Earth Liturgies from
Feast of the Universe
An Interfaith Sourcebook of Ecological Spirituality from the World's Cultures and Religions
Compiled and Edited by Anne Rowthorn

"Many who lead our worship regularly remain unchallenged by the plight of the human family and of the natural order all around them. This would indeed be disheartening if it were not for evidence of a powerful movement inspired by the Creator Spirit, ceaselessly at work in all things. This movement is bringing about a sea-change in both our consciousness of, and our response to, the ecological crisis that threatens to engulf us. The spirituality of the Native Americans and of other First Peoples, the teachings of the Orthodox Church, the beliefs and practices of Eastern religions, long dismissed or long ignored, are being reclaimed. From them comes a new reverence for the earth, a new sense of the bonds between all that God has created, animate and inanimate, a new sense of awe in the presence of the mysteries of life in all its forms." (Forward).

 Rowthorn has collected a series of liturgies from around the world to help worship planners and congregations develop liturgies that focus our attention on the earth, God as the Creator and our baptismal mandate to be stewards of the earth. Included in this resource are "nine liturgies developed for "The Season of Creation," which are the gift of Dr. Norman Habel and the Uniting Church of Australia. Eight of them were crafted in Australia and one in New Zealand. . . "The Season of Creation" begins on September first, the Day of Creation in the Orthodox calendar, and runs for six Sundays. It covers the time of traditional harvest festivals and the Blessing of Animals on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, on October fourth." The Season of Creation" liturgies offered in this book have been slightly adapted for use in American churches, and they can be either Eucharistic or non-Eucharistic, depending upon local church custom." (Introduction)

Of particular interest to pastors, church music directors, and worship leaders are the book‟s three appendices designed to aid their liturgical planning. "Celebrating God‟s Creation Throughout the Year" is a calendar noting thirty-eight occasions in every season that are auspicious times to organize earth festivals, community events and liturgies. "Environmental Hymns" is a list of sixty-four environmental hymns-many of them new-along with their references in ten standard hymnals commonly in use in the U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. "Ecological Themes in the Bible" is a starter list of Biblical ecological readings appropriate for use with a variety of liturgies.

This resource is a download PDF file that provides a reproduction license for the congregation. Companion liturgies are available -- see: Prayers and Blessing from the Feast. A book, Feast of the Universe, including the materials from both of these resources is available for individual reading but does not allow the liturgies or prayers to be used in liturgy.