Sean Major-Campbell | Praising God with all creation

Something very special has been happening with regards to celebrating the Season of Creation. This will see our pawsome, feathered, and maybe even scaled friends in attendance at a Season of Creation and Pet Blessing service at Christ Church, Vineyard Town, Kingston. Come out with your pets to church next Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. The entire family is welcome.

The Season of Creation Ecumenical Steering Committee members note, “Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator, and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the gift of all that is created. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for Creation. We are co-creatures and part of all that

God has made. Our well-being is interwoven with the well-being of the Earth.”

It is most fitting that this is a universal celebration across denominations. After all, we all belong to this wonderfully created order. Some people have difficulty processing the idea of pets in church. However, a more fulsome understanding of the whole created order within the will and purpose of God, informs a deeper appreciation for everything that has breath as being part of the praise that glorifies God. I would also submit that some pets appear to have a more evolved emotional intelligence than some human beings.

Any celebration of creation resonates with the Mark of Mission which states: “ To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” Too many churchgoers light a fire before going to church every week. It has become a cultural habit for some to rake and burn every day. There is not much appreciation for the fact that burning harms the environment. Burning produces particulate matter which produces a class 1 carcinogen. Inhaling such particulate matter harms you and your neighbour.

Too many recycling containers are loaded with garbage. Too many who supposedly love God treat the environment with disregard. And too many are missing that the creation has been hurting because of the action of human beings.

In our western way of thinking, Earth is just dirt and rock. In ancient spiritualities such as Hinduism, Earth is a living being. Earth is mother. She is worthy of respect. The same is true in the religious traditions of indigenous spiritualities to include African spiritualities. They have long revered God’s creation before Christianity. There are ancient rituals upon which some might pour scorn, but they advance gratitude for Mother Earth. If we started each day by simply having gratitude for Earth’s generous giving of food, water, air, and shelter - gifts not known on any other planet; what a difference our world might be today.

In Hinduism, respect, gratitude, and humility are all combined in this act of worship in adoration, a bow, and an apology. Imagine lifted hands and a gentle bow preceding this prayer: “O Goddess who wears the ocean as garments and the mountains as her bosom. O consort of the Lord Vishnu, I bow to you with deep respect. Please forgive me for touching you with my feet.”

In May 2017, the Caribbean Nation Weekly carried the headline, ‘Jamaican pastor lambasted for blessing pets in church’. The paper noted, “ The rector of the Christ Church, Vineyard Town, Rev Sean Major-Campbell is facing a social media backlash for his decision to allow pets in the church during a special service involving the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association and the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.” Not many realise that celebrating the sanctity of all life is done by more highly evolved societies.

An old canticle of the church ‘Benedicite, omnia opera Domini’ is Latin which affirms the call ‘All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’ An older version of Daniel Chapter 3 in ancient church traditions, presents verses 77-81 stating:

“ You springs, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.

You sea monsters and all water creatures, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

(This would be found in the oldest surviving ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible also known as the Septuagint. Your contemporary version of the Bible only has Daniel 3 stopping at verse 30Are we ready to be agents of love and care for Mother Earth? Are we ready to celebrate, protect, and advocate for the natural environment? Are you open to celebrating this Season of Creation?

Let us pray: God of grace and love, grant us wisdom and understanding that will inspire our ways of being. Make us true to the stewardship of Earth’s resources in all our actions in this place - Mother Earth. Amen.

Fr. Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@gmail.com