Season of Creation 2020:

“A Call for Jubilee for the Earth and Renewal of the Original Norm”

The NCCA would like to share the Sermon given by Rev James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC).

The Season of Creation Ecumenical Prayer Service was hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral 1st September, 2020

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 25: 1 -13 

The Season of Creation global steering committee wrote the following words to introduce the 2020 theme, Jubilee for the Earth: New Rhythms, New Hope:

“This year, amid crises that have shaken our world, we’re awakened to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and each other. During the season this year, we enter a time of restoration and hope, a jubilee for our Earth, that requires radically new ways of living with creation.”

 Rev Bhagwan responds to this in his introduction by saying: 

"Even before COVID19 gave the world pause for thought, Pacific communities and churches had been part of the many voices lamenting the unravelling of the sacred thread of the web of life, the disconnection between ecology, economy and spirituality... the cords that hold together the household of God’s creation – this whole inhabited earth." 

The Sermon outlines the precarious situation of the Pacific Nations and their first hand experience with the lament of creation. It is interesting to find that the Pacific people have found creative ways in which their Churches and communities are managing to bring hope and healing, not by new methods but by looking to traditional and time proven practices.

Rev Bhagwan concludes:

"My sisters and brothers, during this Season of Creation, let us journey into a profound, a deeper relationship with both Creator and Creation.

Let us touch the soil and tend to the earth.

Let us protect the ocean and move gently upon it.

Let us do our part for clean air and sky.

And let us sing a new Lord’s song and work together so that everything that has breath: the trees and the seas that make oxygen, and the creatures that breathe it to live – everything that has breath pay praise the Lord!"

Download the full Homily/Sermon delivered by Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches