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Celebrate the Season of Creation

As summer heat recedes and autumn breezes begin to cool, we are drawn into this annual time of harvest and hope. “What a timely opportunity to connect with the presence of God through the unique beauty of our local chaparral and to deepen our relationship with the place that we all call home!” said the Rev. Brian Petersen.

From September 4 to October 2, The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego will celebrate the Season of Creation, offering our thanks to God for the gifts of Nature. Here are three simple ways you can celebrate the Season of Creation with the rest of the diocese:

1. Take a Contemplative Walk 

Find time to take a walk or gather a group from your congregation to pray for and enjoy your bioregion, whether ocean beach, desert sand, or a strand of trees in the forest. 

Or join St Bart’s in an Earth Examen Contemplative Nature Walk.

Earth Examen engages us in a reflection of God’s presence and goodness in our local ecology. Guided through a series of experiential mediations, participants can learn more about our unique local ecosystems in the beautiful Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway at 11:30 am. The walk will be self-paced and open to anyone able to walk comfortably on unpaved trails. Bring your brown bag lunch to enjoy halfway through the walk. For more information, please contact Rev. Brian Petersen at curate@stbartschurch.org

2. Pray in Community for God’s Creation

Prayer is deeply foundational for our faith. While prayer still requires action, the act of prayer is powerful in itself. Take the time to pray. And remember that we are stronger together; we are empowered when we worship in our churches and small faith groups. 

These Episcopal liturgical resources offer suggestions: https://www.diocesewma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/SeasonOfCreationLiturgicalGuide2022-MADioceses2.pdf

Celebrate with members of other faith traditions! 

From our creation care partner, the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice: “This summer, we have witnessed stifling heat in Europe, flooding in South Korea and India, and massive wildfires and drought in California.  Climate change is here and now – and getting worse. As persons of faith we are called to own this problem and move to act. Join us on Wednesday, September 21, for Listening to Creation, An Interfaith Service: Moving from Lamentation to Stewardship to Joy.”  Gathering at 5:00 pm at La Jolla Shores Beach for a BYO picnic and beach chairs, the service will begin at 6:00 pm and conclude by 6:45.  All of our faith traditions call us to attentiveness and deep listening.  

3. Get inspired!

One way to find inspiration is at St. Paul’s Cathedral’s Faith Forum on September 25 with The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Episcopal priest, Missioner for Creation Care for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, climate activist, and co-author of Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis. The morning Faith Forum presentation (live and virtual), Spiritual Resilience in a Time of Climate Emergency, will invite us to reflect on climate anxiety and how we can stay spiritually strong in almost unimaginable challenges that press upon us. To learn more about her work, go to revivingcreation.org

But that’s not all– there’s more! 

To find out what else is happening in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and elsewhere during the Season of Creation, click: 2022 Season of CreationIf your congregation is interested in creation care resources or participating in a season of creation offering, please contact Dian Lopez Hughes at dianelopezhughes@gmail.com.