Table of Contents
Preface v
Part 1 Theology, Liturgy, Bible Engaging the Season
1 Introducing the Season of Creation 3
A Special Season of the Church Year 3
Why a Season of Creation? 5
Origins and Growth 7
Features of the Season of Creation 9
Readings for the Season of Creation 11
The Season of Creation Web Site and Logo 14
2 A Theology of Liturgy in a New Key: Worshiping with Creation 16
Worship as Reorientation 17
A Theology of Worship 19
Care for Creation in the Seasons and Days of the Church Year 21
A Theology of the Liturgy 23
The Invocation: The God of All Creation and a Theology of Earth Sanctuary 24
The Invitation and Gloria: A Theology of Kinship with Creation 26
The Confession: A Theology of Alienation and Reconciliation 30
The Scripture Readings: A Theology of Listening 33
Proclaiming the Gospel: A Theology of Incarnation and Reconciliation 37
Prayer and Offering: A Theology of Creation as Gift 41
The Sacraments: A Theology of Presence 44
The Commission and Blessing: A Theology of Ministry 47
3 Engaging the Bible in a New Key: Reading and Preaching with Creation 54
Conscious of the Creation Context 55
Suspecting a Human Bias 56
Identifying with Earth 58
Retrieving the Voices of Creation 60
Discerning the Restorative Powers of Earth 61
Human Justice in Ecological Justice 63
Connecting with Christ 64
Conclusion 65
Part 2 Spirit, Word, Wisdom Engaging the Sundays and Readings
Year A The Spirit Series
First Sunday in Creation: Forest Sunday Theodore Hiebert 70
Second Sunday in Creation: Land Sunday Ched Myers 83
Third Sunday in Creation: Wilderness Sunday Alice M. Sinnott 100
Fourth Sunday in Creation: River Sunday Barbara R. Rossing 112
Year B The Word Series
First Sunday in Creation: Earth Sunday Gerald West 126
Second Sunday in Creation: Humanity Sunday Norman C. Habel 143
Third Sunday in Creation: Sky Sunday Susan Miller 153
Fourth Sunday in Creation: Mountain Sunday H. Paul Santmire 164
Year C The Wisdom Seises
First Sunday in Creation: Ocean Sunday Jione Havea 180
Second Sunday in Creation: Fauna Sunday Dianne Bergant 192
Third Sunday in Creation: Storm Sunday Monica Joytsna Melanchthon 202
Fourth Sunday in Creation: Cosmos Sunday Vicky Balabanski Shirley Joh Wurst 214
Afterword: Blessing the Animals: A Sermon David Rhoads 228
Contributors 232