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Generally
speaking, a ritual is a collective expression of shared values
using formally-ordered words, music, and bodily movement. Rituals are
common to all societies. The word liturgy usually denotes a ritual
with religious content, as prescribed by the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. In this section of the website, the Partnership
presents rituals and liturgies specifically germane to earth spirituality
in PDF files created by their authors.
For more rituals & liturgies please go to the New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light website and click on Earth & Faith.
Earth
Tenebrae
An Earth Spirituality Ritual for the
Vernal Equinox
By Ken Cuthbertson |
The Cosmic Christ and Global Warming, Retablo by Gene McClain
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Traditionally the Tenebrae (from the Medieval Latin word for
darkness or shadows) are songs and readings offered during the last three
days of Holy Week, and feature the use of candles in the ceremony. In
northern New Mexico it was combined with the Stations of the Cross in
the “Tinieblas” ritual observed by Catholic lay confraternities.
In this version the fourteen stations reflect the environmental crisis
and the growing impact of global warming. The ritual was composed for
a Vernal Equinox service held at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church in Placitas,
New Mexico, on St. Cuthbert's day, March 20, 2006.
Please click here
to download the complete Earth Tenebrae PDF file.
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Welcoming the Day
Welcoming the Night
Earth Spirituality Rituals
By Wallace Ford |
Sunrise Over Orwel Bay, photograph by Wallace Ford
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Welcoming
the Day is a creation centered ritual for use both by an individual
as well as a group. The ritual was birthed in a retreat setting at Ghost
Ranch in New Mexico and shaped into its present form through use by retreatants
and individuals over the past 14 years. The ritual draws upon Earth Spirit
traditions as well as personal testimonies by those who have used it on
a regular basis. The full text includes not only the ritual itself but
also numerous notes which expand on the background of the ritual as well
as its individual components.
Please click
here to download the complete Welcoming the Day PDF file. |
Moonrise Over Albuquerque, photograph by Wallace Ford
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Welcoming the Night is a more recent exploration
into welcoming night and darkness as healing gift, thus setting aside
the more typical interpretation of darkness and night as sinister. This
ritual also emerged out of retreat settings and has since been refined
by individuals who have used it as a regular spiritual practice. It like
the companion ritual can be used by both individuals as well as groups.
The starting affirmation of the ritual is in the Genesis Creation Story
that affirms the goodness of both “evening and morning” a
single revelatory event. The complete file also contains several explanatory
notes.
Please click
here to download the complete Welcoming the Night PDF file.
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Earth Day Ritual
by The Rev. Elizabeth Lyman
Las Placitas Presbyterian Church 2009
Earth Sabbath began outdoors in the Memorial Garden with a renewal of baptism and prayer,
then continued in the sanctuary.
Download the service as a word .doc |
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