Season of Creation: Week 5

On October 4^th, the last Sunday in the Season of Creation, we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (1181 - October 3, 1226). St. Francis is the patron saint of ecology and animals. He considered all nature as the “mirror of God”, calling all aspects of creation his “brothers and sisters.” The imagery at the altar and lectern reflect this understanding with bright fabrics and colours, plants and animals surrounding a statue of St. Francis with a cardinal perched on his shoulder.  The question posed for this Sunday was: “How do you see yourself as one with all creation?” The responses are printed below but first, thank you for responding to both the imagery and the questions over the past five weeks with your thoughtful responses and by your prayers.

• I can feel it! When I slow down and pay attention to my soul, I know I am ONE with creation.
• We each are connected.
• I am one small piece in the whole.
• A voice making a joyful noise or two or more!
• By keeping up to date on how we are all working with our wonderful world and encouraging our children and grandchildren to study about your [God’s] creation.
• I am insignificant.
• I am grateful to be and to know that He [God] has made all things good.
• I am at one with nature.
• I give thanks each day for the world and each inhabitant and advocate for clean waters for all.
• I ask everyone to look up Nudibranchs (a group of soft-bodied, extraordinarily coloured marine gastropod Molluscs).
• I have gratitude for plants and animals, observing them and the laws that govern them as a group and individually.
• By taking care of my yard and encouraging pollinators and birds.
• I feel happy. Joyful.
• Gerard Manley Hopkins spoke of “inscape”: I am here to be who I am, as was Christ. See his poem “Kingfisher”; Melanie Challenger’s “How to be Animal” and also “Alive”.
• I try to move more slowly and seasonally.
• I love all of God’s creatures not just dogs and cats : )
• I am a carer and protector.
• The Creator made us all: I try to respect all creatures but confess not carpenter ants.
• I have a wildlife garden patch - the bees, butterflies love it and a hummingbird feeder.
• From dust we came and to dust we shall return.
• I hike up Mt. Tzouhalem every day to be in touch with the birds, the bees, the animals and the trees.
• All God’s children.
• Everything in nature is interconnected, including humans.
• I love God’s creation. I am at peace in my garden and my ashes will be sprinkled back to the earth. I am one of God’s creations along with all birds, animals, trees, oceans, etc., etc.
• I love all animals.
• I am made to be pure and honorable and God loves me.
• I see myself as a speck of life, aware of my place in a vast process, able to aid or harm, build or break, blessed to breathe.
• I am at peace among God’s beauty: trees, my garden.
• I am just a small part in a wondrous, expansive universe and I stand in awe of God’s creative, imaginative power and extravagant love.