Worshiping the God of All Creation

Information presented at worship breakout session EcoFaith Summit 2019

With the whole creation, we worship the God who became a part of creation in Jesus Christ for the sake of the healing of creation. How can the way we worship in our congregations be centered around God who is for, with, and in the whole creation? How can sacramental practice, preaching, music, prayer, worship space, and integrating a Season of Creation enable us to more vividly worship the God of all creation?

Contents: 1. Resources 2. Presentation outline: Worshiping the God of All Creation 3. ELW Hymns of Creation 4. Season of Creation Overview 5. Season of Creation: A Three Year Cycle of Readings 6. Communion bread recipes 7. Notes from breakout sessions (presentation and participant discussion)

Worship session leaders: Rev. Kristin M. Foster email: revkristinfoster@gmail.com; phone: 218-290-4694

Rev. Krehl Stringer email: lightstringer@gmail.com; phone: 218-290-2863 Feel free to contact either Pr. Kristin Foster or Pr. Krehl Stringer for more information or consultation.

1.Resources Sundays and Seasons (comprehensive worship planning resource with many creation references)

Season of Creation – www.letallcreationpraise.org/season-of-creation; www.seasonofcreation.com,

Preaching commentary - www.letallcreationpraise.org/preaching/using-the-lectionary

Liturgy for Earthkeeping, created by Dakota Road for Luther College, www.dakotaroadmusic.com

Of the Land and Seasons Liturgy (four liturgies for the four seasons of the year)- Augsburg Fortress

Faith and Science Podcast (lectionary connections) contact Tyler Bublitz, tbubz45@gmail.com

2.Presentation outline: Worshiping the God of All Creation

Theological themes: Worship is the center of who we are and everything we do God comes to us in Word and Sacrament, renewing, redeeming, reconciling us to all creation. How we worship shapes us and everything else. Christian worship is eschatological, creating anticipatory community, i.e. an alternte vision of reality. The God we worship is Creator of all Word made flesh, the Incarnate One, Redeemer and Reconciler for the whole creation Spirit renewing the face of the earth Those with whom we worship are All creation and every created being People of every time and place, and every nation God’s sanctuary is The whole earth The whole universe The local land, water, and creatures of your own context We are creatures within the creation The earth is not an environment. It is our home and what we are made of.

We are completely interdependent, part of an intricate web. We are creatures who are called into participation with God’s new creation. Human civilization is at an existential turning point. The Living Word, Law and Gospel, calls us to Repentance – metanoia – a whole life shifting that is personal, communal, and systemic. This repentance can be pictured as healing, letting go of idolatries, or as new birth and new life.

Implications for our Worship Practice Sacramental implications Eucharist - The Table of the Lord is the table of creation The Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation is for the life of the world Incarnation vs. dis-incarnation – let’s not celebrate the sacraments as a kind of dis-incarnation: The real presence of Christ in real bread and real chalice (not wafers and plastic) Eucharist as communal eating Eucharist and feeding the hungry Baptism – Living Water, the Promise of Renewal for All Life Baptism is watershed. We live in that watershed, and also in a geographic watershed. Water in the font at all times. Placement of the font – either at entrance to the church or entrance to communion area. Thanksgiving for Baptism and the waters of baptism (include local bodies of water) Luther’s Flood Prayer Vigil of Easter – fire, water, bees, darkness and light, creation and new creation Use of Asperges - Thanksgiving for Baptism, Vigil of Easter Consider holding an outdoor baptism festival Proclaiming the Word for and with the Whole Creation Weekly proclamation with the Revised Common Lectionary Season of Creation proclamation with three-year lectionary (cf. Section 4) Praying for and with the whole creation Sundays and Seasons prayer petitions – reshape them to reflect local context and current events Lakota Prayer for the Four Directions The Great Litany – contains prayers for favorable weather, good harvest, etc. St. Francis Blessing of the Animals Rogation Sunday/ Blessing of Seeds, Soil, and Water/ Harvest Festival Blessing of Bicycles/ Energy Sabbath/ Tree Planting/ Garden Sunday/ Fishing/Hunting/Hikers, etc. blessings (examples on www.letallcreationpraise.org/season-of-creation) Singing with the whole creation (see Section 2. Hymns of Creation in the ELW) Rich hymn availability in the ELW, not only in the Creation section, but elsewhere Other musical sources, including songs in Dakota Road’s Earthkeeping Liturgy Notice that there are no creation themes in the ELW hymn sections on Hope/Assurance, Grace/Faith, and Confession/Forgiveness. We need to sing new songs!

