Care of Creation
The Diocese of California encourages everyone in the work of restoring our relationship with “this fragile earth, our island home”. We strive for a deeper understanding of the spiritual dimensions of ecological problems, and we work to enable Episcopal congregations to become centers of ecological understanding, action, and healing.
Brand New Liturgical Materials for 2023
16 Bishops from across the Episcopal Church, including Bishop Marc Andrus, have signed on to this wonderful collection of Liturgical Resources for use during the Season of Creation, 2023.
Observing the Season of Creation in Congregations, 2023
The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect creation, celebrated by Christians of all traditions. Bishop Marc Andrus is part of the Season of Creation Advisory Committee, and he, along with other faith leaders, encourages religious communities to participate through events, service, and worship.
The season begins September 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and runs through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, who is the patron saint of ecology in many traditions.
Why should we even care about this?
The Climate is in Crisis
As Episcopalians, the rhythm of our liturgical year matters
The power of liturgy, focus, information, and action
The Season of Creation invites us to partner with other churches and community groups
Every church is called to live faithfully in the time they are in – and now the crisis of the world is climate change and environmental and economic injustices. This is the world that we are called to bring Good News into, and we have an excellent opportunity to live into this work through the rhythm of the church year. This season allows churches to focus on God’s creation and the crisis the world we are in. Saying that the church cares about this IS a message of Good News and offers an opportunity to partner with others.
Use this Liturgical Season as . . .
A time to Worship
A time to Learn
A time to Act
A time for Collaboration, Sharing, and Justice
Use this season as a time to FOCUS -- There are many liturgical materials that help us focus on God’s creation, helping to overcome the deep-seated and often unchallenged belief that the earth’s resources are something to use at will rather than understanding a system of stewardship and sustainability of the earth. Worship resources and liturgies can help move an intellectual understanding of the environment to an understanding in the heart and soul. This liturgical season is a time to LEARN – to focus on our present crisis, to understand the science when there is a strong anti-science bias in some sectors. The Season of Creation also encourages action in congregations. The Season of Creation website has a place to post actions and see them alongside others across the globe. Locally – this can be a great way to collaborate with others in the community, and even offer some opportunities for evangelism.
Season of Creation 2023
Let Justice and Peace Flow
Green Anglicans
This is a network and environmental movement among Anglican churches across Africa. They offer beautiful liturgical materials as well as excellent materials for Children & Youth beyond the Season of Creation (such as “Ryan the Rhino” and “The Story of Stuff”)
Click here and check out the different resources.
For the Season of Creation 2023, notice the Season of Creation Year A download. This site also has Lenten programs such as a “Plastic Fast” and the “Year of the Tree.”
Video of the August 11, 2022 workshop on Observing the Season of Creation in Congregations. Click above to watch the video.
Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis
a series of videos produced by the Anglican Indigenous Network, the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and the Anglican Alliance that elevate the voices of Indigenous Anglicans around the world, highlighting their unique perspectives on the natural world and the disproportionate impact that the climate crisis is wreaking on their livelihoods and cultures.
Originally presented November 30 (Aotearoa & Polynesia), December 7 (Africa), 14 (Amazon), and 21 (Arctic), 2020
Aotearoa & Polynesia
From the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia. Intercut with the natural sights and sounds of the South Pacific islands, the video shows how the reverence that the Maori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand, which they call Aotearoa) have for nature connects with the Anglican value of caring for creation.
Africa
In this video we hear from Bishop Zac Niringiye (Uganda), Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya (Swaziland), Prof PLO Lumumba (Kenya), Rev Dr Kapya Kaoma (Zambia), and Vanessa Nakate a youth activist from Uganda. They cover topics of African Spirituality and creation, as well as food crisis.
Amazon
The main voices we hear in this video are those of Indigenous women from the Amazon, non-Christian voices that speak of the important role of women in Creation Care. It reminds us that while all of life is interconnected and interdependent, women still bear a disproportional brunt of climate change effects.
Arctic
(This video is under revision and will be available soon)
The final video of the series collects voices from the Arctic speaking about the connections between their spirituality, the economy, and the law. Discussion leads us to think about the ways in which we can have a personal plan to protect the planet and not give up.
Webinars about the Carbon Tracker at SustainIslandHome.org
To help you understand how your current household choices are affecting carbon dioxide emissions, and to support you in making choices that are more sustainable and economic, the Episcopal Diocese of California has created a web-based platform sustainislandhome.org. This tool allows you to measure your carbon footprint, take individual action, aggregate impacts Church-wide, and advocate for climate protection.