CREATIONTIDE GLORIA

Posted: 13.09.20 in Articles category

Our website posting in September 2019 gave a short explanation of 'Creationtide' - a new liturgical season being introduced by various churches including the Anglican communion. I am delighted to say that my parish church in Northumberland has joined in this year, launching off with 'The Beauty of Creation' as our initial theme. Here's the Gloria we said at our first service. It's an amalgam of several sources including the Newcastle Diocese booklet 'Praying for the Earth', and I have edited these and adapted into the version shown here. Please feel free to use it in your own services if you find it useful:

 

GLORIA

FATHER GOD, we praise you for the grandeur and beauty of your creation. The incomprehensible vastness of the universe with its countless stars, planets and moons and with its unfathomable energies. We praise you for turning chaos into order and darkness into light, for giving us the splendour of the sun and the radiance of the moon. The heavens declare your glory and the skies display your handiwork.

All heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

FATHER GOD, we praise you for the beauty of planet earth. For the natural seasons with winter cold and summer heat, spring growth and autumn harvest. For sun, rain, snow and frost. For deep blue oceans, skies with life sustaining air and lands with mountains, valleys, hills and plains.

How wonderful are your works in all the world.

FATHER GOD, we praise you for the huge variety of plant-life on planet earth. For trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns and grasses. For the abundance of crops to gather and eat - a harvest of plenty for us all.

How wonderful are your works in all the world.

FATHER GOD, we praise you for animals - all creatures great and small. For the animals living 'in the wild' as well as those we farm or keep as pets. For the creatures in the sea, for animals on land and the birds that fly across the sky.

How wonderful are your works in all the world.

FATHER GOD, Lord of all life, you created the universe, where all living creatures reflect your glory. You give us this great and beautiful earth, to discover and cherish. You give us the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, and every plant and tree; the life that sleeps in the winter earth and awakens again in the spring. All of creation is beautifully made and each of your creatures amazingly unique.

All heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.