Worshiping with the whole creation in a Season of Creation Season of Creation (an alternate five week lectionary) see www.seasonofcreation.com

(See Sections 3 & 4. Season of Creation Overview and Season of Creation Readings) -Season of Creation lectionary and preaching -Hymnic and liturgical possibilities -Connections with education, congregational life, and community engagement - Readings, Prayers, and Hymns (separately available in Summit materials on website)

Worshiping with the whole creation in all the Seasons Sanctuary and other multi-sensory expressions – touch, taste, sight, sound, smell Bring green life into the sanctuary Flowers – locally grown, or use live plants; Palms – fair trade, eco-palms Creation themes in banners and paraments Worship outdoors Lutheran Outdoor Ministry – Kids, Camp, and Outdoor worship Some camps have worship in the water! How about exploring? Pilgrimage worship For example, an intergenerational Watershed Walk at the Laurentian Divide is taking place on the eve of the summer solstice this summer. Every conference in the NE MN Synod has one or more significant bodies of water, which could be gathering points for walking meditation and worship. Worship related congregational activities Bread baking, Wine making, Candle making, Banner making, Communion wine tasting 😊😊

The “Third Sacrament” - Coffee Fellowship We have fellowship not only with the people at our congregation but also with the people who provide our coffee and the earth and other creatures impacted by the way coffee is grown . Use organic, free trade, shade grown coffee, and if possible Lutheran Farmers Direct Coffee, in which coffee farmers have part ownership and receive a more equitable amount per pound than even Equal Exchange or other fair trade alternatives. Also, use reusable mugs and plates, or compostable if necessary, and absolutely NO Styrofoam.

3.Hymns of Creation Evangelical Lutheran Worship

(an introductory list from by section– for use in weekly hymn selection) Advent Creator of the Stars of Night 245 People, Look Easter 248 Each Winter as the Year Grows Older 252 As the Dark Awaits the Dawn 261 All Earth is Hopeful 266 Joy to the World (vs. 1-2) 267

Christmas Angels, from the Realms of Glory 275 It Came upon the Midnight Clear 282 Twas in the Moon of Wintertime 284 Peace Came to Earth 285 In the Bleak Midwinter 294 Cold December Flies Away 299 Epiphany/Time after Epiphany

Come, Beloved of the Maker 306 Light Shone in Darkness 307 Lent As the Sun with Longer Journey 329 Seed That in Earth is Dying 330 Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery 334 There in God’s Garden 342 Easter Now the Green Blade Rises 379 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing 389 Pentecost Spirit of Gentleness 396 O Holy Spirit, Root of Life 399 God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind 400 O Living Breath of God 407 Trinity Come, Join the Dance of Trinity 412 Holy, Holy, Holy 413

Baptism Crashing Waters at Creation 455 Waterlife 457 Communion All Who Hunger Gather Gladly 461 As the Grains of Wheat 465 We Come to the Hungry Feast 479 God Extends the Invitation 486 One Bread, One Body 496 United at the Table 498 Word The Word of God is Source and Seed 506 As Rain from the Cloud 508 Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil 512 Gathering Let Us Go Now to the Banquet 523 Sending The Lord Now Sends Us Forth 538 Sent Forth by God’s Blessing 547 Morning Lord, Your Hands Have Formed 554 Oh, Sing to God Above 555 Morning Has Broken 556 Evening Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory 561 O Light Whose Splendor Thrills

God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven 564 When Twilight Comes 566 Vocation, Ministry Here I Am, Lord 574 In Christ Called to Baptize 575 Hope, Assurance (no creation references in this section of the ELW) Grace, Faith (no creation references in this section of the ELW) Confession, Forgiveness (no creation references in this section of the ELW) Community in Christ Oh, Praise the Gracious Power Witness Rise Up, O Saints of God! 669 Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ 674 Stewardship For the Fruit of All Creation 679 We Plow the Fields and Scatter 680, 681 Creating God, Your Fingers Trace 684 Come to Us, Creative Spirit 687 Lord of Light 688 Praise and Thanksgiving 689 We Raise Our Hands to You, O Lord 690 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (vs. 1-2) 693 Sing to the Lord of Harvest 694 Lament Once We Sang and Danced (esp. vs. 2) 701 When Pain of the World Surrounds Us (esp. vs. 2, 4) 704 Justice, Peace God of Grace and God of Glory 705 Let Streams of Living Justice O Day of Peace 711 O God of Every Nation 713 Let Justice Flow like Streams 717 Christ, Be Our Light 715 Canticle of the Turning 723 Light Dawns on a Weary World 726 Creation Lord Our God, with Praise We Come Earth and All Stars 731 Borning Cry 72 Great Is Thy Faithfulneww 733 God, Whose Farm is All Creation 734 Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth 735 God the Sculptor of the Mountains 736 He Comes to Us as One Unknown 737 God Created Heaven and Earth 738

