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Denominational versions: Alliance of Baptists * American Baptist * ELCA * Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) * PC(USA) * UCC * UMC
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Each year, Creation Justice Ministries offers materials to help churches recognize Earth Day. Earth Day Sunday can be recognized April 17 or 24.
The resource is written to be useful year-round. Additional opportune moments to use this resource include September 1, recognized by Orthodox and Catholic communions as the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, or in October, during the Season of Creation and close to the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. HYMNS
All Creatures of Our God and King (YouTube) His Eye is On the Sparrow (YouTube) A Place in the Choir (YouTube) O God, Your Creatures Fill the Earth (Link) Mother Earth, Our Mother Birthing (Link) SERMON RESOURCES, SAMPLE SERMONS Sermon preparation materials by Rev. Carol Devine, Green Chalice Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Hebrew Word Study: Dominion by Chaim Bentorah Animal Blessing Sermon by David Rhodes, ELCA ANIMAL BLESSING SAMPLE ORDERS OF WORSHIP Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Animal Blessing Template Presbyterian-Baptist Animal Blessing Order of Worship ELCA Blessing of the Farm Animals Jewish-Christian Blessing of the Animals Program Season of Creation Blessing of the Animals VIDEOS
MORE RESOURCES
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TAKE ACTION - Let us know if you take action: [email protected].
Be mindful that you are a creature. Mindfulness that we are part of an interdependent web of life is the first step to reconciling with fellow creatures. Go outside. Start a nature journal. Local wildlife and watershed groups can help, as well as our nation’s parks, which you can find at findyourpark.org. Consider connecting with ministries such as Adventures for the Wild at Heart, and Center for Spirituality in Nature. Count and observe creatures. Scientists need help understanding what is happening to God’s creatures. Species observation is a ministry you can offer as an individual or as a faith community. Learn how to plan a Bio Blitz to count and observe creatures. Create habitat.
Stand with people protecting their ecosystems Stand with the Gwich'in people of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in their effort to protect their ancestral home and the porcupine caribou on which they rely. Learn more at http://creationjustice.org/arctic Pray and speak for threatened and endangered species. God’s creatures need human allies to raise awareness, as well as talk to policy-makers. Get on Social Media: Howl, roar, hoot, splash, and hiss for God’s threatened and endangered species. Take a short video or vine of animal noises to “speak for” a creature you care about. Post to #BlesstheAnimals and #EndangeredSpecies. Be sure to tag Creation Justice Ministries @CreationJustice so we can share it, too. Host a Blessing of the Animals: Animal blessings can be done any time of year, but many Christian communities organize them in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi in October. Share photos at #BlesstheAnimals Join an Endangered Species Roundtable Event Together with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Creation Justice Ministries is co-hosting endangered species roundtables in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, July 17, St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday, July 31, and Washington, DC on Wednesday, November 30. Contact policy-makers. Policy-makers at every level need to hear about protecting God’s creatures. Contact your members of Congress about the Endangered Species Act. |
NEWS CLIPS
- Border Walls are Dangerous for Wildlife (Washington Post 11.1.16)
- Stanford Researcher Declares Sixth Mass Extinction is Here (Stanford University 6.15.16)
- Earth is on Brink of a Sixth Mass Extinction (Washington Post 6.22.15)
- Protect Caribou, Oppose Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain (Anchorage News 8.1.13)
- Decline of Pollinators Poses Threat to Global Food Supply (New York Times 2.27.16)
- Find a roundup of news clips on White Nose Syndrome's impact on the dramatic die-off of bats in North America.
