Noelene Osora
Season of Creation resources 2023
1 September through to the feast of St. Francis on 4 October
For four Sundays in September we celebrate The Season of Creation
All around the world, Christians are uniting to pray and take action for our common home. Join them and celebrate the Season of Creation
Season of Creation 2023 theme:
“Let Justice and Peace Flow”
“But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
(Amos 5: 24)
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2023 Season of Creation Prayer Creator of All, From your communion of love life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being. On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation. You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life. We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth. Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation. Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation. Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation. Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth. In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
Resources
Season of Creation website
Invitation to join Season of Creation 2023
Uniting Church in Australia Assembly
Resources available to download here .
Other UCA resources:
South Australia - Pilgrim Uniting Church
Western Australia -Social Justice Commission, Uniting Church Synod of Western Australia - a resource for congregations to celebrate a 'Sustainable Sunday' on Sunday 24 September
Intergen
A weekly resource covering the four weeks of Season of Creation, looking at Forest, Land, Wilderness and River – suitable for Year A Pentecost 14, 15, 16 and 17. Written by Uniting Church minister Rev Dr Michelle Cook
World Council of Churches
Learn more about Season of Creation
WCC's work on Care for Creation and Climate Change
Common Grace
An extensive range of resources, including prayers, songs and reflections that can be used as part of your church or faith community’s engagement on the Common Grace website
Wild Goose Publications
- Living Faithfully in the Time of Creation by Kathy Galloway and Katharine M Preston;
- Caring for Creation Together by Emma Major;
- Creation: Readings, prayers and other liturgical resources
From the Vatican
Pope Francis:
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Encyclical Letter of the Holy Father Francis: LAUDATO SI’ - On care for our common home| 2015
Laudato Si Movement
Watch: Global Ecumenical Online Prayer Service - Season of Creation 2023 | 1 September 2023.
SEASON OF CREATION BACKGROUND
1 September was proclaimed a Day of Prayer for Creation by the Orthodox in 1989 and repeated by Pope Francis in 2015.
The season takes us through to the feast of St. Francis on 4 October. Christians of all denominations and locations are invited to participate in an ecumenical Season of Creation.
“Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth” (Laudato Si’, 9).
Visit the Season of Creation website to see how we can celebrate creation.
Learn more on World Council of Churches website: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/events/season-of-creation
Reflection from the President
Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”;
anything more than this comes from the evil one.
(Matthew 5:37 NRSV)
I wonder what carries the greater risk as we look ahead… saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. ....
National Weekend of Prayer, Meditation and Reflection
8-10 September 2023
“Thus the Lord said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other;'" (cf Zechariah 7:9)
Christian and other faith communities will hold a weekend of prayer, reflection and meditation for unity, hope and respect in the lead-up to the Voice Referendum.
Act for Peace
Partnership is a Promise
As an Act for Peace Partner, you can stand with people who have been forcibly displaced or at risk of displacement month in and month out.
Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce
Refugee intake to gradually increase at a time of great global need
The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) was pleased to hear the Australian Government’s announcement on 11 August that it will increase Australia’s annual humanitarian intake from 17,875 to 20,000 people.
Safe Church Program
National Child Protection Week – 3-9 September 2023
This year’s overarching theme is “Where we start matters” and the message is “Every child in every community needs a fair go”.
First Nations
From our Christian communities
- ACBC release 2023 Social Justice Statement "Listen, Learn, Love"
- Discussion – Voice to Parliament – Anglican Diocesan webinar recording
- Australian Women Preach – Sherry Balcombe
Interfaith Online Event
National Day of Compassion
Take a day to pause and join the Australian Compassion Council in Deep Dreaming: Australia A Continent for Compassion
2023 Theme: Compassion and Deep Wisdom
When: 21 September 2023 from 8:00 am AEST
World Council of Churches
WCC and Churches Together SA
Imagining a Safer World Event
Speaking on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC) at a “Churches Together South Australia” event on 13 August, WCC director of international affairs Peter Prove offered an address on “Imagining a Safer World.”
Micah Women Leaders
5th annual delegation
On 9 August 2023, NCCA General Secretary, Liz Stone was in Canberra as part of the Micah Women Leaders Delegation to Parliament House.
