Environment and creation care have long been on the agenda for scientists, journalists like Bill McKibben, the occasional theologian, and activists – many, many activists! We have long believed, however, that some of our most important allies in this cause would turn out to be our sisters and brothers in the world of the arts. A movement needs people, a manifesto, and… music and film.

Artists have been working in these areas for a long time, for sure. But this weekend we can celebrate two significant developments:

• The release of the first instalment of new film documentary series, Taste and See. It’s all about… Food! Virtual screenings are available from now for the next couple of weeks. Click here for our write up and a preview.
• Climate Vigil Songs, a long-awaited album of original creation focused worship songs, became available yesterday. Here’s a preview, with links to get the music for yourself.

We’ve been talking about the new album of climate worship songs for several months now. The wait is finally over – the album officially “dropped” yesterday, and is now available at Climate Vigil or wherever you get your music.

The album has 14 songs that are designed to be used in a worship context, and that are song by some of the biggest names in the world of Christian music, including Fernando Ortega, Molly Parden, Jonathan Ogden, Page CXVI, Terrian, Josh Garrels, Paul Zach, Audrey Assad, Jon Guerra, Taylor Leonhardt, Jessica Fox, Matt Maher, Jason Upton, Sara Groves, Liz Vice, and Nick Chambers.

Isaac Wordell, creative director for the project, says

Theologically speaking, we wanted this album to do three different things. First, we wanted to sing songs that celebrate the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, with a particular emphasis on God as an actor in the world. But we couldn’t stop there. The second thing we had to do was pause and say, ‘Something bad has happened here, and we are all responsible.’ We need to feel sorrow for what has been lost, so we wrote songs that give the church words to lament the devastation of God’s good earth. These are deep spiritual and Biblical expressions, not just political positions. Thirdly, we wanted to help people do something with these convictions, so we wrote songs for action and mobilization – music for the movement – where we say ‘yes’ to the work we are called to do. God is restoring all things, and He gives us hands & feet to help build His kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

You can find the music here at Climate Vigil. And check out the preview below.

Climate Vigil Songs is a major new Christian worship album focused on our climate crisis. The Porter’s Gate Worship Project created the album in partnership with several other Christian organizations, including WEA. To experience the music and support the project, please visit the album crowdfunding page. 

The full album, set to release on June 3rd, has the potential to help millions more Christians see the connection between our faith, our commandment to love God & neighbor, and our shared calling to protect God’s good earth for God & neighbor. Interested organizations are invited to help distribute the album and its companion discipleship guide. Please contact celisara@worldea.org and peter@climatevigil.org for more information. 

The current list of artists includes

Artists featured in the album includes

• Paul Zach
• Latifah Alattas
• Liz Vice
• Audrey Assad
• Jason Upton
• Sara Groves
• Jessica Fox
• Molly Parden
• Jon Guerra
• Nick Chambers
• Jonathan Ogden
• Taylor Leonhardt

Here’s their announcement:

 It is that time of year when we observe one Sunday in the month of June as Eco-Sunday. The theme for this year is “Forest – A storehouse of biodiversity”. When God created the world he placed human beings in a garden – which had all that was needed for sustainable living – a storehouse of all the needs, a beautiful place where all creation lived in harmony. Forests or ‘gardens’ have shrunk in size as the human population and ‘needs’ have grown. We invite you to join us this year to focus on Forests – how can we as Christians take care of the forests, should we be even concerned about the forests? Is that something that should be talked about in church? We hope the package we have prepared will open our eyes and help us to think deeper on this.

Available resources (all in Hindi and English for those who have not yet learned that beautiful language) include an Order of Service, Sermon, and a printable poster. Download here.

Peter Harris of A Rocha explains why he believes this is so important:

“doxecology is such an important and significant initiative. We truly are what we love, and in worship our triune God draws us to love all that he loves. He cares for all life on earth and can turn our hearts from destruction. He cares for the poor who suffer most from the current crises his hand-made world is facing. In these times of widespread assault on his creation all over the world, may these new hymns and songs of worship renew the passion of God’s people to live the good news, to lament, and to renew our hope in Christ.”

This is what Resound Worship is looking for:

We want to create a collection of songs that enable churches to include these important themes in their gathered worship. We’re expecting a variety of styles and approaches, but we’re especially looking for songs that will be at home in a contemporary worship music setting. The songs should be clearly Christian in content and should be congregationally singable. Our primary goal is that church congregations take them up and sing them.Our goal is to create a collection of songs that will enable churches to include these important themes in their gathered worship. We’re expecting a variety of styles and approaches, but we’re especially looking for contemporary-styled worship songs, where material is so thin on the ground. We will also welcome hymns and other forms.

One other thing: The deadline is 18 October. You don’t have much time – get out that guitar, dust off your harmonium, warm up your vocal cords – and let us know if your song is among those selected!

Interested? Check them out at resoundworship.org/doxecology

The Season of Creation is a growing annual celebration of God’s creation that started 30 years ago by Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios who proclaimed September 1st as a day of prayer for Creation. The celebration gradually expanded until 2015, when Pope Francis adopted the idea for the Roman Catholic church. Most of the participants up to now have been liturgical churches and denominations, but we think evangelicals should not be left behind – and so we’re encouraging members of the Creation Care Network to find ways to celebrate this event in our own churches and fellowships.

The Season of Creation has expanded from a single day to the period from September 1 to October 4, when many traditions celebrate St Francis of Assisi. The celebration has been encouraged by a number of high level faith leaders, including Rev. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and Bishop Efraim Tendero, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, which is one of the hosts of the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network. Both Ed Brown and Dave Bookless have been actively involved in planning and promoting participation in the Season of Creation.

The theme for the 2019 Celebration is “Web of Life” based on Genesis 1:30 (All of creation is “very good”) and 9:12-13, where God’s promise to Noah is extended to “every living creature”. Resources can be found here, and you can register your Season of Creation event here. Please comment on this article to let us know what you will be doing!