Words of Light and Hope from Helena Crockford

Words of Light and Hope by Helena Crockford

Until 4 th October we are now in the ecumenical Season of Creation, a season dedicated to prayer for the protection of Creation, our common home, and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change. This year’s theme ‘Make Living Water Flow’ highlights how every act of care for creation we make becomes part of a global stream of hope. ‘Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?’ St. Augustine (354-43) De Civit. Dei, Book XVI ‘We are all musicians in a great human orchestra, and it is now time to play the Save the World Symphony. You are not required to play a solo, but you are required to know what instrument you hold, and play it as well as you can. You are required to find your place in the score. What we love we must protect. That is what love means. From the right to know and the duty to inquire flows the obligation to act.’ Sandra Steingraber (b.1959), biologist, author, and environmental activist.

Environmental justice implicitly proclaimed by the prophets – can no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal. It is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. For it is a matter of justice social, economic and human. For believers it is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.” His Holiness Pope Leo XIV A wild worshipper’s prayer God of the wild and wonderful – of arcing skies and miniscule, jewelled wings – set my worship free to explore beyond these walls. Re-ignite me, excite me and creatively delight me as your word comes newly alive through the colourful witness of your world. Re-tune my senses, sharpen my mind and quicken my spirit to your presence as I look, hear, smell, touch and taste more of your goodness and lead me out into greater adventures of discovering you and caring for all you have made.  https://seasonofcreation.org/