Sky Sunday
This reading has a number of descriptions of Sky – which is the theme for today in the Season of Creation. Day by day and night by night – the ongoing circle of day followed by night followed by day – which is what God created on the first day of creation. “In the heavens God has pitched his tent.” An idea from Old Testament times that God lived (pitched his tent) in the sky – the place above earth – and that he looks down to see what is happening on earth. The last line is a reminder of the warmth of the sun.
Today is a good day to reflect on the importance of the sun and the moon. I find the moon more fascinating than the sun. When there is a full moon there can be almost as much as light as during the day. I find this beautiful – lying in bed, seeing the lightness of the place around me. It is also beautiful to go for a walk during a full moon. Many of the birds and animals that we do not see during the day are out at night.
Yet the sky and atmosphere is being polluted – by chemicals and smoke. In some parts of the world there is often an almost constant smog and the temperatures of the world is gradually rising causing many problems. This has been caused by the actions of humans. The theme for this Season of Creation is “to hope and act with creation.” My hope is that we will realise the damage being done to the atmosphere and to take some action to reduce the amount of damage being caused by polluting the atmosphere.
Shirley Bowers
Lay Preacher