Tough the Earth Lightly 739 God of the Sparrow 740 Prayer Your Will Be Done 741 Lord, Be Glorified (vs. 4 – In your world/change to in your earth) 744 Trust, Guidance God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens Praise This is My Father’s World – 824 How Marvelous God’s Creatures – 830 All Creatures Worship God Most High – 835 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee – 836 Many and Great, O God – 837 Beautiful Savior – 838 Golden Breaks the Dawn – 852 How Great Thou Art – 856 Praise to the Lord – 858 When Long Before Time – 861 Let the Whole Creation Cry – 876 For the Beauty of the Earth – 879 Let All Things Now Living – 881 Hymns of warning, encouragement, and hope Each Winter as the Year Grows Older 252 (Christmas) Light Shone in Darkness 307 (Time after Epiphany) Bless Now, O God, the Journey 326 (Lent) Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow 327 (Lent) Be Not Afraid 388 (Easter) Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing 389 (Easter) God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind 400 (Pentecost) Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading 401 (Pentecost) I’m Going on a Journey 446 (Baptism) Baptized and Set Free 453 (Baptism) We Come to the Hungry Feast 479 (Communion) Listen, God is Calling 513 (Word of God) Open Your Ears, O Faithful People (Word of God) God is Here 526 (Gathering) Gather Us In 532 (Gathering) The Lord Now Sends Us Forth 538 (Sending) Sent Forth by God’s Blessing 547 (Sending) The Day You Gave Us, Lord Has Ended (Evening) There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy 588 We’ve Come This Far by Faith 633 (Hope, Assurance) Rise, Shine, You People! 665 (Witness) Rise Up, O Saints of God! 669 (Witness) God of Grace and God of Glory 705 (Justice, Peace) Let Streams of Living Justice 710 (Justice, Peace) Let Justice Flow like Streams 717 (Justice, Peace) Christ, Be Our Light 715 (Justice, Peace) Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying, 752 (Prayer)

Dona Nobis Pacem 753 (Prayer) You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore 817 Lift Every Voice and Sing – 841 The Right Hand of God – 889

4. What Is the Season of Creation?

In the seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter we celebrate the life of Christ. In the season after Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit. Now, in the season of Creation, we have an opportunity to celebrate God, the Creator.

For four Sundays in September, prior to St Francis of Assisi Day, we join in celebrating with Christ the wonders of creation.

In the liturgy, we follow the lead of the psalm writers and celebrate with creation — with the forests, the rivers and the fields, which praise the Creator in their own way.

Bible readings focus especially on the story of Earth, which complements the story of God and the story of humanity in the Scriptures.

We commit ourselves to a ministry of healing Earth, with Christ and creation as our partners.

Why a Season of Creation? There is growing concern in Christian communities about the ecological crisis and the way human beings are treating God's Earth. Planet Earth is in peril. All creation is suffering.

An effective way to focus these concerns is through worship. By concentrating our worship on God's creation and our relationship with creation, we can seek ways to heal rather than exploit creation. The season of Creation helps us care for our planet home rather than destroy it.

A Charter for the Season of Creation In our worship during the season of Creation we:

• Celebrate Earth as a sacred planet filled with God's vibrant presence. • Unite with all creation in praising the God of creation. • Confess our sins against creation and empathise with a groaning creation. • Embrace our kin in creation as our extended family. • Proclaim the good news that the risen Jesus is the cosmic Christ who fills and renews all creation. • Gather at the eucharist to receive the healing power of Christ that extends to all creation. • Go forth on a mission to be partners with Christ in the healing of creation.

