EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Eight, Number Six September/October 1999 AN INTERFAITH RETREAT — SIGN OF CHANGING CONSCIOUSNESS by Eleanor Rae, Ph.D. from a report of an overnight retreat attended by 18 members of the Women's Interfaith Institute in the Berkshires, a leadership group of Protestant, Catholic and Jewish women. The opening liturgy was a celebration of the Creation — an opening prayer, a hymn, a reading from the book of Genesis, followed by a spoken community response, a silence and individual responses. Our focus was penitential, acknowledging the goodness of the creation given to us by the Holy One, and the human abuse of this wondrous gift. Our creed was a call to action. We pledged to make real the needed transformtion of the Earth. Our Eucharist was a celebration of the gifts of summer, with each participant recalling one special gift of the season. We broadened our horizon through a meditation on the Universe story, walking in words back to the beginning of creation, then forward to the present moment where we were challenged to enter more fully into Earth's story. In silence we pledged our individual commitment to being part of this story. The concluding liturgy was also a Eucharist, celebrating the ancient Celtic feast day, Lughnasadh, which commemorates the beginning of the grain harvest. We ate corn bread dipped in honey, to symbolize the richness of the season and of our time together. This retreat is an important sign of the faith of the future. I see its significance in the fact that it was participatory and interfaith. It celebrated an ancient Celtic feast day; it celebrated the Creation. I am thankful that I was able to celebrate the dawning of what I pray will be a new century in which our Earth may be truly renewed by the Holy Spirit and those who are willing to be co-creators with Her. For more information write Dr. Eleanor Rae, 114 Rising Ridge Rd., Ridgefield CT 06877; 203/438-3867. Women's Interfaith Institute in the Berkshires; PO Box 422, Housatonic MA 01236; 413/274-1340. Home     Table of Contents