Sept 10th to November 26th Creation Time for many traditional church followers last for 12 weeks then Advent.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Imagine a world where our actions today echo far into the future, where the choices we make now, matter tomorrow. This is the essence of Creation Time. It reminds us that our Earth isn’t just a home; it’s a divine gift. How we cherish this gift reveals our true relationship with the Creator. Liturgically, Creation Time is a time of heightened awareness and action. Stewardship reminds us that we are empowered to make choices with resources, whether of time or talent or wealth. As we enter this liturgical time, may you, too, find your own unique way to witness to hope and engage in faithful action, ever mindful of our divine calling as stewards of God’s precious gift—our planet.
—Rev. Melody Duncanson Hales, Community of Faith Stewardship Support staff for Canadian Shield and Shining Waters regions and Canadian Shield regional staff for congregational support.
For each Sunday over the next 12 weeks there will be a practical idea about how to help support our planet. Today we start with water conservation.
Try and decrease the amount of time you shower by 1 minute.
Passover
Exodus 12:1-14 v 12 “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt.”
The Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron. He told them to sacrifice an animal, a goat or a lamb and prepare a feast and eat it with your neighbors until it is all gone. The animal with no defects. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. Burn whatever is not eaten. On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt.” When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Moses along with Aaron had been asking the Pharaoh to release the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The hard heart of Pharaoh could not be moved by nine different plagues. Then God passed through Egypt for the tenth time to execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!
For Christians this has strong symbolism that represents Jesus, a perfect person who despite the many wounds to his body not a bone was broken in his death just like these perfect sacrificial lambs. Jesus shared the Passover meal with the disciples and changed the meaning of the food to represent what we now know as communion.
If you are praying for the hard heart of someone you know to be opened to Jesus, don’t give up. Our God is greater than any hard heart and can prevail.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son as a sacrificial lamb to save us all. Open our hearts to the needs of the world and guide us to the new celebrations of your love. Amen
CrossWalk 