For more information, visit the Season of Creation website at: www.seasonofcreation.com/index.asp

5. A Three-year Cycle of Readings for the Season of

Creation The Season of Creation is celebrated over a six-week period beginning on or about September 1 (the first day of the Orthodox church year) and leading up to the feast of Francis of Assisi (4 October), patron saint of animals and the environment in the Roman Catholic/Lutheran tradition. The sequence of readings for this season creates a liturgical pattern similar to that in the season of Advent. The readings are designed to provide a three-year cycle corresponding broadly to the years of Matthew, Mark and Luke in the Revised Common Lectionary.

The sequence of readings in each series follows a broad pattern of creation, alienation, passion, and new creation. The readings also give special attention to the story of Earth, which complements the story of God and the story of humanity in the Scriptures. The fifth Sunday in each cycle can be considered an “Advocacy” or “Stewardship” Sunday that calls the church to action for the sake of the whole creation. Each thematic series culminates in a “World Communion” Sunday that accentuates Christ’s mission reconciling all things to the Creator.

A modified, but similar cycle of readings is also available in the EcoFaith Summit on-line resources.

Year 1. Series A: The Spirit Series (year of Matthew)

This series concentrates on those texts where the Spirit is breathing life into creation, suffering with creation and renewing all creation. (Domains/Themes: Forest, Land, Wilderness, River, Fire (Energy), and World Communion)

Year 2. Series B: The Word Series (year of Mark)

The second series focuses on those texts where the Word is the impulse that summons forth creation, evokes praise from creation and stirs life in creation. (Domains/Themes: Planet Earth, Humanity, Sky, Mountain, Food/Water (Health), and World Communion)

Year 3. Series C: The Wisdom Series (year of Luke)

The third series includes those texts where Wisdom is the designing force behind creation and the impulse that enables the parts of cre-ation to fulfill their roles. (Domains/Themes: Oceans/Lakes, Fauna, Storm, Cosmos/Universe, Sustainability, and World Communion)

Series A: The Spirit Series (year of Matthew)

First Sunday: Forest Sunday

Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17; Baruch 5:5-9 or Psalm 96:1, 6-13; Acts 17:22-31; Matthew 13:31-32 or 23:37-39; 24:32-35

Second Sunday: Wilderness Sunday

Joel 1:10, 19-2:3; Psalm 18:6-19; Romans 8:18-28; Matthew 3:16-4:11 or Mark 1:9-13

Third Sunday: Land Sunday

Gen. 3:14-19; 4:8-16 or Deut. 8:1-10; Psalm 139:7-12 or 145:1-10; Romans 5:12-17; Matthew 12:38-40 or 4:12-17

Fourth Sunday: River Sunday

Ezekiel 47:1-12; Psalm 104:27-33 or Psalm 65:9-13; Revelation 22:1-5;Matt. 28:1-10, 16-20

Fifth Sunday: Fire/Energy Sunday

1Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 67; Colossians 1:24-29; John 21:4-14

Sixth Sunday: World Communion

Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm

50:1-15; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; 13:11-13; Matthew 24:29-35

Series B: The Word Series (year of Mark)

First Sunday: Planet Earth Sunday

Genesis 1:1-27, 31-2:4a; Psalm 33:1-9; Romans 1:14-25; John 1:1-14

Second Sunday: Sky Sunday

Jeremiah 4:23-28 or Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 19:1-6; Philippians 2:5-15; Mark 13:24-27; 15:33-39 or 16:15-20

Third Sunday: Humanity Sunday

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:4b- 8, 15-25; Psalm 8; Philippians 2:1-8; Mark 10:41-45

Fourth Sunday: Mountain Sunday

Isaiah 11:1-9; Psalm 48:1-3, 9-11 or Psalm 65:4-8; Romans 8:28-39; Mark 9:2-9

Fifth Sunday: Food/Water/Health

Isaiah 25:6-8; Psalm 145:9-19; 2Cor. 9:6-15; Mark 8:1-9 or Mark 5:21-43

Sixth Sunday: World

Communion

Gen. 8:20-22; 9:12-17; Psalm 96:1, 6-13; Ephesians 4:1-6; Mark 16:14-15, 19-20

Series C: The Wisdom Series (year of Luke)

First Sunday: Ocean/Lakes Sunday

Job 38:1-18; Psalm 104:1-9, 24-26, 31; Ephesians 1:3-10; Luke 5:1-11

Second Sunday: Cosmos/Universe

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 148; Colossians 1:15-23; Luke 21:25-36 or 24:46-53

Third Sunday: Fauna Sunday

Job 39:1-8, 26-30; Psalm 104:1a, 14-23, 27-31; 1 Corinthians 1:10-23; Luke 12:22-34

