Creation and New Creation: Outside Wednesday Eucharist

Processional Cross

My seminary is very good about integrating all of the different years and different degree programs together to create a tight-knit community.  One way that the school accomplishes this is by having "I-Groups."  Each I-Group meets every Wednesday after chapel, which is a Eucharist service.  And because this is a seminary, each I-Group is in charge of one week of worship for the seminary community.

We are in the second week of Easter and my fiance, Russ (who is also in seminary) and his I-Group is in charge of worship.  Earlier this year, he saw an old picture of the community hosting an outside Eucharist in the dormitory courtyard so he asked his adviser, "can we do this?"    So after countless hours of preparation and planning, our school had an outside Eucharist and it was beautiful.

The courtyard

The table in front of the breeze-way and the bell tower

The elements (with a butterfly!) and offering plates

The Eucharist table

Today was also the creek clean up (after the worship service), so the sermon focused on God's creation and caring for that creation.  I believe that this message was reinforced by the fact that we were outside, where we could hear the birds singing and feel the sun on our faces.

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies,

for the love which from our birth over and around us lies:

Christ, our God, to thee we raise this our sacrifice of praise.

-For the Beauty of the Earth

ELW 879