Although Creationtide is a comparatively new season in the Church’s Year, it has become established and popular very quickly and it’s wholly appropriate given the huge damage that mankind is doing to God’s Creation. None of us needs to be an environmental expert to be aware of the rapid disappearance of insects over the past few years – bees, wasps, butterflies and the myriad other species, but we are not, it seems, aware of the huge damage that will be inflicted on the balance of nature and ultimately the way we live if this decline continues.
Creationtide also comes at a time of year when our thoughts naturally turn to new starts and experiences – young children going to school for the first time, older year groups moving on from primary to secondary, or to college, or university, or into the world of work. September is a time of change and renewal.
It’s also the start of the football season and teams everywhere carry with them the hopes and dreams of their supporters. Everything is new and pristine and full of potential, and life is in balance, just like Creation was when God conceived it and brought it to life.
Our preacher at the 10am at St Mary’s this Sunday is Revd Sam Scott, the Diocesan Environment Officer. He has heard positive reports about our Forest Church and wants to see it in action for himself. He has also asked to speak to the whole congregation, and to enable that, we have slightly re-jigged the service sequence. The welcome and first hymn will be followed by the Bible reading and Sam’s address. Forest Church will then leave us to carry out their normal activities. Revd Stephen and myself are taking the service and we shall guide you as to where we are in the liturgy at any particular point!
For our reading, Sam has chosen Colossians 1:15-20, a passage which many theologians regard as quite difficult but enormously important. Paul’s letter is an attempt to correct a tendency of thought which had arisen in the Colossian Church that ‘matter was evil and the spirit was good’. The Colossians were of the opinion that the world was created out of flawed and evil matter. Paul therefore spends some time explaining what Jesus Christ is to Creation, and how Christ is the agent of Creation.
Of course I do not know how exactly Sam will use the passage, but that is a rough introduction!
See you at the Service!
John Sweeting, Ministry Team