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The National Council of Churches Web of Creation provides a number of worship resources:
Prayers, Litanies, Hymns, Sample services, Readings, Special Occasions, Blessings, Meditations, Reflections.
Earth Ministry has a variety of worship
aids as well as materials for a Design-Your-Own Creation Devotional Booklet,
suitable for Thanksgiving, Lent or other occasions.
Environmental Ministries of Southern California provides liturgies.
For an approach to preaching on the environment, check out the Three
Layers of Environmental Preaching from Eco-Justice
Ministries .
 | "A
Matter of Hope" by Rev. Peter Sawtell |
| Weekly Eco-Justice Notes by Rev. Sawtell might be good sermon
starters. Sign up for free
weekly email delivery of these Notes. |
From Earth Ministry:
From Religious Witness for
the Earth and members
Sample Sermons on Nature from the National Council of Churches Web
of Creation website:
| Bush, Carolyn Finding
Our Place |
| Harms, Paul W.F. Caring
for the Earth Rests in the Heart of God |
| Hefner, Philip
Nature, God's Great Project |
| Hefner, Philip The
Sacramental Paradigm of Nature |
| Hefner, Philip Techno-Earth
and the Rainbow Covenant |
| Lundblad, Barbara Matter
Matters |
| Niedental, Morris Making
our Lord's Supper |
| Rossing, Barbara Pelicans,
Great Blue Herons, and the Resurrection of the Body |
| Sittler, Joseph The
Care of the Earth |
Sermons
from Environmental Ministries of Southern California (Click on Resources,
then Sermons)
Although these resources were designed for use on Earth
Sunday, many can be used at any time!
| The National Council of Churches provides many
Earth Sunday Resources. There are worship resources such as a Call
to Worship, sermon notes, bulletin inserts, resource lists, and
more. The date of Earth Day Sunday varies so that it doesn't conflict with Easter
Sunday, but it's generally celebrated on the Sunday before or after
Earth Day, which is always April 22. These materials, though,
can be used throughout the year and remain available on the web, so
past materials can be used any year.
Every United Methodist Church is encouraged to set aside one Sunday
each year (often the Sunday nearest to Earth Day, which in 2004 is
April 25) as a Festival of God's Creation, celebrating God's gracious
work in creating the earth and all living things, incorporating into
it the Church's liturgical calendar, and developing appropriate ways
for congregations to celebrate it.
The theme for Earth Day Sunday this year is Life-giving
Breath of God: Protecting the Sacred Gift of Air. There are
two documents available:
 | 2004 Festival of God's Creation Worship Resource:
Background
information, sermon starters and other resources |
| 2004 Festival of God's Creation Bulletin Insert:
Sample
liturgy/call to worship; background information; ideas for action |
Here are the Earth Day Sunday themes:
| 2004 - Life-giving Breath of God: Protecting the Sacred Gift of
Air |
| 2003 - Waters of Life: Enough for All |
| 2002 - Caring for God's Creation: Making the
World Safe for Children |
| 2001 - Witnessing to the Resurrection: God's
Caring for Creation |
| 2000 - Good
Stewards of God's Gift of Energy |
| 1999 - Sustainable Living
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| Earth Ministry
has prayers and ideas for celebrating Earth
Sunday.
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| Eco-Justice
Ministries has Earth Sunday resources with the theme
"Having All Things in Common." There is a Call to Worship,
Scripture, sermon topic, and other resources available.
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| Environmental Ministries of Southern California
has various resources and ideas for Earth
Sunday. |
The Episcopal Environmental Network
has hymns, reflections, and other worship resources.
| January |
| February
| 2 World Wetlands Day |
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| March
| 22 World Day for Water |
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| April
| 22 Earth Day (Earth Sunday on the Sunday before or after) |
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| May
| 22 International Day for Biological Diversity |
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| June
| 5 World Environment Day |
| 8 World Oceans Day |
| 17 World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification |
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| July
| 11 World Population Day |
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| August
| 9 International Day of Indigenous Peoples |
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| September
| 7 Threatened Species Day |
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| October
| 4 St. Francis of Assisi - Born in 1182, Francis left the
wealth of his family and eventually started an order of friars rooted in
poverty, chastity and obedience. He is remembered for his respect for
natural resources and his Christian faithfulness. |
| 4 World Animal Welfare Day |
| 16 World Food Day: Established by the United Nations. Go
the Extra Mile in your CROP walk. |
| 24 United Nations Day: An opportunity to reflect on
environmental issues throughout the world |
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| November
| 15 America Recycles
Day |
| 28 Thanksgiving Day: A day to remember the contributions of
Native American people and culture, and to celebrate the abundance of
the earth and harvest. |
| 29 The Day after Thanksgiving: A day to rethink your consumer
mentality. |
| 30 First Sunday in Advent |
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| December
| 7 Feast of St. Ambrose: St. Ambrose (about 339-397) served
as bishop of Milan in the midst of the Arian controversy. He is the
patron saint of domestic animals. Could be an opportunity to appreciate
the value of pets or responsible farm animal practices. |
| 25 Christmas Day: A celebration of the birth of Jesus |
| 29 International Day for Biological Diversity - Established
by the United Nations:
An opportunity to celebrate the diversity of life - animals and plants -
created by God ... and to take action to preserve this diversity. |
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