Liturgy has always been a living growing entity. Before the invention of printing, liturgies varied from place to place. Manuscripts traveled from place to place. Much of our holy week liturgies were formed by pilgrims coming back from the Holy Land, e.g. the Palm Sunday procession.
We may be witnessing the evolving of a new liturgical season of creation, beginning with September 1st and ending with the Feast of Saint Francis on October 4th.
BELOW IS A DRAFT OF A POST FOR MY "WEAL" WEBSITE. A SELECTION OF LINKS AND TEXTS THAT I WILL ORGANIZE BETTER.
WE SHOULD BE CREATIVE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN FORMING A SEASON FOR CARE OF CREATION
FOR EXAMPLE, LABOR DAY RATHER THAN SEPTEMBER 1 OR A SUNDAY SEEMS AN IDEAL DAY TO CELEBRATE THE CARE OF CREATION.
FROM THE BEGINNING THIS HAS BEEN AN ECUMENTICAL PROJECT. THE MODEL OF THE ANGLICAN CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS SEEMS IDEAL.
I PROPOSE A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND SONGS AROUND THE THEME OF CARE OF CREATION.
WHAT SCRIPTURE READINGS WOULD YOU INCLUDE? The Genesis account of the creation from the Easter Vigil seems an ideal beginning.
WHAT SONGS WOULD YOU INCLUDE? In the Lessons and Carols service, there is a beginning carol, and more than one carol per reading. Some of the carols are chosen to be used each year and sung by the congregation. Some are sung each year by the choir because they require more technical virtuosity. Some are new each year. The Season of Creation international committee has a theme for each year. This year it is flowing water from Ezechiel. What songs about flowing water would you include this year?
WHAT PSALMS WOULD YOU INCLUDE? I am thinking of nine psalms about creation which would precede the Service of Lessons and Songs of Creation. It would cover the assembling of the community. Similar criteria to the songs above including some songs about water for this year.
As an undergraduate I took an anthropology course on childhood and society at the University of Washington in Seattle. The professor had done his research on native Americans in the Northwest. He was deeply impressed by their ritual creativity in song and dance. He attributed this to the fact that young people on the periphery of the assembly were encouraged to imitate their elders who led the assembly. That meant by the time they became leaders they had a whole repertory of song and dance to use creatively. I had already experienced several forms of the Liturgy of the Hours and resolved to let it unfold naturally in my life as I experienced more music and ritual. Anthropologically I think we all have the capacity to be liturgically creative.
POPE LEO WILL CELEBRATE THE NEW MASS FOR THE CARE OF CREATON SHORTLY AFTER NOON TODAY. CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE VATICAN WEBSITE
LIVE | Pope Leo XIV’s Holy Mass for the Care of Creation | September 1, 2026
EWTN Live Mass & Devotions
Scheduled for 12:20 PM Eastern Time
Actually, a good summary of the Season of Creation!
History of the World Day of Prayer
According to an ancient liturgical tradition of the Eastern Church, September 1st is the day symbolizing God’s act of creation of the world (“In the beginning”). Grounded in that symbolism, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church made a prophetic step in 1989: they invited all Christians to pray together on that day, offering “prayers and supplications to the Maker of all, both as thanksgiving for the great gift of Creation and as petitions for its protection and salvation.”
Grassroots celebrations began in the 1990s, in ecumenical circles at large and Catholic communities in particular. Eventually, various episcopal bodies officially embraced the world day of prayer, such as European bishops (CCEE) in an ecumenical assembly of 1997 and the Philippine bishops in a pastoral letter of 2003. Other churches also adopted it, for example the World Council of Churches in 2002.
In 2015, at the Vatican press conference to release the Laudato Si’ encyclical, Orthodox bishop John Zizioulas was a speaker and he reminded the Catholic Church of the 1989 invitation to pray together. A few weeks later, Pope Francis officially instituted the World Day of Prayer for Creation for the universal Church.
