The SJN Care for Our Common Home Ministry organized several events to mark the Season of Creation. See the list below, which also includes events from a couple of our partner organizations. Please email us at [email protected] for more information.
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EVENTS DURING THE 2018 SEASON OF CREATION
Sustainability Showcase, Sunday Sept. 23, 2018
Thank you to all who stopped by the Sustainability Showcase, our signature event of the season. Many people asked how they could access the tips, suggestions, and resources that we presented on home energy use, transportation, recycling, diet, simple lifestyles, and Catholic social teaching. All the information is now available and we invite you to look at it by clicking HERE.
Sept. 1 - Oct 4, 2nd Annual Students Photo Contest
Sponsored by Faith Formation and Care for our Common Home High School and Middle School photographer captured and shared photos of nature that inspired them to pause and see God reaching out through nature. This was a nice opportunity to open a doorway to a prayer of thanks, praise, or silent wonder at God’s powerful presence in nature. All photos were displayed on the Youth Ministry bulletin board for all to see and be inspired by. Below are the three blue ribbon winners. The three award winners are: |
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi We celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with daily Mass and an Outdoor Prayer Service to dedicate a new garden statue . Both St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis have challenged us to make care for creation and care for the poor a cornerstone of our Catholic witness. The blessing was followed by a Tree Identification Walk along paths behind the parish grounds to learn and appreciate the beauty and complexity of tree and leaf structures. Finally, at our monthly October meeting on the 6th, we presented the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi program developed by Catholic Climate Covenant. We learned about climate refugees and got a better understanding of who our neighbor is. |
Sunday, September 30, 2018 Blessing of the Animals
Father Heet graciously blessed dogs, cats and birds at the annual pet blessing. This year, we provided the blessing ceremony.
Father Heet graciously blessed dogs, cats and birds at the annual pet blessing. This year, we provided the blessing ceremony.
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, Prayer Service and Film at St. Mark
In celebration of the Season of Creation, the St. Mark Care for Our Common Home Ministry joined with other Christians in the Vienna area for an ecumenical prayer service and showing showing of the documentary film, “Making Peace with Creation," an artistically beautiful and thought-provoking film by Loren Wilkinson. Here is the trailer for the film. Betsy Zolper from St. Mark provided a summary of the evening: "We had 35 people at the prayer service this year. It was another truly inspiring service. Jean did a great job as presider and the music was lovely as well. We had a good showing from neighboring Catholic Churches including St. Ambrose, St. Luke, Church of the Good Shepherd, Thomas a Beckett, OLGC and of course SJN."
In celebration of the Season of Creation, the St. Mark Care for Our Common Home Ministry joined with other Christians in the Vienna area for an ecumenical prayer service and showing showing of the documentary film, “Making Peace with Creation," an artistically beautiful and thought-provoking film by Loren Wilkinson. Here is the trailer for the film. Betsy Zolper from St. Mark provided a summary of the evening: "We had 35 people at the prayer service this year. It was another truly inspiring service. Jean did a great job as presider and the music was lovely as well. We had a good showing from neighboring Catholic Churches including St. Ambrose, St. Luke, Church of the Good Shepherd, Thomas a Beckett, OLGC and of course SJN."
Saturday Sept. 8, 2018, Prayer Vigil for Peace, Life and Justice
The monthly parish prayer vigil for peace, life, and justice in September marked the Season of Creation by praying for an end to practices and policies that harm the environment and vulnerable populations. The vigil, sponsored by Pax Christi SJN, included praying the Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace, praying Psalm 104 together in a Liturgy of the Hours format, listening to God’s Word, and offering prayer intentions to our merciful Savior. A touching personal reflection on the importance of caring for creation was offered by parishioner Mickey Edwards. You can read her reflection HERE.
The monthly parish prayer vigil for peace, life, and justice in September marked the Season of Creation by praying for an end to practices and policies that harm the environment and vulnerable populations. The vigil, sponsored by Pax Christi SJN, included praying the Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace, praying Psalm 104 together in a Liturgy of the Hours format, listening to God’s Word, and offering prayer intentions to our merciful Savior. A touching personal reflection on the importance of caring for creation was offered by parishioner Mickey Edwards. You can read her reflection HERE.
Friday August 31, 2018, Outdoor Prayer Walk
We kicked off the Season of Creation with daily Mass followed by an outdoor prayer walk to honor God’s presence in His gift of creation. Click HERE to view the prayers and meditations, and feel free to refer to these during you own time in nature. This year’s Season of Creation has the theme of “walking together.” In walking together, we follow the example of Jesus, who walked with friends on the roads of Galilee and around Jerusalem. As he traveled the byways of his community, Jesus invited his followers to encounter God through God’s presence in creation. Whether by considering “the lilies of the field” or the “grain of wheat that falls to the earth,” our spiritual journey of following Jesus is closely tied to the everyday wonders of nature that he experienced in his earthly journey. |
Saturday Sept. 1, 2018 Bird Watching Walk
The bird watching (and listening) walk was a nice opportunity to mindfully honor our Creator and to share fellowship with brothers and sisters along the way. We welcomed the opportunity to awaken anew to the wonder of the Earth, our common home, and to appreciate the web of life it shelters. We heard many Carolina Wrens calling to each other, but only saw a few of them hopping along branches near the top of the canopy. At one point four chimney swifts soared over an open space with just enough time for us to catch a glimpse of them. A patient pair of birds on the very top of a dead tree allowed us to view and scrutinize their shape, colors, and behavior for an extended time. The distance did not allow easy identification but our experts with an illustrated bird guide were finally able to state with assurance that a pair of Orioles had visited our neck of the woods. We saw and heard Nuthatches in their characteristic head-first descent along large tree trunks. A few varieties of woodpeckers were calling, but we didn't get a view of them. We returned to the parking lot elated to be surrounded by such beauty in the woods behind the church and grateful to be able to experience that with others. |