A Time Called… Creation Time

Creation Time (also called The Season of Creation) falls within the season of Pentecost.
In the United Church it begins the Sunday after Labour Day and continues through Thanksgiving Sunday.
It is a chance to celebrate what it means to be Church against the real, urgent and increasing threat of climate and other environmental crises.
It is also a time to rediscover the meaning of a distinctive human calling of justice, care, guidance and partnership with – as well as dependence on – fellow creatures with whom we share so much.

The colour of Creation Time is orange, a warm colour, associated with enthusiasm, creativity, fruitfulness, endurance, and strength as well as with sunrise and sunset, fall and harvest, the changing seasons, and nature’s last burst of colour before winter. It is the red of passion tempered by the yellow of wisdom.

The Affirmation of Faith

We have faith
in one God, one Source of all life,
one Ground of the whole Earth,
who created all things good.
And we have faith
in Christ, in whom we have been shown the special role of humanity to bear
God’s likeness in working and caring for Creation,
in seeking to understand her mysteries and powers,
in working with these powers
for the wellbeing of life on Earth.
And we have faith
in God’s Spirit who leads us to a meek, unselfish and compassionate life-style.

So that the Earth is inherited in peace,
her life is transformed for all creatures and her bounty shared justly.
So be it. Amen.

Adapted from India. Source: Sinfonia Oecumenica, Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 1998. Reproduced by ECEN for Creation Time 2003 as seen in Worship Resources from the Season of Creation: Celebration Guide. This year’s theme is To Hope and Act with Creation.

[Image credit: SeasonofCreation.org]