Honoring Creation: A Call to Relationship and Reconciliation

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence Revealed in Creation

The world around us is a living testament to God’s handiwork, inviting us to experience awe and wonder in the beauty of rivers, trees, skies, and all living things. When we open our hearts to the natural world, we encounter the Spirit of God, who has been present since the beginning, moving across the waters and declaring creation good. This sacred connection is not just a backdrop to our lives but a continual invitation to recognize God’s nearness and faithfulness in every season and landscape. As we breathe deeply and notice the world, we are reminded that God’s presence is reflected in all living things, calling us to gratitude, stewardship, and humble partnership in the ongoing work of renewal. [16:14]

Psalm 19:1-4 (ESV)
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

Reflection: Where in creation have you recently felt closest to God, and how might you intentionally seek out moments of awe in the natural world this week?

Day 2: Deep Calls to Deep—Finding God in Sorrow and Joy

Even in times of struggle, when we feel lost or burdened, God’s steadfast love reaches us through both the memory of community and the beauty of creation. The psalmist, like Jonah in the belly of the whale, finds hope by recalling joyful gatherings and by seeking God’s voice in the waters and wild places, where “deep calls to deep.” In moments of sorrow, we are invited to remember that God’s love is present by day and God’s song is with us by night, offering comfort and connection that transcends our circumstances. [22:04]

Psalm 42:7-8 (ESV)
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

Reflection: When you face sorrow or uncertainty, what memory or place helps you reconnect with God’s steadfast love?

Day 3: All My Relations—Belonging and Responsibility in Creation

We are not separate from creation but belong to a living web of relationships with every creature, land, and person. The wisdom of “all my relations” teaches that each of us matters and brings unique gifts to the whole, and that our relationships—when broken by harm or injustice—are sacred and call for repair. This interconnectedness is both a gift and a responsibility, urging us to care for the earth and for one another, knowing that when creation is wounded, we are wounded too. [39:27]

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can honor your connection to creation or another person today, especially where there has been harm or neglect?

Day 4: Radical Generosity and the Power of Story

A simple act of generosity—a feather offered across the water—can become a story that shapes generations, reminding us of the power of reaching out in love even across histories of pain. Stories, whether from our ancestors or from Jesus himself, carry truth and healing, inviting us to share ourselves and to celebrate the gifts we receive and give. Radical generosity, like that shown by Indigenous peoples who continue to reach out despite injustice, mirrors God’s own generosity and calls us to participate in the work of reconciliation and celebration. [41:25]

Luke 6:38 (ESV)
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

Reflection: Who in your life could you reach out to with a small but meaningful act of generosity or reconciliation today?

Day 5: Celebrating God’s Presence and Drawing Strength for Justice

Celebration is not a denial of the world’s pain but a source of strength for the work of justice and healing. Drawing on the wisdom of Indigenous voices and the enduring presence of God, we are reminded that we are connected to the breath of all things and sustained by a loving Creator. As we gather in gratitude, honor one another, and affirm the image of God in every person, we are empowered to go out as the hands and feet of Jesus, working for restoration, dignity, and peace in our communities and beyond. [45:09]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: What is one way you can celebrate God’s presence today and let that celebration strengthen your commitment to justice or reconciliation in your community?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in the presence of God and all creation, honoring National Indigenous Day with a special altar cloth and a spirit of gratitude for the land and its peoples. We reflected on the deep interconnections between humanity, the natural world, and the Creator, recognizing that before God created people, God created place. The story of Adeline, a young girl standing by a river in 1915, invited us to remember the sacredness of the earth and the profound moments of awe that open us to the Spirit. Her encounter with an Indigenous canoeist, who offered her a feather, became a symbol of radical generosity and the power of relationship—a story passed down through generations, reminding us of the importance of sharing our stories and honoring the gifts we receive.

