Sacramental Earth

Earth Sunday altar

Last Sunday, May 1, we celebrated Earth Day at Rock Spring.  Pictured here is the altar the Eco-Justice Committee had created for our outdoor worship space.  At the left is a bowl and water for baptism, to the right are the communion elements, below is an arrangement of native Virginia flowers, and in the center (along with the cross and candles) is a mound of earth. 

Unfortunately, the rain began at 10:50 a.m. and by 11:02 a.m. we made the call to bring everything inside.  In typical Rock Spring fashion, everyone picked up something and we were quickly in the sanctuary singing, "Inch by Inch." 

Initially, we had been concerned about having communion AND baptism AND the celebration of Earth Day all in one service.  Yes the service was full, but I loved that water, wine, bread, and earth were vitally important important aspects of our worship experience.  I loved it that we could taste, see and feel the stuff with which we came to worship together. 

We talk about sacraments about being "outward signs of invisible grace." In other words, putting in plain sight something that we know simply is.  I am grateful to the people of Rock Spring for helping me look at earth as sacramental.