In the wake of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Eco Congregation Ireland hopes that Christians will take time to consider the impact of human activity on the environment as well as celebrating the beauty of the natural world and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
“Protecting biodiversity is also about the vital resources that underpin the wealth and health of the world’s poor and that provide the vital needs for the well-being of us all. Investing in this capital is the only way to ensure a sustainable future for the world’s children.
“During Creation Time this year all Christians are invited to enjoy and celebrate the beauty and diversity of our abundant planet, to ask forgiveness for its degradation, to pray for its protection and commit ourselves to its healing and care.”Eco Congregation Ireland was involved in preparing the extensive resources, which are available free to download from the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website -http://www.ctbi.org.uk/498. Included are prayers, liturgy, sermon notes, resources for children’s groups or schools, biodiversity facts, discussion group ideas and action ideas for groups and individuals.
In preparation for the 2010 UN Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Mexico later this year, the Creation Time resources include material to enable churches, groups and individuals to focus on issues relating to the decisions which will need to be taken.
In the face of mounting evidence that we are heading for runaway climate change and massive losses in biodiversity, there is the need for an international treaty that would bind governments to drastic and immediate cuts in carbon emissions, but this requires courageous and far-sighted political leadership to transform our economy and many aspects of our culture.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in its recent pastoral reflection The Cry of the Earth, have asked churches to join together in observing Creation Time.
The CTBI resources include the following prayers, which were prepared by Catherine Brennan SSL:
Jesus, you loved the land and fields of flowers; bless farmers, gardeners and all who till and care for the soil.
Lord hear us
Jesus, you taught your followers to travel lightly through life; call our consumer culture to a change of heart – to values that lead to life.
O God we are one in you, and all that we do affects the whole; make us aware of our power to seed the world with good or ill by every thought, word and deed.
The gifts of the earth are distributed unevenly, and we long to lift up those in need; soften the hearts of those who place personal or national gain above the good of the whole.
In taking flesh among us you raised all creation to a new dignity; teach us to have an ever growing reverence for your bountiful creation and a sense of responsibility for its preservation.
Priest/Leader: Most provident God, you graciously give us all good gifts. Teach us to care for our earth: to till our soil responsibly, to keep our air pure, to free our waters from pollution, to harvest the warmth of our sun, and to respect the rights of all species. May we willingly share the gifts of your goodness with all. We ask this of you, God of our universe, through Christ our lord. Amen.