This document provides a call to action to protect and care for God's lands. It begins with a prayer asking God to help humans be responsible stewards of the earth and see God's glory reflected in all of creation. It then lists several actions people can take to care for public lands, reduce unsustainable energy use, support local agriculture, and enjoy outdoor recreation responsibly. The document emphasizes that as Christians, caring for God's lands is a moral and spiritual responsibility. It concludes with prayers of thanksgiving and confession regarding stewardship of the earth.

1. Sending Forth: Acts of Commitment
Creator God, may we see your glory reflected in all of your creation, which Rooted in God’s Word and Lands
along with us has been redeemed in Christ. May we, and all those who come
after us, enjoy your lands and share their bounty equitably in our commu- A Celebration of the Earth That Nourishes Us
nities and with other creatures. Help us to be responsible tenants on your
lands, and give us the courage to protect all of your creation so that others The National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs
may experience its glory. Amen. Land Stewardship Sunday
Take Action to Protect and Redeem God’s Lands
Care for Nearby Public Lands. Adopt a trail or plan a service project Land —the created earth—is an integral
with your congregation or youth group at your favorite park or wild place. part of God’s glorious creation and a vessel
Outdoor service is a great way to witness the glory of God’s lands first-hand, through which God nourishes us. But we
answer the call to care for and restore creation, and share in fellowship. often take the ground beneath
our feet for granted, forgetting
Reduce Unsustainable Energy Use. Many utility companies offer programs that it includes the soil, air,
that allow you to purchase part of your power from renewable sources. and water needed to produce
If your local power company offers such a program, join it! If they don’t, our food and sustain all forms
encourage them to start one. You can also reduce energy development of life. Land is the base for
pressure on God’s lands by ensuring that your home and worship space forests, grasslands, deserts, and moun-
are energy efficient. For ideas, visit Interfaith Power and Light at: tains and the foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems. It
http://www.theregenerationproject.org/ipl/index.html brings blessings like minerals and lumber, provides the ground
for our communities, and offers a place for spiritual renewal through recre-
ation and solitude. As Christians we are rooted in the Gospel spiritually and
Support Local, Family Agriculture. Support community agriculture
in the land physically. Since damage to God’s lands causes injustice to those
and sustainable methods of farming that preserve soil and water quality,
whose livelihoods depend on them and disruption of the web of creation,
keep rural communities vibrant, and treat God’s creatures with more respect
caring for and protecting God’s land is our moral and spiritual responsibility.
than “factory farming.” To find a farmer’s market or Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) program near you, visit: http://www.localharvest.org/
CALL TO WORSHIP
O Holy One—Creator of the Earth and Sky—often we do not consider the
Enjoy Responsible Recreation. Outdoor enthusiasts, who love spending
wonderful rhythms of your creation, which sustain and nourish our bod-
time exploring God’s lands, sometimes “love the land to death.” When
ies and spirits. From the farmers and ranchers who grow our food, to the
enjoying recreation activities—whether camping hiking, hunting, fishing
policies that protect us with clean soil, water, and air, we have much to be
or, especially, using off-road vehicles—remember to minimize your impact
thankful for. Let us be mindful of our place in your created order, O God,
on the land as much as possible.
and grateful that we can enjoy the blessings of abundance, open space, and
solitude; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For more information on how you can help protect God’s lands
visit the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program website at
Adapted from: Montana Rural Life Sunday Worship Resource
www.nccecojustice.org or call 202-544-2350. www.montana-churches.org/programs/rurallife/index.asp

2. Responsive Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayer of Confession
Leader: Almighty God, who created Heaven and Earth through your Word, Creator God, we confess that we have sinned against you, our neighbors,
we praise you for your glorious creation and give thanks that you have and all of your glorious creation. We have not heeded your call to be faithful
entrusted its care to us. From your commandment to Adam and Eve to tend tenants of the land you have entrusted to us.
and keep the garden, to all of us living in modern communities around the
world, we gratefully reaffirm our privilege and responsibility to be faithful, We have not equitably shared the natural bounty flowing from your lands
just, and loving tenants of your lands and guardians of the life they support. nor used them to build strong, vibrant communities.
We thank you for:
We have forgotten the value of wild places—existing as they were when you
Leader: The grandeur of the forests created them—and the Biblical significance of wilderness, which played a
People: The towering trees, singing birds, and clean, peaceful waters that vital role in the spiritual journeys of your people from Moses to our Savior
quench our thirsts Jesus Christ.
Leader: The starkness of the deserts and the towering might We have not always been good stewards of our own lands or willfully
of the mountains involved ourselves in the management of lands held in the public trust.
People: The example of strength they provide and the wild We have not been a strong voice for your lands and the life they sustain
array of life you have created to inhabit them nor openly and passionately called on public officials managing your lands
to ensure that they remain healthy, vibrant, and open for all to enjoy.
Leader: The solitude of your wilderness
People: The opportunities it provides for meditative prayer, spiritual Too often we have been complacent about the desecration of your lands
journey, and peaceful connection to you and wilderness. We have allowed destructive activities to occur in sensitive
places that cannot sustain them. We have come to accept soil and water
Leader: The productivity of the fields pollution and extinction of your creatures as an inevitable part of modern
People: The soil and water that give life to the crops that nourish us life.
and the communities that sustain us
Those of us who live in cities and towns have often forgotten the needs
Leader: The equitable sharing of those lands set aside for protection
of our rural neighbors, whose livelihood directly depends on healthy lands.
People: The parks where we hike and play, the refuges that sustain
We have not spoken out on their behalf and have forgotten that we are all
wildlife, the cultural sites that remind us of our history, and
brothers and sisters, part of one community in Christ.
all the opportunities we have to experience your creation
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. Help us, O Lord, to protect your
Leader: In Jesus’ name we pray
lands and the whole of your glorious creation. Give us strength and
People: Amen.
passion to act as faithful stewards, to equitably share the bounty of your
earth, and to safeguard your lands as you have called us to do. In Jesus’
name we pray. Amen.