The psalmist’s ancient words, “deep calls to deep at the thunder of thy cataracts,” echo the universal human experience of encountering God in creation, especially in times of struggle. When we feel lost or burdened, we are invited to remember the strength of community and to seek God’s presence in the natural world. The psalmist’s trust in God’s steadfast love, both day and night, encourages us to hold onto hope and to recognize that God’s Spirit is always near, ready to break through in moments of awe and wonder.

We also considered the wisdom of Indigenous teachings, especially the phrase “all my relations,” which reminds us that we are not separate from creation but intimately connected to every part of it. Our relationships—with the land, with each other, and with God—are sacred, and when they are broken, we are called to the hard work of repair and reconciliation. The generosity of Indigenous peoples, who continue to reach out in relationship despite generations of harm, is a model for us all. We are called to celebrate the good earth, our relationships, and the possibilities of our future, drawing strength from God’s presence and the stories that shape us.

As we go forth, we are reminded by the words of Richard Wagamese that the Creator is a great mystery hiding in the open, connecting us all through the breath of life. Our calling is to keep that channel of connection open, to honor and respect one another, and to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world—restoring, healing, and celebrating the sacredness of all our relations.

Key Takeaways

1. Creation as Sacred Relationship: Before humanity, God created place, inviting us to recognize the earth as sacred and to see ourselves as part of a living web of relationships. Our connection to the land is not just physical but spiritual, calling us to stewardship and humility as we honor the Creator’s handiwork in all things. [17:46]
2. The Power of Awe and Story: Moments of awe in nature open us to the Spirit and can become transformative stories that shape our lives and faith. Sharing these stories, as Jesus did, is a way of sharing ourselves and passing on wisdom, healing, and hope across generations. [22:04]
3. Radical Generosity and Reconciliation: The act of reaching out—like the Indigenous canoeist offering a feather to Adeline—embodies radical generosity and the hope of restored relationships. True reconciliation requires not only acknowledging past wrongs but also celebrating the courage and grace of those who continue to seek connection and healing. [41:25]
4. All My Relations—A Call to Justice: The phrase “all my relations” is both an affirmation of our belonging and a call to justice. Social and climate justice are intertwined, and we are called to repair broken relationships with both people and the earth, following Christ’s example of restorative love and inclusion. [43:26]
5. Living in the Presence of the Creator: The Creator is present in every breath, every relationship, and every act of love and justice. Our spiritual journey is to keep the channel of connection open, drawing strength from God’s steadfast love and committing ourselves to be agents of healing and peace in the world. [45:09]
** [45:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:14] - Opening Prayer and Land Acknowledgment
[17:46] - Honoring Creation and Indigenous Wisdom
[22:04] - The Story of Adeline and the Gift of the Feather
[27:30] - Exploring Psalm 42: Deep Calls to Deep
[31:55] - Community, Memory, and Belonging
[34:40] - Encountering God in Nature
[39:27] - The Meaning of the Feather in Indigenous Tradition
[41:25] - Radical Generosity and Reconciliation
[43:26] - All My Relations: Justice and Celebration
[45:09] - Richard Wagamese: Creator Hiding in the Open
[46:29] - Prayers for Community and Creation
[53:38] - Prayers for Healing and Restoration
[55:35] - Commissioning: Living as Christ’s Hands and Feet

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 42:7-8 (NRSV) — > Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

Genesis 1:1-2, 9-12 (NRSV) — > In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters... And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so... And God saw that it was good.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 42, what does the phrase “deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts” suggest about the psalmist’s experience of God?
According to the sermon, what was significant about the order of creation—place before people—in Genesis? [[17:46]]
What was the meaning behind the Indigenous canoeist offering a feather to Adeline, and how did this act become a story passed down through generations? [[22:04]]
What does the phrase “all my relations” mean in the context of the sermon and Indigenous wisdom? [[43:26]]