From the Bulletin of our Local Orthodox Church
which celebrated Vespers
for the beginning of the new liturgical year last night
(the Byzantine tradition like the Jewish
begins the liturgical day at sunset of the preceding day)
Betty and I were there we brought home more texts that were used
Most of this was copied by the pastor from several links at the bottom.
“BLESS THE CROWN OF THE YEAR WITH THY GOODNESS”: A SHORT CATECHESIS ON THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR
…The festive celebration of the New Year on September 1 is testified to in the Typicon of the Great Church. On this day, the Church recalls the episode in Luke 4 that talks about how Jesus Christ read the prophecy of Isaiah about the coming of the acceptable year of the Lord (Is. 61:1-2) in the synagogue in Nazareth. In this reading, the Byzantines saw the Lord’s instruction to celebrate the New Year. … This same Gospel pericope about the preaching of Jesus Christ was read by the Patriarch in a special festive rite celebrated on September 1. This Gospel is appointed for the Divine Liturgy on September 1 in the Orthodox Church today as well.
This feast is associated with the Old Testament tradition of the feast mentioned in the book of
Leviticus: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD (Lev. 23:23-25).
According to Judaism, the first month of the calendar year is Nisan. All religious festivals are counted from it. They calculate it starting from the seventh month (Tishrei), when Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year—is celebrated. It should be noted that this isn’t the only Old Testament episode connected with this feast. It was in this month that Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat (Gen. 8:4). It was in this month that Moses descended from Mt. Sinai with the tablets of the Covenant (Ex. 34:29). It was in this month that the construction of the Tabernacle of the Lord began (Ex. 35), where the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies but once a year.
There were many other, no less important episodes of sacred history. …
Creator of the universe
The troparion and kontakion [of the feast] devote special attention to some immutable truths of creation:
The Lord is the Creator of all creation: “O Fashioner of all creation, Who in Thine authority hast appointed the times and seasons.” Immutable Christian truth asserts that the world was created by God: For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible (Col. 1:16). … Then it speaks about the act of creating time. By His power, the Lord laid down and established times and years—periods, timeframes. “Bless the crown of this year with Thy goodness”
After that comes a prayerful petition with the words of King David from Psalm 64:12: Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness. St. Athanasius the Great interprets this passage thus: “The time of the coming age is called the year, and it is called the crown of goodness because in it the saints will be crowned with great grace.” This is a petition to bless the crown (from the Greek stéphanos—the completed cycle of the seasons) with the goodness and mercy of the Lord. The troparion ends with a traditional prayer request for the preservation of men—the chosen people of God, true Christians—in peace and salvation, by the prayers of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary “Who livest in the highest, Maker of all things, visible and invisible”
The kontakion of the feast begins with the words: “O Christ our King Who livest in the highest.” The royal title of the Savior signifies the teaching about the royal dignity of Christ. In Revelation, Christ is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16).The Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator and Maker. These synonyms are used for greater affirmation. Then the line about God’s creations continues. The fourth day of creation is recalled, when the heavenly luminaries were created: the sun, the moon, and the stars to rule the day and night (Gen. 1:14-19). The times and seasons mentioned in the troparion for the feast, as well as the petition for the blessing of the crown of the year are reflected in the kontakion, thereby calling the faithful to give special attention to the need for God’s blessing before the beginning of the New Year
With their bright imagery, the troparion and kontakion for the celebration of the Beginning of the Indiction draw attention to the majesty of God. These liturgical texts remind the faithful that He is the Creator and Maker of the visible and invisible worlds. Focusing the gaze of the faithful upon the crown of the Lord’s year, the troparion and kontakion call Orthodox Christians to ever remember that we must thank God foreverything and entreat His blessing on all our daily works, before every New Year, before every new cycle of years
MASS FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
A reading from the Book of Wisdom 13:1-9
All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is,
and from studying the works did not discern the artisan;
But either fire, or wind, or the swift air,
or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,
or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods.
Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,
let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these;
for the original source of beauty fashioned them.
Or if they were struck by their might and energy,
let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them.
For from the greatness and the beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen.
