Celebrating the Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is a liturgical season that a variety of churches all over the world have been celebrating in September.  It was started in 2000 in the Lutheran Church in Australia by a Biblical studies professor who realized that most of the liturgical year celebrates the life of Jesus, with a couple of days set aside for the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity, but no part of the year focused on God as Creator.  Each year identifies four suggested themes; the themes for 2022 are Ocean, Animal, Storm, and Universe.   But congregations can opt to add additional weeks and themes, or use other themes, to highlight issues of local interest.

On Thursday, June 30, 2022 PEC hosted a webinar led by PEC Treasurer Rev. Dr. Susan Gilbert Zencka, who led her congregation in celebrating the Season of Creation during the fifteen years she served that church before her recent retirement. The workshop presented some of the basic information about the Season of Creation, along with examples of variations and workshop resources.

Susan Gilbert Zencka grew up loving the lakes, mountains, creeks, and woods of Eastern Pennsylvania, and went on her first bird walk in grade school.  She recently retired from 24 years in parish ministry, where she developed a passion for creation-honoring Christian worship. Prior to ministry, Susan worked for 10 years as a Certified Public Accountant. She was involved in interfaith climate issues while in ministry in Wisconsin.  She founded a local interfaith group in Stevens Point, WI, and also served on the board of WI Interfaith Power and Light.  Susan recently moved from Central WI to Allentown, PA where she is enjoying exploring fiber arts in retirement, while maintaining a parttime practice as a spiritual director and Certified Internal Family Systems.