Below are some resources that will help you get started in planning a service with the theme of protecting Creation.
Official Denominational Statements on Global Warming
Yale’s Forum on Religion and Ecology
Practice Love (PDF)
By the Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, written for IPL’s Preach-In on Global Warming, Feb. 14, 2010
Transfiguration Sunday – Lent C Homily (PDF)
By Father Charles Morris, written for IPL’s Preach-In on Global Warming, Feb. 14, 2010
“Christ in All Things,” by Rev. Nancy G. Wright Text: Colossians 1:15-20
Explores the belief that God, in Christ, is holding the world together. This belief teaches us several things about how we are to live in relationship with God and with the rest of creation.
An Earth Day Sermon
By Steven Whitney
Texts: Genesis 2:15, 9:8-11 and Job 12:10, 38:1-7
Looks at creation “as a manifestation of God in our midst.” This sermon serves as an example of one person’s look at the role of humanity within this broader creation.
A Call to Action (PDF)
By Reverend Bob Wohlfort
Delivered at 1st Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington DC
March 9, 2008
The Earth is the Lord’s (PDF)
A sermon by Reverend R. Charles Grant, D.Min.
Delivered on April 29, 2007 at Bon Air Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia
Scripture references: Psalm 8 Psalm 24:12, Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31, Romans 8:19-24
‘Let Everything that Breathes …’ (PDF)
A sermon by Kirk Nave
Delivered April 29, 2007 at River Road United Methodist Church, Richmond VA
Scriptural references: Job 12:7-10; Psalm 148; Psalm 150
The Great Connection (PDF)
By Bass Mitchell
Delivered on July 16, 2006 at Ivy Creek UMC, Charlottesville, Va.
Scriptural references: Psalm 24
Noah (PDF)
By Paul Amrhein
Human Concerns Minister
St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Richmond, Va.
Earth Sunday
The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham
Grace Cathedral
Rosh Hashanah Sermon 5768 (PDF)
by Rabbi Laura Geller
Temple Emanuel Beverly Hills
Global Warming (PDF)
By Metwalli B. Amer, Ph.D
Founder and Executive Director of Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims
Abbess Linda Ruth Cutts (audio)
New York City
Dr. Hamid Mavani
Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California
Temple Beth El, Berkeley
Changing the Focus on Non-Renewable Energy and the Stewardship of the Environment (PDF)
By the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, D.D.
Bishop of Washington, and Dean of Washington National Cathedral
November 6, 2004
Prayer for the Earth by Brian McLaren
Worship Aids from Earth Ministry, with sermons, hymns, prayers, litanies, scripture, and sample worship services.
The Earth Day Network has video and samples sermons as well.
Preaching Creation: Throughout the Church Year by Jennifer M. Phillips is a handy desk reference that offers a scriptural-based starting point in planning sermons, Sunday School lessons, and more around passages from the Bible. Episcopalian and Anglican clergy and lay leaders are the book’s primary intended audience (since it is organized around the lectionary calendar), but it can be useful and inspirational for any people of faith.
Earth Day Bulletin Insert. Published by the National Council of Churches‘ Eco-Justice Program, this bulletin insert for Earth Day (or any Sunday) focuses on air quality. It’s called “Air: Life-giving Breath of God: Protecting the Sacred Gift of Air.”
Global Warming from a Religious Perspective is a one page sheet also produced by NCC’s Eco-Justice Working Group that provides brief facts on global warming’s causes, impacts, relevance to faith communities, and actions that faith communities can take. It is an excellent primer on the issue.
The Poverty of Global Climate Change is a briefing on climate change as a justice issue that is also offered by the NCC’s Eco-Justice Working Group. It contains sermon starters, bulletin inserts, Youth Activities, and group study resrouces.
Honoring Earth Worship Resource, from the Unitarian Univeralist Ministry for the Earth, is a worship resource with over 200 pages. It includes opening and closing words, sermons, readings, meditations, sample services, rituals, music resources, celebrations, and quotes.
Issue Brief: Global Warming is a short, 3 page briefing from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with the ELCA policy base and background information on the issue, as well as sample questions to ask candidates.
Care of the Earth: An Environmental Resource Manual for Church Leaders edited by Tina B. Krause and poduced by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is a 100-page handbook that offers explorations into green theology, environmental ethics, and earth advocacy. Intelligent and informed, this is better for background information than as a study guide in a group.