But yet, for these the blame is less;
For they indeed have gone astray perhaps,
though they seek God and wish to find him.
For they search busily among his works,
but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair.
But again, not even these are pardonable.
For if they so far succeeded in knowledge
that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
The word of the Lord.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 1:15-20
Brothers and sisters:
Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the Body, the Church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the Blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
The word of the Lord.
911C RESPONSORIAL PSALM
1. Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5ab
R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge. R.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message. R.
2. Psalm 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10 and 12, 24 and 35c
R. (31b) May the Lord be glad in his works.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak. R.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood. R.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song. R.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia. R.
1. Psalm 104:24
How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you have made them all.
2. 1 Chronicles 29:11d, 12b
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom,
you have dominion over all.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 8:23-27
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
The Gospel of the Lord.
1. Text, Theme and Symbol
“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will
be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes
the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. [...]
Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves
will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit,
because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will
serve for food and their leaves for healing.
” (Ezek 47:9,12)
This year’s theme,
“Living Water”
, explores Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 as a
powerful biblical vision of hope and ecological healing. Set amid exile
and loss, the image of living water flowing from God’s sanctuary
reveals divine healing that renews land, water, biodiversity, and human
responsibility towards the whole creation.
The symbol depicts water flowing from the Temple of God - at first a
tiny stream that grows deeper, and deeper and as it does so, it brings
life to dead areas and restores fertility to damaged or barren
ecosystems. Through living water comes healing; but in order to
receive new life, we too must step into the water and also become part
of God’s river of life, taking part in the healing of creation.
3.Theological Overview: Ezekiel 47:1-12
Ezekiel has been describing the building of a new temple in the desert
from chapter 40 through chapter 46. This new temple is impressive but
empty and lifeless. It is only in chapter 47 that life finally appears.
In this passage, the prophet is brought in a vision to the entrance of a
future, idealized temple. From beneath its threshold flows water that
begins as a trickle and becomes an ever-deepening river - too deep to
cross. This river courses through lands once barren, transforming
deserts into fertile deltas, restoring fish, vegetation, and even healing
the salt-laden waters of the Dead Sea. The Hebrew verb šûb (“to
return”) may be imagined spatially as a turning point, comparable to a
place along the Jordan River where fish could turn back before being
carried into the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea. This notion also has a
deep theological meaning of conversion. The imagery is vibrant and
dynamic, and yet its ecological significance often gets overshadowed
by purely metaphorical readings.
In many Christian traditions, Ezekiel 47 has been read primarily as a
future eschatological promise — a depiction of the messianic age when
God dwells fully with his people and renews all things. The prophet’s
vision, however, also speaks of healing now, as well as anticipating a
broader cosmic restoration. The River of Life represents a renewal that
extends beyond human salvation to include the healing of creation
itself. The trees whose leaves are “for healing” suggest not only
physical sustenance but holistic flourishing, encompassing both
humanity and creation. Ezekiel 47:1–12 thus conveys a distinct
environmental message: one of global healing, renewal and
transformation of life. It highlights the interdependence between
humanity and the natural world, and offers a vision of hope expressed
through active care for the earth, our common home.
Jack, good idea, but personally I think some restraint is needed. I have only gone to one Lessons and Carols service. It was at the Washington National Cathedral which generally has had the most beautiful liturgies I’ve ever been part of. But that night I could hardly wait for it to be over. Too long! Too, too, long! Plus the carols were not those everyone knows but obscure pieces that the choral director might have wanted to try, but not those in the congregation. Restraint AND discernment are of great importance in a service like this IMO.
ReplyDeleteHave any of Wendell Berry’s or Mary Oliver’s poems been set to music? She was a devout Episcopalian and weaves the divine and nature together in many of her poems - they are short and sweet. . Wendell Berry just died a couple of days ago, and apparently was a devout Christian raised in the Baptist tradition.
I would be in favour of working a "season of creation" Mass into September somewhere. I know Lessons and Carols are an Anglican and ECUSA thing, I have listened to some during the Christmas season. But I don't know how familiar most Catholics are with the format. Actually what it reminds me of are the Easter Vigil readings.
