Living with Respect in Creation
CREATION TIME IN THE SEASON OF PENTECOST
Living with Respect in Creation
(Psalm 148 and Jeremiah 4:23–27ff.)
A Story in the Style of Godly Play
by the Rev. Susan Lukey, High River United Church, High River, Alberta
(You will need: A green cloth; a set of cardboard musical notes; pictures of: the sun, moon,
and stars, the sky and clouds, the planet Earth, a whale and fish, a snowy scene, mountains
and hills, trees, animals, bugs, and birds, people of different ethnic backgrounds; a large
piece of brown or gray sheer fabric that is preferably dull, not shiny; a toy figure or picture
of a person (to represent a human being); and a basket large enough to hold all of these
props.)
(Have at hand the basket containing all of the props. Roll out the green cloth.)
When we say together A New Creed, we promise to live with respect in creation.
Today I want to invite us to think about what that means.
On the seventh day, after God had finished creating everything that exists,
all of creation began to sing a hymn of praise to God. And it went like this:
(Place the musical notes on the green cloth allowing for the picture of the planet Earth,
which will be placed in the centre of the cloth a little later.)
Praise to our God.
Praise God from the heavens.
Praise God from the heights.
Praise God all the angels and heavenly beings.
(Place the picture of the sun, moon, and stars.)
Sun and moon, praise God.
Shining stars, praise God.
(Place the picture of sky and clouds.)
All of the blue sky, praise God.
Rain and clouds, praise God.
(Place the picture of the planet Earth.)
Let all of creation praise God, for God created you.
God made you to last forever and forever.
God set your limits and your possibilities.
(Place the picture of a whale and fish.)
Great creatures of the sea, praise God.
(Place the snowy scene picture.)
Fire and hail, snow and frost, and stormy winds, praise God.
1
Susan Lukey. © 2011, High River, Alberta
Permission is given to use this story in congregational worship, Sunday schools, and children’s worship settings in
congregations.
Living with Respect in Creation
(Place the picture of mountains and hills.)
Mountains and hills, praise God.
(Place the picture of trees.)
Fruit trees and evergreens, praise God.
(Place the picture(s) of animals, bugs, and birds.)
Wild animals and tame animals, creeping bugs and flying birds, praise God.
(Place the picture of people of different ethnic backgrounds.)
Rulers of the earth and all peoples everywhere, praise God.
Young men and young women, boys and girls, praise God.
Let everything that breathes, praise God’s holy name.
(Pick up the sheer fabric.)
But then, one day, God looked over all of creation and said in sadness,
(Gradually lay the fabric over everything.)
“I look at the earth, and it is now a waste dump.
I look at the sky, and there is no light.
I look at the mountains, and they are ruined.
The birds of the air have fled. The animals are dying.
The rich farmland is now a desert.
The cities are crumbling.”
(Finish placing the fabric. Move your hand in a circle over the whole cloth as God speaks.)
And God’s voice grew angry:
“This was my beautiful creation.
Now the whole earth shall cry in grief,
the sky willl weep, and I shall weep also.
All of creation will cry with me over the loss of my wonderful world.”
(Pick up the figure/picture of a person and hold it over the cloth.)
Then one human voice shouted out,
“No, that’s not the way it should be.”
And many more voices joined the one voice saying,
“We will work together to restore God’s creation.
We will work together to bring back the beauty of all that God has made.”
(Invite the children to work together to help you lift off the sheer fabric and to put it back in
the basket.)
And God spoke once again, gently and in love, and said,
“And I will work with you, my people.”
(Place the figure/picture of person by the picture of the Earth.)
Then all creation sang together once again:
“Let everything that breathes, praise God!”
(Share these “I wonder” thoughts.)
I wonder what part of the story you like best.
I wonder what part of the story is most important for you.
2
Susan Lukey. © 2011, High River, Alberta
Permission is given to use this story in congregational worship, Sunday schools, and children’s worship settings in
congregations.
Living with Respect in Creation
I wonder what your favourite part of God’s creation is.
I wonder what it means to live with respect in creation.
I wonder where you see things going wrong in God’s creation.
I wonder what you would like to say to God about what’s happening to God’s creation.
I wonder what you would like to say to other people, to all the world, about what’s going
wrong in creation.
Susan Lukey has many other stories based on biblical events and written in the
style of Godly Play that are not found in other resources. For copies, contact
Susan at High River United Church, High River, Alberta, 403-652-3168 or
revsusan@telus.net.
3
Susan Lukey. © 2011, High River, Alberta
Permission is given to use this story in congregational worship, Sunday schools, and children’s worship settings in
congregations.