Opening Prayer: God, Creator of all,

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We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created, making us a cosmic family living in a common home. Through the Earth you created, we experience love and nourishment, home and protection.

We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures, and the groans of

the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us.

May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully, so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her, so that the first fruits of hope may blossom. Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image. In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Introduction:

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• The 1st of September is Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation or Feast of Creation, opens the Season of Creation 2024.
• This year’s theme is:

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“To hope and act with Creation”

Romans 8:19-25.

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• The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to listen and care for our common home.
• Duration: September 1, 2024 - October 4, 2024.
• Key Dates:

- September 1^st – Day of Creation, also known as Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

- 21^st September – Doy of Advocacy and Action

- 4^th October – Feast of St Francis of Assisi and end of Season of Creation.

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Reflection and Group Conversation

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Read and Explore Romans 8:19-25 and Genesis 1:1-2:1. As you do identify the themes of creation, hope, and renewal in these passages.

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Reflect quietly on the interconnectedness of all life and our role in protecting God’s creation. Use Romans 8:19-25 to ground any discussion on how humanity and creation are linked to hope and redemption.

Focus on the following three aspects:

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• Creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth (Romans 8:22)
• Creation is standing on tiptoe waiting for the children of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19)
• First fruits of hope (Romans 8:23-25)

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Apollo 8 and Creation – Video 1

Ecological Crisis Discussion:

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• Context: Using insights from both the scripture passages, the Apollo 8 videos and Season of Creation resources discuss the current environmental challenges we face, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

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• Activity: Divide into groups to research and present on different aspects of the ecological crisis and propose actionable steps you can take as individuals or a community.

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• Decide: Decide on concrete actions you will take as a school or parish.

Final Prayer and Reflection Video on the

significance of Apollo 8 Today

Prayer of Commitment:

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Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with Earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image.

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Amen