ReplyDeleteWe have a September-ish assortment of songs that we often sing this time of year. Come With Me into the Fields by Dan Schutte and Canticle of the Sun by Marty Haugen are a couple. I Sing the Mighty Power of God (hymn tune Ellacombe), and Let All Things Now Living (hymn tune Ash Grove) are a couple of traditional hymns with a creation theme. I like to play them on organ. But our organ at St A's died noisily on Christmas Eve, and hasn't been resurrected yet. Maybe is down for the count (sore subject!)
Jack, thanks for the link to Pope Leo's Mass. I will check it out.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, are Catholic Churches limited to approved Catholic hymns only?
ReplyDeleteAnne, no. Our music edition (OCP) has 700+ songs. GIA is another publisher, there are several. A lot of them originated in Protestant denominations. They have borrowed some of ours too. There are a lot of hymns by the Wesley brothers, they wrote some good ones. There are some standards of course, that songs should be appropriate for worship.
DeleteLOL, but we can't do like we did in the bad old days. Our hometown parish had folders full of mimeographed purple ink copies of pirated songs. One of my favorite Marian songs was the Beatles' song "Let It Be"...Nowadays we respect copyrights.
DeleteCatholic churches aren't limited to "Catholic hymns", in the sense that we can use hymns that are from other traditions (Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican, et al). That said, they are expected to express Catholic faith, and occasionally are altered to ensure that is the case. The Holy See has said that the bishop of the the diocese where the Catholic hymn publisher is located is responsilbe for the faith content.
DeleteJack, sounds like Ember Days that I remember from ECUSA. Mid-September, runs for a week, often culminates with with parish fall festival activities and dinner. St Francis-inspired hymn, "All Creatures of Our God and King" was often used. Liturgy hits themes of stewardship and gratitude for our place in creation. Tends to be used mostly in rural areas like ours as a harvest thing.
ReplyDeleteEmber Days have a complex history. They were thought to have been taken over from Roman harvest feasts. However, in the Roman Calendar they became associated with fasting in preparation for ordinations on Ember Saturdays. The Ember Saturday Masses had many lessons. After each lesson ordinations took place beginning with the lowest ranks.
DeleteI think that one of the reasons for the ambiguity was likely the variety of growing seasons in various countries. That was certainly the reason for their demise in the reformation of our liturgy after Vatican II. Prayers for harvests etc. were left up to national episcopal conferences, and the Ember Day Masses were taken out of the Missals. Ordinations were also up to local bishops.
The Season of Creation might be thought of as our response to industrialization where we no longer have seasons for foods, and what we really are considering is our changed relationship to nature. That is why I am suggesting Labor Day as the day for considering both creation and our labor (what we do to transform creation).
The nice thing about Ember Days were that they were quarterly. Quarterly stock taking measurements are still important in the economy. Months run by too quickly and years take too long.
I can remember Ember days from when I was a kid. They were three days, abstinence from meat, and partial fasting for the adults. I don't think I've encountered them since VII.
DeleteOn a day dedicated to Creation, I wish we could turn off all outside lights at dusk so we could appreciate the night sky in all its glory. Just one night a year.
DeleteStanley, that would be nice. We have had a few nights this year when the northern lights were visible. People out in the country were posting beautiful photos. But townies like us didn't get the chance to see them because there was too much artificial light, it just drowned out the aurora.
Delete"The Season of Creation might be thought of as our response to industrialization where we no longer have seasons for foods, and what we really are considering is our changed relationship to nature. That is why I am suggesting Labor Day as the day for considering both creation and our labor (what we do to transform creation)."
DeleteIf anything, I think we're even less connected these days to the spirit of Labor Day than to the food-growing cycles. I don't object to the idea of a day or month or season to celebrate the Care of Creation. The church already has its own version of Labor Day on May 1st (St. Joseph the Worker), deliberately chosen, in an era when the church was more Eurocentric than it is now, to coincide with May Day. Maybe for your next project you can create a Novena for the dignity of workers!
