Our Commitment to This Creation
Dear God, Creator of the earth, this sacred home we share; Give us new eyes to see the beauty all around and to protect the wonders of creation. Give us new arms to embrace the strangers among us and to know them as family. Give us new ears to hear and understand those who live off the land and to hear and understand those who extract its resources. Give us new hearts to recognize the brokenness in our communities and to heal the wounds we have inflicted. Give us new hands to serve the earth and its people and to shape beloved community. For you are the One who seeks the lost, binds our wounds and sets us free, and it is in the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.We join with the larger Episcopal Church in making Creation Care a primary focus of our work and ministry in this world.
Our congregation was certified as a Green Faith Sanctuary in 2014 after a two year process of education, policy and stewardship development. We worked hard to reduce our carbon footprint, celebrate creation in worship and education, and learn to advocate for the environment.
This meant insulating and changing windows, developing relationships with local farmers and school gardens, thoughtful study groups, joyous St. Francis and Rogation worship, Interfaith experiences, partnership with Episcopalians in the Phillippines for carbon offsets and much more. We see ourselves as a place to grow in creation oriented spirituality, and to wrestle with challenging ethical issues as we seek to understand our call to address climate change and sustainable living.
We continue this work to this day through continued efforts in conservation, natural gardens, sustainable food resources, and education on the Gospel call we have as followers of Christ to care for this gift of creation we have been given.
You are invited to join us for the First Sunday in May each year when we celebrate the tradition of Rogation Days with a blessing of plants and special prayers for the season of planting and commerce that comes with Spring.
To learn more about what the Episcopal Church is doing to better care for creation visit: episcopalchurch.org/creation-care and take the Pledge to Care for Creation.
St. Stephen’s, together with the Diocese of Olympia, is an early adopter of the Sustain Island Home carbon tracker system. Members of our community are encouraged to sign up and contribute to our page as we work together to lessen our negative impact on creation while increasing our positive impacts.
A Prayer for Our Time and for the Earth
Dear God, Creator of the earth, this sacred home we share; Give us new eyes to see the beauty all around and to protect the wonders of creation. Give us new arms to embrace the strangers among us and to know them as family. Give us new ears to hear and understand those who live off the land and to hear and understand those who extract its resources. Give us new hearts to recognize the brokenness in our communities and to heal the wounds we have inflicted. Give us new hands to serve the earth and its people and to shape beloved community. For you are the One who seeks the lost, binds our wounds and sets us free, and it is in the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.
From Bishop Carol Gallagher Offered at the House of Bishops Fall 2017 Gathering in Fairbanks, Alaska