"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God"
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The Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN), a commission of Queensland Churches Together, has produced a Season of Creation devotional. Check out this stunning sample content, written by The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase, and find out how to access the free app and PDF or how to purchase the book for individual or parish/ministry use
The Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN), a commission of Queensland Churches Together, has produced a devotional for the Season of Creation, which is celebrated from 1 September to 4 October annually. Thank you to The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase for his stunning contribution for Day 7 of the devotional.
Reading
Romans 8.18-23 (NRSVA):
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”
Focus verse
Romans 8.18-23 (NRSVA):
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.”
Reflect
I and some of my family have been blessed to be able to watch the turtles return to their special beach, Mon Repos near Bundaberg. This is the destination every year for the females who come to lay their eggs. These are the huge Loggerhead turtles. Their species is endangered. The mother makes her way, seemingly painfully, up the beach to a spot where she digs her nest. This is where she lays her eggs. The process takes some time. The look in the turtle’s eye seems to be sadness and tiredness. It seems as if her whole being is groaning in this process of ensuring creation and the continuance of her kind. Once finished, the mother flaps sand onto the eggs and makes her way back to the water. When she reaches the water, her movements are no longer labored; they are graceful as she swims back out to sea. The hatchlings some time later will make that same journey. It is a dangerous journey because of birds, but they must do it. They are quicker. They rush to the water where new predators await. But they must do it.
We too must wait, like the mother. Be patient. Do what we must do. Know that our freedom will come with Christ. Our natural place will be with Him. We will face the dangers and toils of a hostile world, but we will come through. We are blessed by the grace of God who has given us the gift of Christ. There is our deeper water. There is our place.
“We too must wait, like the mother. Be patient…There is our deeper water. There is our place,” (The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase)
Saying
“Stream Of Life” by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.
Pray
God of all our dreaming, come take us in Your arms.
Lead us onward to the deeper parts of ourselves.
Bring us closer to the deeper heart of Your love,
Safe and calm through Jesus the Christ.
Amen
Editor’s note: Thank you to The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase and all the writers who contributed content to a stunning Season of Creation devotional. The Queensland Churches Environmental Network (a commission of Queensland Churches Together) produced the resource with the assistance of a National Council of Churches in Australia grant and with graphic design and app development support from the ACSQ Justice Unit’s, Peter Branjerdporn. The devotional is available as a free app, a free PDF and a printed book for individuals and parishes/ministries. The Season of Creation runs from 1 September (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to 4 October (St Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day) annually. It is celebrated by Christians internationally, so we can renew our relationship with our Creator and all Creation.
You can access the devotional:
• As a free app via Apple Store or Google Store by searching for “Season of Creation”.
• As a PDF through the QCT website.
• In printed form — a limited number of books has been printed. These are available for $10 each, plus postage. Please contact admin@qct.org.au to order your copy.
