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Evangelical Worship and Care for God’s Creation
Humility, awe, and delight before the majestic
and intricate works of creation moves Christians
to exclaim to the Creator of all things, “How
great Thou art!” Deeper knowledge of how
God’s love forms and sustains people and
all living things gives continual occasions for
thanks and praise.
While passionately insisting that God alone is
to be worshiped, evangelicals echo the Bible’s
affirmations that God’s power and wisdom
and glory are displayed in the earth, skies, seas,
and the teeming life within them. By awakening
the heart and mind to Creation’s witness
to the Creator and giving voice to the uniquely
human responses of prayer and song, worship inspires
and supports the work of caring for creation.
Whether with classic settings of the great Psalms
celebrating God as Creator, or with contemporary
hymns and prayers that reflect today’s environmental
concerns about environmental degradation, evangelical
congregations are declaring in worship that the
earth is the Lord’s.
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The Evangelical
Environmental Network has encouraged and helped
churches to acknowledge Christ’s Lordship
over all creation:
- Let
the Earth Be Glad, the EEN’s
resource kit for congregations, included “Seeds
of Praise: Creating Opportunities to Worship
God As Creator,” with idea sheets and
worship aids.
- The
Best Preaching on Earth (Judson Press,
1996) collected sermons by noted evangelical
leaders and authors such as John Stott, Madeleine
L’Engle, Eugene Peterson, and Philip Yancey.
- Each year, EEN suggests a special theme for
“Creation
Sunday,” usually observed as the Sunday
that falls closest to April 22, Earth Day, and
provides biblically based worship materials
and ideas. Past years’ themes have included
the oceans, transportation choices, health,
and Christ’s reconciliation of all of
creation.
Find
worship resources for congregations.
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