25.08.2015
Parishes Encouraged to Celebrate Creation Time
Churches and faith communities throughout Ireland are encouraged to join Christians throughout the world in celebrating Creation Time from September 1 to October 4. Creation Time is celebrated by churches throughout the world and is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the wonder and mystery of Creation and to choose better ways to relate to Creation.
Eco–Congregation Ireland is encouraging churches throughout Ireland to hold environmental events and climate justice services during this time. This year’s theme is Joining the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, which the World Council of Churches has chosen in anticipation of the vital COP21 UN climate talks that will take place in Paris in December.
Excellent resources have been specially prepared to equip parishes to focus on this theme. These include liturgy, prayers, sermon notes and suggested hymns following the Revised Common Lectionary readings for September, with a particular emphasis on the Gospel readings, which feature Jesus journeying on the road. They can be found on Eco–Congregation’s website at http://ecocongregationireland.com/.
The organisation is also encouraging parishes, if they haven’t already done so, to make use of Eco–Congregation Ireland’s climate change resource, which includes a comprehensive theological response to climate change, prayers for the environment and tips for reducing one’s carbon footprint.
Encouraging Church of Ireland parishes throughout the country to observe Creation Time, ECI Chairperson, the Ven Andrew Orr, said: “We hope these resources will encourage Christians in Ireland to incorporate eco–friendly habits into their lives – as churches, communities and as individuals – as they come to terms with the reality of climate change and the urgent need for climate justice – for the sake in particular of the world’s poor, of the whole of Creation and of future generations.”