Thought of the Week - 18th September 2024

SEASON OF CREATION 1 September – 4 October

During the annual ‘Season of Creation’, we are reflecting on the awesomeness of God’s Creation, and our role and responsibilities as Christians in caring for all that God has made.

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens. […]
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

 people that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honour.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

A theme we hear a lot about these days is mindfulness – paying close attention to what is happening in us and around us. By paying attention to the heavens, the psalmist recognises the miracle of God’s grace - that the God of creation is mindful of us.

The Psalm also invites attentiveness to the beauty of creation, by which we see ourselves as part of creation, not separate from it. Observing the glories of creation leads us to an attitude of gratitude, a profound sense of worship. With that celebration comes responsibility, an echo of the dominion given to Adam and Eve. As in many places in Scripture, the psalm asks, ‘What will we do with what we have been given?’ How will we be stewards of Creation?

In our flawed history, the interpretation of dominion has been twisted to mean that we could do whatever we wanted with creation for selfish purposes. It's based on the illusion that we are somehow distinct from creation, above it all, so that we can use it all, without regard for the loving intention of the Creator.

We see the effects of our error all over the world.

We are called to a new and holy frame of mind. Albert Einstein said that we can look at the world in two ways: as if nothing is a miracle, or as if everything is a miracle. May our gratitude for the grace of God’s mindfulness of us, move us to see everything around us as a miracle of God, and care for it accordingly.

What do you feel when you look up at the heavens?

When in the rhythm of your week do you find time to stop and be mindful of the beauty of creation?

Prayer.

Gracious God, we marvel at your mindfulness of us, your gracious and loving regard for us as part of the creation you called very good. As we give thanks for all good gifts around us coming from heaven above, we ask you to make us attentive to the beauty of creation and to take to heart our own responsibility for its care. We pray in the power of the undivided Trinity, eternal Majesty, incarnate Word and ever-living Spirit. Amen.

IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK

• God's peace and justice in all war torn places of the world, but especially in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan 
• the bereaved
• the sick, in mind, body or spirit
• for our neighbours in Twyford and Ruscombe as they welcome their new vicar Mark Gould next week
• wisdom for our churchwardens and PCC, as we continue the process of finding a new vicar

Our Next Services