The Revd Neil Thorogood, Moderator of the URC’s General Assembly, is embracing the denomination’s move to mark the Season of Creation, which runs from 1 September until 4 October (the Feast of St Francis).
In July, the URC’s General Assembly passed a resolution encouraging all churches to observe the Feast of Creation on the first Sunday in September – which this year falls on 6 September.
A paper called Celebration of Creationtide was brought to General Assembly by the Worship, Faith and Order Committee. Its authors said: “There is growing ecumenical support for the formal acknowledgement of the Feast of Creation on or around 1 September each year.” Not only is there theological merit in celebrating the Feast, they said, “but it is also appropriate to do so as we face the climate emergency.”
The Moderator was invited to write a reflection for Eco Congregation Scotland as this year’s Season of Creation approaches, and he has now also shared these thoughts in the latest of his Moderator’s Blogs.
He writes that, at General Assembly, “we focused on God’s creation and how deeply we belong within it; our lives inextricably and wonderfully part of all life on Earth”, and added: “In the light of recent heatwaves and the unfolding of climate and ecological crises, there could hardly be a more critical time for us to bring out this profound theme within our theology and our reading of scripture.”
Marking the first Sunday of September “with special attention in our worship upon creation and all it means to belong within it … can lead on into whatever ways this theme can be explored locally in subsequent weeks.” Mr Thorogood’s thoughtfully crafted reflection will prove valuable for anyone planning worship at this time.
The Revd Andy Braunston, Minister for Digital Worship, has also prepared worship notes for the first Sunday of September and additional pointers to Creationtide themes for the rest of the month.
Image: Sudipta Mondal | Pexel