Last Sunday we kicked off the Season of Creation here at Koonung Heights. The Season of Creation began on September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. I am not sure we will do the full five weeks but definitely at least three.
This year’s theme is about water and being immersed in the Living Water of the Gospel. Water we noted in the early word is essential for all life on our planet. Water features prominently in the creation story when God is said to have separated the earth and the ocean, and life emerges from the dark and murky waters. I sometimes wonder if this primeval memory is behind why many people do their best thinking in the shower or bath… when we are naked, vulnerable, immersed in the warm water, enclosed in a shower or bath like the ancient womb that gave birth to us. Anyway, to continue the biblical references – the escaping Jewish slaves flee to freedom through the parted waters of the Red Sea and Jesus later speaks of the living waters that will spring forth from the believer.
And on top of all that we are made up of around 60% water! Yes, the human body is more than half water. We are spongy skinfuls of watery liquid. And I was terribly impressed with the kids on Sunday who knew that percentage. Who would have thought it? This Sunday we continue our theme, but with the watery focus more on oceans and the image of baptism as the emerging of the new life of the gospel.
And we look forward to welcoming Antony McMullen from Uniting World on September 20 who will share something of the role of water in the Pacific Island countries that the Uniting Church in Australia is in partnership with.
Ray