An eco church service

Although I am not religious, in fact having no god or deity at all in my life, I am deeply spiritual - my spirituality and nature being entwined.  So when a friend asked me if I'd like to go to an eco church service, I thought I'd go along and experience what was on offer.  I have an open mind.

The service was friendly and unique, held in the little rural church at Warkworth in the Hunter Valley.  I settled myself in the moment of the event, taking it all in, having the tolerance and confidence to silently replace the words "God" and "Creator" with words that are more appropriate to my views and beliefs, like, "Universe", "Mother Earth", "Inner Spirit".

I enjoyed the gathering and proceedings.

*****  *****  *****

A Prayer:

As we reflect on the mystery of our fragile planet we celebrate the wonders of Earth as our home. Help us to discern how we have polluted our planet and to empathise with the groaning of creation. Teach us to sense the presence of our Creator pulsing through Earth as a living green-blue sanctuary. Teach us to love Earth as our home. Give to us a vision that is inclusive, interdependent, communal and holistic with special concerns for environmental justice and for all life in the universe.....Amen

*****  *****  *****

Portions of Reverend Charlie's address:

.....What we call the environmental crisis is not merely a crisis in the natural environment of human beings. It is nothing less than a crisis in human beings themselves. It is a crisis of life on this planet, a crisis so comprehensive and so irreversible that it cannot unjustly be described as apocalyptic. It is not a temporary crisis. As far as we can judge, it is the beginning of a life and death struggle for creation on this earth.....

.....The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to regenerate the resources a human population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the corresponding waste.....

.....Put simply, we are living beyond our ecological means, and therefore we impact on future generations - we are stealing the earth's resources from future generations. The great challenge for humans is to unlearn our learned behaviours.....  

*****  *****  *****

A prayer:

God of wonder and mystery, we see your glory and power revealed in the beauty, sounds and silence of your creation. Stir us to be thankful for every good and unspoiled gift within your world, cause us to wonder, value and delight in all that you have made. Make us more sensitive to the scars of the earth caused by our waste and destruction. Help us to be responsible stewards of the earth, sharing its bounty and preserving its resources for future generations. Creator Spirit, teach us to be at one with Earth. Make our spirits sensitive to the cries of creation, cries for justice from the seas, the skies and the land. Make our souls sensitive to the songs of our kin,  songs of celebration from the sea, the land and the air. Teach us to care for our planet home.....Amen

*****  *****  *****

Quote: "There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. So you have to begin there, not outside, not on other people. That comes afterward, when you've worked on your own corner." Aldous Huxley

Quote: "You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself". Nelson Mandela

*****  *****  *****

The Blessing:

Grant us power to use our intellects with wisdom, to cut our use of energy and live more simply, and to share our technology and resources in humility and love with all God's children.....Amen