In Springtime, many UU congregations share their gratitude for the gifts of nature in Earth Day celebrations and other festivals. This year, UU Ministry for Earth invites you to join with them, choosing a Sunday in April or May as your Earth Sunday to celebrate our place in the interdependent web of all existence.

Virtually all spiritual traditions include a deep tradition of respect and honor for our natural world. Deeply embedded in our human consciousness is a primal awe and gratitude for the air, water, solid ground, sunlight, and nourishing life forms that sustain our species. As people of faith, and especially as Unitarian Universalists, we recognize our place within the community of life, as part of the interdependent web of all existence.

Worship is a central part of our congregational life. It draws us together, offering us both the space and time in our daily busy-ness to pause and consider those most profound religious questions that give meaning to our lives. Earth honoring worship nourishes our spirit by strengthening our sense of connection – with each other and with Earth. By coming together in community to celebrate the abundance of the earth, we find that we are not alone. When we reflect on the beauty and harmony of nature, we are renewed and healed; and we are stronger for the experience.

This packet of worship material (all in PDF format) is offered to help you create worship that celebrates your connection with Earth. We have gathered inspiring materials for a complete worship service, or you may select some of these elements to add to your own materials for your own unique worship service.

We also suggest that you might consider inviting one or two of your members to add their own “epiphany” essays reflecting on a personal experience in nature or describing their personal relationship with the Earth. Personal stories of Earth celebration can be a powerful inspiration for raising awareness of environmental issues and increasing commitment to action.

If you draw sustenance from the your spiritual connection to the natural world and if your ethical commitment is to living in a way that builds a sustainable Earth for the entire interdependent web, we invite you to encourage your congregation, and individual members of your congregation, to become members of the UU Ministry for Earth. Click here for membership information and application forms. There could not be a better time to demonstrate your commitment to the mission of the UU Ministry for Earth by becoming a member this year.

UU Ministry for Earth home page