Presbyterians urged to ‘Touch the Earth Lightly’
Service marks World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
LOUISVILLE — The title and lyrics of the gentle hymn "Touch the Earth Lightly" (Glory to God #713) served as a call to action for attendees of a recent prayer service for those serving on the staff of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The hymn, which urges listeners to treat the Earth with care, helped to close a service that stressed the need to be good stewards of Creation and to care for all living creatures.
The Rev. Rebecca Barnes and Jessica Maudlin, who are both with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology & Worship, led the online gathering, which commemorated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
The service opened with a Call to Worship, inspired by Psalm 148, calling for all to praise the Creator’s name.
Later, Barnes and Maudlin alternated reading a Litany of Confession, adapted from Rev. Keatan King’s “Litany of the Garden,” which referenced some of the ways in which humankind has contributed to harming the environment.
“God of air, breathe new life into our dust every day as you did in the beginning,” Barnes said. “Unite all people in one rhythm in our inhaling and exhaling. We exhale hazardous substances, without regard for who will have to inhale our contamination. Teach us to extend the privilege of inhaling deeply to all neighbors. We pray for the day when air is always fresh.”
The litany also spoke of the need for people to be generous to one another and the planet by mimicking the Earth itself.
“God of Creation, we pray that we will learn to show the Earth the same love and grace which it extends to us,” Maudlin said. “Teach us the intrinsic value of every creature. Teach us to give freely and spontaneously among one another the way that the Earth gives of itself freely to us. Holy One, we have nothing that was not first given to us by your generous heart and your open hand.”
Later, Gambrell read Luke 8:22-25 followed by a reflection from a colleague who's part of an ecumenical group called the Consultation on Common Texts, responsible for the Revised Common Lectionary. The passage from Luke describes how the disciples became alarmed when a boat they were on with Jesus was enveloped by a fierce storm while he was sleeping.
When the disciples came to him, Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and waves, causing the storm to subside. He also asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?”
In today’s world, "people also cry out in fear as the world is ravaged by hurricanes and other natural disasters as well as war and other calamities, Gambrell noted. But "this gospel passage calls us to faith anew. ... The love of God flows through this story and through all of Scripture like a river, steady and sure."
During the benediction, Maudlin prayed that God would “inspire us to work for the end of conflict, and for the full restoration of broken relationships — with you, with the ecumenical community, with the human family, and with all Creation.”
She continued, “Prince of Peace, through your wounds, teach us to stand in solidarity with the woundedness of others, of Creation, and of the world. Through your resurrection, make us people of hope — with a vision of swords turned into ploughshares and tears transformed into joy. May we come together as one family, to labor for your peace — a shalom where all your people may dwell in safety, and rest in quiet places.”
The month of September is the Season of Creation. Go here to read about it and find ways to observe it.
Additional image credit: Illustration of the Earth by Elena Mozhvilo via Unsplash.
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