Fourth Sunday: Storm Sunday

Job 28:20-28; 29:1-2;30:16-31; Psalm 29 or Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; Luke 8:22-25

Fifth Sunday: Sustainability

Isaiah 41:8-10, 17-20 or Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm

107:1-9, 33-43; Hebrews 1:1-4; Luke 12:22-34 or 12:49-56

Sixth Sunday: World Communion

Jeremiah 51:15-19; Psalm 98; Colossians 1:3-10; John 3:11-17

Original readings used with permission by Norman Habel and the Justice and International Mission unit within the Commission for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania., ©2004, and Dr. David Rhoads (USA); revised and expanded lections by Krehl D. Stringer, ©2009, ©2010, ©2011, ©2012, ©2013, ©2014 and ©2016.

5. Communion Bread Recipes

Communion Bread Recipe 1: From Luther Seminary to your table Luther Seminary’s communion bread recipe has been used there for more than 25 years, baked by the dining services staff and served in the Holy Communion service in chapel every Wednesday. The recipe is known throughout the country as one of the best tasting and easiest to make! Sift dry ingredients together three times: (IMPORTANT!)

• 2 cups whole wheat flour • 1 cup white flour • 1-1/4 tsp baking powder • 1-1/4 tsp salt

Stir in 4 tsp oil. Set aside. Mix wet ingredients together until dissolved:

• ¾ cup + 2 TBSP very hot water (minimum 180 degree F) • 3 TBSP honey • 3 TBSP molasses

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix well. Dough should be slightly sticky. Do not knead. Divide into four balls and flatten each into a ¼ inch thick disk.

With a knife, score the top of each loaf into eight pie-shaped sections, so that the sections can be more easily broken off while serving. Alternatively, you could score a cross onto the loaf. Lay the loaves on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and brush the tops of the loaves with oil. Bake an additional 5-8 minutes. Let cool.

Yield: four 8 oz. loaves. Each loaf serves 60-70 people, depending on size of piece given. The loaves freeze well.

Recipe for communion bread 2. - - A CHILD FRIENDLY RECIPE (e.g. a Communion Class)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour (self-rising)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or less)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Form dough, knead, shape loaves:

BAKE at 350 degrees for 15 to 30 minutes.

Method: 1. Use quart size, heavy duty zip-look plastic bags to mix the dough. 2. Set out the ingredients lined up in order on a table, each with its exact size measuring cup

/spoon. 3. Have everyone WASH HANDS!! 4. The kids work alone or in "teams" of 2 people. I read and interpret the recipe; the whole group

works through the recipe, one ingredient at a time. I have the kids measure each ingredient into their plastic bag.

5. After the oil and water have been added, close bags and begin mixing the ingredients to form a dough. Forming the dough takes about 5 minutes. By pushing the corners of the bag "in" to the bag. the dry flour stuck in the corners can be mixed in.

6. After the dough has been formed, knead for another 5-10 minutes . Longer kneading makes a less crumbly bread. (The kids lose interest at this stage. Try setting a kitchen timer for the kneading period.) Kneading may be done in the bag or out of the bag – spray hands with cooking spray (‘Pam’).

7. Divide dough into 4 portions. Form each into a ball. 8. Flatten / ro l l out each portion to 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch thick, like a pancake, about 4 inches in

diameter. 9. Bake on a foil-covered baking tray at 350 degrees for 15 to 30 minutes. (thicker loaves need

longer to bake). 10. The loaves may be scored with a cross. 11. The loaves keep well in the freezer.

Sometimes the loaves are a l i t t l e crumbly. I don't know if that's the recipe, or if we didn't knead lone enough. or if we baked too long. Even if crumbly, if I use a paten under the loaf while breaking off pieces. I can get pieces that hold together even for intinction.

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1/2 cup water

IF NOT USING Self-Rising Flour, add:

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Adapted from a recipe shared by Mark Herbner, Bishop of North Texas-North Louisiana Synod, dated November. 1988. "Mark says he likes this bread because it has somewhat the appearance of Palestinian bread. It is brown and the loaves are not too large. Similar in ways, he thinks, to the bread used by our Lord."

6. Notes from Worship Breakout Sessions 1 & 2 EcoFaith Summit Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Brainerd, MN March 30, 2019 Co-facilitators: Rev. Kristin Foster and Rev. Krehl Stringer

Breakout Session #1—Worship (11:00am-12noon)

We are called to participate with all creation in worshiping God.

