In addition to liturgical resources authorized by the bishop, there are other resources authorized that churches can use to mark various seasons in the church year.
Some of these are related to creation care, especially those marking:
- Earth Day (April 22)
- Rogation Sunday and Rogation Days (the sixth Sunday of Easter and the two days following)
- The Season of Creation (Sept. 1–Oct. 4)
Two diocesan groups – the Creation Care subgroup of the Liturgy Music and Arts Task Force, and the Spirituality Subgroup of the Care of Creation Task Force – have compiled a variety of Creation Care liturgical resources.
Christian Faith and Earth Day
From The Episcopal Church Website: Earth Day Sunday-CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRIES
The Bible is full of beautiful language and theology for celebrating God’s creation. Yet sometimes, in the rhythm of the liturgical year, it can be challenging to find a specific time to focus as a church community on the theme of creation. Earth Day Sunday provides just such an opportunity. Since 1970, communities have taken one day each year to be especially mindful of the Earth and its many gifts: April 22, Earth Day. This day has ecumenical and bipartisan roots. Each year, thousands of congregations set aside a day to pray, learn, and take action on a Sunday close to Earth Day. Visit the website for all the resources you need to get started planning your own Earth Day celebration.
- Liturgy Resources for Earth Day or Rogation Day (PDF), includes hymns, anthems, and prayers
- A New Heaven and a New Earth (PDF)
- Elementary School Activities for Earth Day
Rogation Sunday and Rogation Days
From The Episcopal Church Website: Rogation Days – The Episcopal Church
Traditionally, these are the three days before Ascension Day on which the litany is sung (or recited) in procession as an act of intercession. They originated in Vienne, France, in the fifth century when Bishop Mamertus introduced days of fasting and prayer to ward off a threatened disaster. In England they were associated with the blessing of the fields at planting. The vicar “beat the bounds” of the parish, processing around the fields reciting psalms and the litany. In the United States they have been associated with rural life and with agriculture and fishing. The propers in the BCP (pp. 207-208, 258-259, 930) have widened their scope to include commerce and industry and the stewardship of creation. The BCP also permits their celebration at other times to accommodate different regional growing seasons. The Book of Occasional Services (BOS) contains material for a Rogation procession, including petitions to be added to the Great Litany and the prayers of the people. The term is from the Latin rogatio, “asking.”
- Liturgy Resources for Earth Day or Rogation Day (PDF), includes hymns, anthems, and prayers
- Rogation Sunday at Grace Cathedral (PDF)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church Resource: What Are “Rogation Days (elca.org)
- Rogation Blessing – Let All Creation Praise
- Rogation Days: A Rookie Anglican Guide – Anglican Compass
- Blessing of the Garden – St. Luke’s, Shawnee (PDF)
- Elementary School Activities for Rogation Days
- From Kellogg Garden’s 10 Garden Activities to do with kids: Plant a pizza garden, create a garden TeePee, garden art, regrow kitchen scraps, mini-gardens, create a wormery, create a compost pile (guide is available for free at the link)
The Season of Creation
The Season of Creation, September 1 through October 4, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction. This year’s theme is Jubilee for the Earth: New Rhythms, New Hope. In celebrating the Season, we are invited to consider anew our ecological, economic, and political ways of living.
The Season of Creation may be a great opportunity to hold an outdoor worship service. Consult with your Diocese before holding any in-person outdoor event for local recommendations on how to limit and track attendance, ensure social distancing, and to discern if outdoor events are the right choice for your congregation or community.
If you share about your participation in the Season of Creation on social media, please use the hashtags #Episcopal #SeasonofCreation.
You can find more resources at: Season of Creation and St. Francis Day Resources – The Episcopal Church
835 SW Polk St.