Creation in Christ

In July this year, General Synod approved a new festival: Creation in Christ and it will be celebrated for the first time on Sunday. Developed in ecumenical partnership, it encourages us to give thanks for God's creation and redemption of the world, reflect on humanity's responsibility to care for the natural world and pray for its renewal.

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It comes in tandem with the publication of ‘Hope for all Creation’, a theological response to the environmental crisis. In a summer where the manifestations of the crisis have been greater than ever with a catastrophic impact on habitat, plant, animal and human life, we can struggle to find the hope.

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The whole earth reveals the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Hope #1: It all belongs to God and the Father God cares.

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Colossians reminds us: Jesus is the image of the invisible God, in him all things in heaven and on earth were created and through him God is reconciling all things. Hope #2: Jesus’ redemption covers the whole of creation.

There is an invitation in scripture to choose life with God’s promises ‘what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach’ and ‘I am with you. Hope #3: until God’s kingdom comes again in its glory, we have the Holy Spirit as our inspiration and guide.

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Following Jesus is a turning, a conversion, a radical change in spirit and purpose. We can’t ‘fix’ the planet unless we recognise the spiritual roots in its brokenness and the role of our own brokenness in that. We need science and technology, without a doubt; Christians need to work with all those who care for the planet regardless of their faith perspective, no question; we must allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out individually and collectively, absolutely. The key is transforming our destructive attitudes so that our care for the world is not driven by extrinsic ‘needs must’ motivation but intrinsic re-created redeemed motivation rooted in the grace of God, who promises that all will be made well.

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How do we save the planet? Hope #4: one prayer, one step, one action at a time united with all God’s people created in God’s image.

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Sarah Mortimer