Katherine, I did see the Northern Lights in NJ last year but just barely. It was a red right at the edge of the visible spectrum, just barely visible. I’d like to see the more powerful display someday..
DeleteStanley, one of my bucket list items is to be able to go somewhere with o light pollution. I researched dark sky locations a few years ago, but haven’t been able to travel to one.
ReplyDeleteJean used to mention that her husband likes to go to the laundromat. Barbara Brown Taylor and her husband live on a small farm in Georgia. She posted a meditation today on going to the laundromat perhaps Raber would like it. It’s the first reflection —Hometown Laundry
https://substack.com/@barbarabrowntaylor
Anne, I’ve seen the full night sky twice in my life and a total eclipse once. Crazy that both are rare experiences. I’d like to see that night sky again.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the night sky when I visited my grandparents who lived in the sand hills, 40 miles from the nearest town lights. It was beautiful, and very peaceful.
DeleteI think it was St Cuthbert who urged people to pray for mercy when they felt the wind kick up. I'm guessing/hoping we get little reminders from the natural world to pray for certain things. I guess setting aside a time of year to contemplate nature is fine, but using things in nature itself as prayer prompts strikes me as another way to deepen our connection with creation.
ReplyDelete"I'm guessing/hoping we get little reminders from the natural world to pray for certain things"
DeleteWe have lots of doves here, both the mourning doves and the bigger ring or collar doves. I like to hear their coos, you can tell which kind by the pitch of their voice. When I am out walking I often see one of their grey feathers on the foot path. I think of the Holy Spirit and breathe a little prayer. Of course we have hawks too, and if I see a bunch of grey feathers, I assume one of them had breakfast. That's not so conducive to prayer!
PS Jean, how are things going?
Back when I could still hear, and take 2 or 3 mile walks, I tried walking prayer/ meditation. I started just by standing still outside and slowly looking at everything around me - houses, cars, street, but also trees, flowers. Perhaps a squirrel or chipmunk, or even a worm. A cardinal ( we have two pair living in our yard) or a bluebird. When walking I would become aware of the breeze on my skin, or the sun, or the cool mist. I would listen for the sounds my footsteps made, especially in the fall when I could hear the leaves crunch with every step. I loved hearing the birds. Now the only birds I can hear are owls and geese! No more crunchy sounds when I walk. But I find that focusing on nature and its incredible beauty and diversity brings me back to belief in God when it has disappeared, as it so frequently does. Walking mindfully is a form of meditation, a form of prayer. We’ve had several midnight thunderstorms in the last week or so. They wake me. I see the lightning outside the windows, flashing on the walls, as I lie in the dark. I like the thunder because it is a sound that I can still hear. And I reflect on this presence of God.
DeleteThat's nice! I will offer a prayer to the Holy Spirit when I see/hear the mourning doves. Lots of crow and buzzard activity this time of year. Memento mori.
DeleteWeird, I tried to comment yesterday and it wouldn't publish. Wonder if it was something with Google, because I tried on another Google site and it was the same problem. But looks like today it's working?
ReplyDeleteThat has happened to me a few times, always on my phone. Never had a problem when I am using the computer.
DeleteI had the same problem.
DeleteHappy Labor Day. Everybody in our old neighborhood used to go to the union hall for a picnic. Good memories of going to the picket lines as kids with our dads to serve hot coffee. Picketers would let us hold their signs while they drank coffee, and we would cheer when passing cars honked in support.