Interpretation Questions

The psalmist finds comfort in both community and creation during times of struggle. Why might remembering community and seeking God in nature be important for people facing hardship? [[27:30]]
The story of Adeline and the feather was described as a moment of “radical generosity.” What does this kind of generosity look like, especially in relationships where there has been harm or injustice? [[41:25]]
The sermon says, “Before God created people, God created place.” How does this idea challenge or deepen our understanding of our relationship to the land and to God? [[17:46]]
The phrase “all my relations” is described as both an affirmation of belonging and a call to justice. How does seeing ourselves as connected to all creation change the way we think about justice and reconciliation? [[43:26]]

Application Questions

The sermon invites us to remember moments of awe in nature that open us to the Spirit. Can you recall a specific time in nature when you felt close to God? How might you seek out or create more of these moments in your life? [[22:04]]
The story of Adeline receiving the feather was passed down through generations. What is a story from your own family or community that has shaped your faith or your sense of belonging? How can you share it with others? [[22:04]]
The act of the Indigenous canoeist offering a feather was described as “radical generosity.” Is there someone in your life or community to whom you could extend a gesture of generosity or reconciliation, even if it feels difficult? What might that look like? [[41:25]]
The sermon calls us to honor the gifts we receive and to celebrate the good earth. What is one practical way you can show gratitude for creation this week—either through stewardship, advocacy, or a simple act of care? [[17:46]]
“All my relations” reminds us that our relationships—with people and with the earth—are sacred. Is there a relationship in your life (with a person or with the land) that needs repair or more attention? What is one step you could take toward healing or reconciliation? [[43:26]]
The psalmist holds onto hope by remembering God’s steadfast love “by day and by night.” When you feel lost or burdened, what helps you remember God’s presence? Is there a practice you could adopt to remind yourself of God’s nearness in hard times? [[27:30]]
The sermon ends with a call to be the hands and feet of Christ, restoring, healing, and celebrating the sacredness of all our relations. What is one concrete action you can take this week to live out this calling in your family, church, or neighborhood? [[55:35]]

Sermon Clips

There is a sense of God that we can experience when we let ourselves be awed as she was. It's a gift left to us since the beginning when the spirit of God or breath of God—the word is Ruach, the translation the same for both—moved across the waters, however you understand that to have happened, and first separated light from dark, and God looked at the world and saw that it was good, and the world came first, and God never left the world. [00:24:41] (37 seconds)

What's striking about the psalm, though, is that it doesn't come from a place of ease. Unlike little Adeline, who is just being surprised by the wonder of it all, if you will, this person is struggling. He speaks of tears and sorrow, a lot like Jonah. He's surrounded by people who are asking, "where is your God?" And maybe you've had that question put to you, and maybe even when your burdens are really heavy, you've asked that question yourself: where is my God? [00:27:32] (33 seconds)

We human beings are not separate from creation. We belong to it. We are connected to every part of it. We live among its creatures, and we are called to care for it. When creation is wounded by forest fires and hurricanes, it hurts us as much as the natural world. [00:33:07] (20 seconds)

It's not just the feather, it's the gift. It's the reaching out by this man passing by to a child of the people who have taken his people's land. That is radical generosity. It reminds me of the generosity of our God, always reaching for us, creating this world for us, reminding us to celebrate it, rejoice in it, share in it, and take care of it. [00:41:09] (31 seconds)

The real generosity is on the part of Indigenous peoples who, despite generations of mistreatment and abuse and theft of land, are willing to reach out to us anyway, because they believe in that relationship and on rebuilding it. And those things need to be celebrated. [00:41:57] (20 seconds)

Let's celebrate this good earth. Let's celebrate our relationships. And let's celebrate the possibilities of our future. Let's celebrate the presence of God. The world may seem dark sometimes, and I could stand here and just ream off all that's wrong with the world until we're all, you know, down in the pews hovering like Jonah in the belly of the whale. And we do need to work constantly for justice. The psalmist knew this. But as he taught, we need to draw strength from all that is good in order to do that, from the presence of God that always surrounds us. [00:44:28] (35 seconds)

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