clouds. And then I recall that my golden globe Was formed from the glowing white-gold ash […]

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Liturgies responding to climate change — Operation Noah, UK

Operation Noah –‘faith motivated, science informed and hope inspired’ Operation Noah, an ecumenical Christian UK charity provides resources responding to ‘the growing threat of catastrophic climate change endangering God’s creation.’ True to their self-definition as ‘an inclusive group,’ there are usually two versions of each resource available: one incorporating inclusive language and imagery and a […]

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Climate in our hands (hymn) — George Stuart, Australia

Tune: Russian Hymn For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. This wondrous universe tells of God’s glory, Endless in space and forever in time; We are astonished when we contemplate its story We have a place in this myst’ry sublime. This planet’s destiny, life in its beauty Rests with the choices we […]

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The earth needs saving — Lawrence Moore, UK

You promised us the earth and you delivered. You gave us a home – a dwelling of delight; a good place to be. You gave it to us, saying, ‘Here.  This is my gift to you. Live! Make it yours.’ We have made the world in our own image. We have treated it like we […]

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Harvest Hymns — George Stuart, Australia

These songs of thanksgiving, by George Stuart, are especially applicable for Harvest, Earth Day and Season of Creation celebrations. Click on the song title to link to printable music and lyrics. Nature’s Beauty  (Tune: Regent Square) Celebrate all hidden textures; Value all the roots below; Celebrate all covered splendour; Value beauty not on show; Celebrate with […]

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Eco-Church Songs — George Stuart, Australia

Songs for Season of Creation, Creationtide and Earth Day George Stuart writes inclusive language lyrics to use with familiar tunes. Have a look on George’s easy-to use website (click here) for numerous ‘Eco-Church’ songs focusing on God in creation/nature, the environment and our care thereof. Each song includes the lyrics, musical score, a link to […]

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Garden Blessing for Earth Day — Christine Sine, USA

Originally posted on Godspace     God bless this garden Through which your glory shines May we see in its beauty the wonder of your love God bless the soil Rich and teeming with life May we see in its fertility the promise of new creation God bless our toil As we dig deep to […]

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Gardeners act of commitment — Ana Gobledale, UK

  A responsive reading to use at a Blessing of the Gardens & Gardeners service, on Earth Day, or any day in springtime.   LEADER:       Seeds we bring   PEOPLE:       for God’s blessing and use;   LEADER:       Hoes and trowels we bring   PEOPLE:       for God’s blessing and use;   LEADER:       Hands and gloves we […]

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Genesis 1:26-31a, In Our Hands, an Earth Day drama

 “In Our Hands”  Genesis 1:26-31a This drama has been used at services focusing on the environment and caring for our world, including Earth Sunday, Blessing of the Animals Sunday, St Francis service. The source is unknown, and it has been modified over the years.  If you know who wrote the original, please let Worship Words […]

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Genesis 1-2, a choral reading, Heaven and Earth – Scott Ward

Based on  Genesis 1:1-2:4, The Message by Eugene Peterson -Arranged by Scott Ward, USA Lectionary: Trinity Sunday Year A, Epiphany Year B (Genesis 1:1-5), Easter Vigil Years A,B,C Downloads:  full scripts, ready-to-print: (horizontal versions are easy for readers to hold) Heaven and Earth Choral Reading, Scott Ward WORD Heaven and Earth Choral Reading, Scott Ward PDF Heaven […]

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Litany of the Circle — Tom Hanson and Loretta Whalen (adapted)

May be read responsively by many voices or with two voices. One:    Every part of this earth is sacred, Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore. Every mist in the dark woods, All: Every clearing and humming insect is holy. One:    The rocky crest, the juices of the meadow, the beasts and all the people, […]

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Psalm 148, The Divine Gardener — Ana Gobledale, UK

Praise the Divine Gardener! Inspired by Psalm 148 Praise the Eternal One, the Divine Gardener. Who plants the sun, the moon, the stars in the heavens. Who creates earth, the amazing garden upon which we live. Who loosens rocks into teeming, incubating soil. Who spreads the seeds of life in the seas, land, and skies […]

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The work of spring, Children’s Message — Tod & Ana Gobledale, UK

This might be included in a Blessing of the Gardeners service, or used any time during the planting and tending season. Preparation Put several items into a bag:  Bible, flower bulbs, gardening gloves, small gardening tools, e.g. trowel. Take items out as they are mentioned in the script. Method I invite the children forward to […]

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Water, Holy Water: a blessing service — Justice Ministries, USA

This resource originates from Creation Justice Ministries USA which develops Earth Day Sunday materials each year to help congregations celebrate and care for God’s Creation. Ready-to-print downloads: PDF – Water, Holy Water – ready-to-print download WORD – Water, Holy Water – ready-to-print download Faith Reflection “I don’t know what tallies as sacred for you but […]

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Litany of Hope for Earth Day — Eco-Justice Ministries, USA

This litany was first used at an ecumenical Earth Day service in Denver, Colorado USA, sponsored by Eco-Justice Ministries and the Colorado Council of Churches. (slightly adapted for inclusive language) Biblical references include:  Lamentations 1:20 (Holy Week), Psalms 5:1 (Sixth Sunday of Pentecost, Year C), Psalms 31:14-15 (Holy Week), 25, Psalms 71:14 (Holy Week), Romans 15:13 (Second Sunday of […]

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Cosmic Walk, an interactive ritual

Appropriate for Earth Day, during the Season of Creation and other services focusing on the vastness of creation. The Cosmic Walk, an inter-active ritual with actions and readings, invites participants into the story of the universe. Moving between ‘stations’ along a long rope laid out in a spiral, participants are introduced to 21 major events in the history of […]

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Eco-Justice Services – World Council of Churches

A service for Earth Sunday or Season of Creation (Creationtide) The National Council of Churches USA Creation Justice Ministries develops  Sunday worship materials each year to help congregations celebrate and care for God’s Creation.  To access these annual resource packets for eco-justice worship services, visit their Earth Day Resource page. PDF – Eco-Justice Service – […]

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Earth Prayer — David Pickering, UK

Renewing God, we pray for a new spirit of care to branch out across the earth, that all nations might act for your creation in silencing the roar of the chainsaw in extinguishing the burning of the forests in purging the pollution of the air in conserving valuable energy in stemming the tide of pollution […]

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Season of Creation — 1 Sept – 4 Oct

This annual observance, stretching from 1 September to 4 October (Day of St. Francis of Assisi), aims to raise awareness about the urgency to care for creation as a response to the ecological crisis. Click on category to view resources created for the Season of Creation (Creation-tide) Songs  Complete services Psalms Prayers Dramas, litanies, choral […]

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Tinged with Greed — Joyce Dent, Hampshire UK

Creator of the Universe, Lover of all that you make, We thank you for this marvellous world Which you have given us for our home. Help us to show our gratitude As much by our lives as by our words. We acknowledge that so often Our best efforts are tinged with greed, The desire for […]

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Earth Prayer — Sensei Ulrich, Canada

We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home. Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend. We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air. We have filled you with the […]

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