Our response to God’s creation and to the environmental crises that we face, including human-induced climate change, begins with coming to God.
On this page you can find resources for regular prayer, for prayer and worship for particular occasions, as well as theological resources such as books, talks and articles. A Rocha, the organisation the runs eco-church, also provides some resources to help churches think about worship and teaching.
Prayers
A Rocha provides a list of prayers related to the climate emergency written by Rev'd John Swales.
Green Christian provide prayers for every day in different formats. You can subscribe to be sent information monthly or daily.
Liturgies
A green liturgy from St Mary's Twyford
You can find more ideas for liturgy at Greening the Lectionary and also on the Church of England's Time for Creation webpage (everything is on one page here so if the links at the top of the page don't work, just scroll down and you will find what you're looking for)
Preaching and Reflections
Preaching for God's World provide weekly reflections from activists, theologians and church leaders across the world church to support clergy, lay preachers and all Christians to explore the set lectionary readings for each week from the perspective of creation care and ecological justice and to grow in our care for God’s creation.
Hymns and songs
This website lists hymns and songs that relate to care for creation/conservation.
Discussion and Bible Study
Saying Yes to Life was the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 2020 Lent Book written by Ruth Valerio. In the book, Ruth relates the days of creation (Genesis 1) to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a prayer to aid action and contemplation. This webpage gives more details about the book and resources to go with it. here.
Tenants of the King This four-part study series from Operation Noah is designed to help you and your church consider what the Bible has to say about the environment alongside offering ways to help you think about how we might respond to the climate crisis.
A Christian Look at the Environment This series of five bible studies has been written for the John Ray Initiative in 2023 by Revd. Rich Clarkson, and is based on a popular earlier series of bible studies written by Dena Burne in 2002 (the latter have now been withdrawn). It draws on both theological and scientific insight to help groups and churches think about what a Christian approach to environmental issues might look like.
Climate Justice and Racial Justice In 2023, a series of on-line meetings took place in the Diocese of Chelmsford exploring the link between climate justice and racial justice. This webpage contains recordings of the sessions, videos made by individuals in Kenya and the Amazon and associated material that could be used as starters for discussion.
Living Lent A Church of England Lent course run in 2019, which can be visited at any time, with resources and ideas for practical action.
Plenty! Part of Green Christian’s "Joy in Enough" project, this small group discussion resource provides resources for people to decide what they can do, at a personal, community, national and global level, to challenge effectively our current way of living, which have led to climate change and biodiversity loss. They offer excellent training for those wishing to facilitate this course.
Outdoor worship
Guidance from the Church of England (this is guidance produced during the COVID-19 pandemic but still has some useful pointers)
Norwich Diocese Resources on Wild Church
Worship resources for particular Sundays and periods in the year
A Rocha, the organisation that runs eco-church, has some resources for particular Sundays on its webpage on worship and teaching. There are plenty of other resources below.
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Season of Creation September 2024
Creationtide (or the Season of Creation) is the period in the annual church calendar, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life.
Churches often use this time to celebrate Harvest Festival, to thank God for our food, but also to recognise the wonder and fragility of creation.
Find out more about the Season of Creation
The theme for Creationtide 2024 is "To hope and act with Creation"
Listen to church leaders around the world introduce this year's Season of Creation
Read the guide to Season of Creation 2024
Eco Congregation Scotland also have some wonderful resources, including video sermons and short (2 min) videos that could be used in church services or other settings
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Harvest
Green Christian provides a range of resources and very helpful links to resources from quie a few other organisations here.
For over three decades, Ripple Effect (previously "Send a cow") has worked alongside farmers in rural Africa, inspiring and equip them to transform their lives and protect the planet. They have some Harvest resources here that are geared to encouraging your church to get more involved in their organisation.
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COP29 November 2024
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP29, will be the 29th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from November 11 until November 24, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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Plough Sunday 12th January 2025
Plough Sunday is a traditional English celebration of the beginning of the agricultural year.
Back in medieval times, the communal village plough was often stored in the parish church over winter. Early in January, the farmers would gather in church to bring the plough out of hibernation. The farming year would begin with a special blessing of the plough and the ploughmen in church. The plough would be pulled through the village until they reached the local inn. With God’s blessing, the support of the village and with good food and drink inside them, the ploughmen were ready to start the new agricultural year.
Farming practises have changed. Often ploughing takes place in the autumn. Many farmers are shifting from ploughing to minimum tillage cultivation for environmental reasons. But the need to affirm farmers and those who work with the land, is as important now as it was in the past.
You can find out more about Plough Sunday and other agricultural festivals here.
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Earth Hour 22nd March 2025
Since 2007, Earth Hour has been known for the “lights off” moment, with individuals from around the globe switching off their lights to show symbolic support for the planet and to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting it. Find out more here
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Easter
You can find a prayer for creation for Easter on the Green Christian website.
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Earth Day 22nd April 2025
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.
In 2024 the theme is Planet v. Plastics
See here for more information
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Rogation Sunday 25th May 2025
Content coming soon
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Environment Sunday 8th June 2025
Environment Sunday is always the Sunday nearest World Environment Day on June 5th.
Saudi Arabia is to host World Environment Day 2024 with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
Videos
What do We Want to Sustain? Thinking about Faith and The Climate. Dr Carmody Grey: Hook Lecture 2021
Saying Yes to Life - Ruth Valerio in St Paul's Cathedral (2020)
Books and Articles about theology
In due course, we'll be listing books and articles here with short reviews. If you would like to recommend a book or article, please let Rev'd Sandra Eldridge know.