ReplyDeleteLabor Day meant something very different in the small, summer resort lake community where I grew up. It officially marked the end of summer. And was a sort of Black Friday for many of the small businesses - when they hoped to finally move into the black on business income., since most catered to the tourist trade. Memorial Day weekend was the kickoff. From then until Labor Day weekend was over, everyone worked 6 ( teenagers like me) or 7 days/week ( the adults owners and managers) , long days. There were no large companies to provide jobs, so everyone worked for, or owned a small business. The biggest employers were a resort hotel (summer employees laid off on the Tuesday after Labor Day), a small supermarket, and a 30 bed hospital — besides the schools, they were the major, all year employers in town. One resort hotel, but mostly small inns, bed and breakfasts. and small motels. Most tourists rented a cabin. The small business owners had shops and small restaurants or coffee shops. They earned almost all of their annual incomes during the three summer months. Labor Day weekend marked the end of the revenue season. The small shops and restaurants cut back hours. The movie theater went back to Friday and Saturday movies only ( one screen ).. The end of Labor Day weekend marked the beginning of a long period of rest, and. Low income for the small businesses. Tourists still came on weekends, but far fewer of them. Once it was too cool for lake activities the tourists stayed home.
DeleteSimilar in Michigan. State passed a law that K-12 schools would start after Labor Day, extending vacations and time that tourist biz could hang onto cheap high school employees. However, most schools sought variances to the rule because it meant kids would have to go longer in June.
DeletePerfect day here. Cloudless, no wind, 55 degrees, and I'm enjoying my coffee outdoors on the porch. So nice after that hot spell last week. We've been plagued with a few yellow jackets in the afternoon. Lots of crow and blue jay activity this morning.
Im reading this as I too am sitting on our back deck drinking coffee, taking in the beautiful woods, the blue, blue sky with a few puffy white clouds, and enjoying the comfortable temperatures. The high heat and humidity are gone. I’m watching a mama deer and her dainty little fawn enjoy a meal from the bushes in the woods behind the house, as the birds flit between the trees. The peace of wild things. Enjoy.
DeleteWendell Berry died last week. I doubt this poem will fit into the liturgy, although our female priest at the Episcopal parish often read from poetry and literature during her homilies. This poem is his best known, and is my favorite. It seems appropriate for a liturgy celebrating creation, especially during these chaotic times when the president is selling mining, logging and other leases on our national park lands, and now wants to sell part of Yosemite. It would be nice if the parishes could do something to raise awareness of how God’s natural wonders are being destroyed - for profit.
ReplyDeleteBut when I spend time in nature —“ For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Wendell Berry
from The Peace of Wild Things And Other Poems (Penguin, 2018)
Interesting story about "nature words" disappearing precipitously from literature.
Deletehttps://grist.org/language/nature-word-language-disappear-culture/
Recently re-read Steinbeck's East of Eden and was struck by the wealth of description of the natural world in the Salinas Valley. Nobody writes like that any more.
Thank you for that article link. I had no idea. It almost makes me cry! I'm saving the article and I'm going to buy "The Lost Words" for each set of grandchildren. When we were in California, especially in assisted living in a nice place that was set back from a major road, but had no nature except a small garden out back, nobody understood why I wanted to come home. I knew in my heart that to begin to heal, I needed to come home to my woods. stream and birds. We have a tract house on a typical 1/4 acre suburban lot. But it backs to the woods, with the stream, and the deer, and the fox, and rabbits and beavers and the wildflowers, and lots of birds. We also have a birdfeeder that my husband put up outside our kitchen window years ago. Last winter about 15 different kinds of birds visited our feeder. My husband has always loved to watch them, and has kept a bird guide on the kitchen counter all these years. He lives in the family room now with windows overlooking the woods and the feeder. It is healing. The residents in the assisted living place really didn't understand. I hardly saw any birds at all in San Jose - crows and hummingbirds (lots of hummingbirds) but not much else. There aren't many trees there, nor many parks.
DeleteOne highlight of one of our trips to England (yes, lots of green, but bare hills) was our trip to the Lake District. So beautiful there and we saw the fields of daffodils that so entranced Wordsworth. We had lucked out and were there at the right time. I have read that the Lake District is overrun by tourists in the summers. We were there once in the fall and once in the spring and it was beautiful, quiet and peaceful.
Trump is working overtime to destroy our parklands, now even wanting sell part of Yosemite to a developer. My theory is that he has no love of nature because he grew up in a city with nothing but concrete and glass on the ground and in the buildings. The only green he may have seen was Central Park and golf courses.