umcreationjustice@gmail.com

The Serviceberry

 

United Methodist Creation Justice Movement
Season of Creation Worship Resources, 2025
based on book of the same title, by Robin Wall Kimmerer

 

Worship Outline and Materials

Image used here by permission of the publisher, Simon and Schuster
Special thanks to Chris Reynolds, VP and Executive editor at Scribner for helping to arrange these permissions.

These resources are designed for worship planners and Christian educators to use during the Season of Creation 2025, but can be adapted for use in worship or education settings at any time, with permission of the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement. Each week, there is a theme, connected to a Scripture passage, and a suggested quote from The Serviceberry text. Worship leaders may choose to read both the text from Scripture and from The Serviceberry in worship, if that fits with the context and practice of their congregation. 

There are four weeks of worship resources, assembled by week. Worship leaders and Christian educators may use any part of them or all of them. There are two communion liturgies provided, both listed under Week 1, the traditional Sunday for communion in many United Methodist Churches. One of the liturgies is more traditional and the other involves serving less traditional foods and can easily be adapted to a Love Feast instead of traditional communion. Alternatively, a worship community could choose to use them on separate weeks during the series. 

This resource includes activities that can be used in children’s moments, Sunday schools, and/or youth group. Leaders in each context are invited to adapt these resources, as needed, to the age group, interests, and reality in which they serve. Supplies are listed for the activities. Also included is a “repeat aloud” prayer for the close of children’s moments or Sunday school, and a suggestion for activities children and families may find engaging between weeks. 

An excellent resource to accompany this series is Robin Wall Kimmerer’s picture book, Bud Finds Her Gift, which will be released on Sept 2. It is a beautifully illustrated edition for children about interconnectedness and the gift economy, told so kids can relate. The recurring refrain in the book, of “Everyone, from the day of their birth, was given a gift to share with the Earth,” can become something for even the youngest to hold on to throughout. These resources, however, do not explicitly call out connections between the weekly themes in worship and Bud Finds Her Gift. 

Small groups of adults may also wish to read The Serviceberry together. Reflection Questions for small group study are included with each week’s materials. 

If churches are interested in group/bulk orders of Kimmerer’s original book, please reach out to
Norma Lippincott: norma.lippincott@simonandschuster.com

The team has created the following video explaining more about the materials and some of their ideas for extending the themes beyond worship.

More Season of Creation Resources

Secret Link