We are in the Season of Creation. This season dates from September 1st to October 4th (St Francis Day) The idea for this season came from the Adelaide scholar Norman Habel and the Uniting church piloted the idea back in 2003 and 4. Since then this season has been adopted by the Catholic and Orthodox churches and the World Council of Churches.
The aim of the season is to foster our understanding and actions to recognise the sacred in our environment. This year the theme of the season is a home for all’. We recognise that the earth is God’s household with a place for all the diversity of creation. Each of the four Sundays in the season has a particular theme. Last Sunday was Earth Sunday, this Sunday (Sep12) is Humanity Sunday, next Sunday is Sky Sunday and the fourth Sunday is Blessing of the Animals Day. Following the common lectionary of readings 3-year cycle, there are different readings and themes for each of the three years.
Since the devastating bushfires in 2020 and the current pandemic and the International Panel on Climate Change IPCC report, it is clear how necessary it is that we take up the theme of a home for all’ We lost so much of our environment in the fires from humans to animals, to plants and the soil, and now we are aware in this covid 19 pandemic of people without homes or proper housing. The need to respond with ‘a home for all’ is urgent.
Here is a quote from the poem ‘Season of Creation Spring has called us’ (UCA Resources)
By Lutruwita (Tasmanian) woman Alison Overeem
If we listen carefully we will be guided by the call of the ocean,
The gentle breeze of the trees
The surroundings and sights abounding us,
Calling us to care for,
To be with,
To learn from, to protect…….
BEING, BELONGING, CONNECTING – TO ALL CREATION
Coralie
