Dear Friends,

If you’ve worshiped with us in September, you’ve likely noticed references to The Season of Creation. Many of the prayers, affirmations, and songs this month invite us to see the preciousness and interconnectedness of all living things and to act with care and stewardship.

The Season of Creation is an ecumenical observance, “a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together” (Season of Creation website). From a center of prayer, we are invited to awe and wonder, to embrace our responsibility for this world, and to act—personally and socially—for its care.

Our parish community will observe this season through October 12 (with a brief interruption on September 28 for St. Michael’s Day). On October 5, we remember St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and creation. That day our Creation Care team will host a forum at 10:15, followed at 12:15 by our annual Blessing of the Animals in the courtyard with a short bilingual service.

This year’s theme is “Peace with Creation,” inspired by Isaiah 32:14–18. “The prophet Isaiah pictured Creation without peace because of the lack of justice and the broken relationship between God and humankind. This description of devastated cities and wastelands eloquently stresses that human destructive behaviors have a negative impact on the Earth. Our hope: Creation will find peace when justice is restored. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but to act, pray, change, and reconcile with Creation and the Creator in unity, repentance, and solidarity” (Season of Creation website).

May God move us to pray and act for justice within creation, which is the heart of true peace.

With you,

Scott+

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Email: ScottP@stmaa.org