Creation Care Season Creation Care Season September 30 – November 30 September 30 – November 30

Diocesan Convention 2010 voted to encourage every Diocesan Convention 2010 voted to encourage every congregation to observe and celebrate a season of thanksgiving congregation to observe and celebrate a season of thanksgiving and wonder for the life-giving seasons of God’s creation. and wonder for the life-giving seasons of God’s creation.

Clean air and clear water are threatened by human neglect, Clean air and clear water are threatened by human neglect, natural resource consumption, and pollution caused by burning natural resource consumption, and pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. fossil fuels.

The health of the Earth affects us all, but especially vulnerable The health of the Earth affects us all, but especially vulnerable poor, sick, and young people. poor, sick, and young people.

Creation Care Season calls us to act on behalf of our Creating Creation Care Season calls us to act on behalf of our Creating God, the Earth, our children, and other people by adopting God, the Earth, our children, and other people by adopting creation care holy habits such as: creation care holy habits such as:

• Designate a Sunday between Sept. 30—Nov. 30 as Creation • Designate a Sunday between Sept. 30—Nov. 30 as Creation Care Sunday, asking people to give generously to support a Care Sunday, asking people to give generously to support a Creation Care project in the parish, community, or Diocese. Creation Care project in the parish, community, or Diocese. • Explore ways your household can save energy and reduce its • Explore ways your household can save energy and reduce its carbon footprint. carbon footprint. • Spend time regularly in nature in quiet prayer, contemplation, • Spend time regularly in nature in quiet prayer, contemplation, and observation. and observation. • Encourage your congregation, deanery, and community to • Encourage your congregation, deanery, and community to take steps to care for creation. take steps to care for creation. God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on the trees, and in the flowers and but also on the trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.—Martin Luther clouds and stars.—Martin Luther www.diomass.org/creation-care-initiative www.diomass.org/creation-care-initiative

The initial step for a soul to come to knowledge of God is The initial step for a soul to come to knowledge of God is contemplation of nature. contemplation of nature. — Irenaeus (120-202) — Irenaeus (120-202)

We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will its endangerment with passion. respond to its endangerment with passion. — Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) — Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

If we learn to love the earth, we will find labyrinths, gardens, If we learn to love the earth, we will find labyrinths, gardens, fountains, and precious jewels! A whole new world will open itself to fountains, and precious jewels! A whole new world will open itself us. We will discover what it means to be truly alive. to us. We will discover what it means to be truly alive. — Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) — Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human beings beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyards, beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the face of the earth. backyards, the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the — John Wesley (1701-1791) face of the earth. — John Wesley (1701-1791)

The first law of our being is that we are set in a delicate network of interdependence with our fellow human beings and with the rest of The first law of our being is that we are set in a delicate network of God’s creation. interdependence with our fellow human beings and with the rest of — Desmond Tutu (1931-) God’s creation. — Desmond Tutu (1931-)