The gospels were written in apocalyptic times; in it, God is turning us to an entirely new way of life…

Creation language is already incorporated in the ELW worship elements.

Discover creation themes in every scripture text—it’s there to discover, not read into.

How can we make our worship more incarnate (instead of dis-incarnate)? Use a pulpit Bible (presence, weight, context). Reexamine our communion practices (without plastic cups, with real bread). Who is it who’s alive and present—it’s the incarnate Word and Creator of all that exists. Use a loaf of bread; practice intinction and common cup as alternatives to individual plastic cups. Pouring chalices. Smaller chalices for grape juice, or a divider inside the common cup. Use “earthy” bowls for other rituals in worship (e.g., imposition of ashes). Physically pouring the wine, having the baptismal font central to the worship space—the actions of worship matter. The sacraments are the promised presence of God in worship.

Hymns are a rich resource for bringing forth strong creation themes in worship. What if worship planners ensured that there was at least one “creation oriented” hymn in worship every Sunday? Hope and Assurance, Grace and Faith, Confession and Forgiveness—areas in need of “creation-oriented” hymnody. Multi-sensory worship engages the whole person (the whole community that is you!)—“Come to your senses.” Blessing of oils for healing and baptism. Paraments, banners, bread baking, wine making, art galleries, star parties, blessing of animals—all opportunities to build on Season of Creation themes as an extension of worship.

What are you experiencing right now? What has this session inspired? What practices are being done in your setting?

Idea sharing from participants:

Care of creation Sundays Advent service that includes an element in each service Blessings Prayer hikes

Scented candles Star party Seeing creation in all texts

Breakout Session #2—Worship (1:00-2:00pm)

Introductory question: For what do you hope in this session? Responses…. How to be an advocate for creation in worship. How to involve children, too. How to talk with a resistant pastor? Care of the earth is vital to ministry. How to support creation care teams. Looking for faith

community. To listen and learn. How to support pastors in creation care. How to organize shoreline conservation. Looking for great worship ideas. How to integrate ecological knowledge with faith. How to pass on a love of creation into community. Planning worship with college students around creation care.

Worship is the center of what we do and who we are. God comes to us in worship, and creation care doesn’t make sense without worship. We worship the God of creation; we worship an incarnate God; we worship a God constantly renewing the face of the earth (i.e., a trinitarian framework). We join with all creation (ancestors, flora, fauna, rocks, the cosmos…) in praising God and participating in the mission of God. We don’t have an environment, we ARE the environment, co-creators with God. In apocalyptic times, there is the revealing of God’s intents and purposes, where God turns us in a profoundly new direction.

Creation is part of the liturgy, and creation language is resident in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship service book. There are a variety of worship materials available. As preachers, find the broader creation themes in all the gospel lessons. Celebrating a Season of Creation brings a fuller trinitarian witness to congregational life.

The sacraments bring earthly elements to bear in worship. The Son of God became incarnate (in the flesh). Move the baptismal font to a more central place in the worship space. Celebrate communion every week, but the frequency can lead some to use plastic cups instead of glass/ceramic. Intinction and common cup are alternatives. Common cup and one loaf. Use of stale/tasteless white wafers is more like the dis-incarnation of God.

Praying with and for the whole creation. Use a supplied petition and change it to more local sensibilities.

Blessing of the animals, blessings for hunters/fishers, blessing of land, to be in fellowship with creation through fair trade coffee.

Much of the hymnody lifts up creation themes. Most categories in the ELW are full of such hymns, although categories like Hope and Assurance, Confession and Forgiveness, Grace and Faith have no hymns with creation themes or references.

Multi-sensory, multi-dimensional worship—banners, greenery, making the whole creation present in worship, bread, wine.

What are you experiencing right now? What has this session inspired? What practices are being done in your setting?

Water worship brings to awareness how we are ALWAYS worshiping God in creation. Sanctuary with windows allows access to visions of natural light, trees, nature—design could be

more intentional in this. Season of Creation—incorporated into the liturgical life of the congregation. See it as a Season of Creativity—giving congregants permission to explore their creative spiritual

gifts. The earthiness of the sacraments. Scenes of nature during worship help to connect images in scripture and sermons. People are too much in a rush, but a connection with nature helps to slow down. Last Child in the Woods book talks about no child left inside, but connecting with nature from a

young age. Sacred Encounters event in a local park with other congregations. Worship in the Park brings

people outdoors, along with a picnic to broaden community.