About
Earth Day is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Now in its 56th year, Earth Day includes a wide range of events coordinated globally including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries! The Harrisonburg Ecumenical Earth Day Worship Service - held this year on Sunday April 19 - is a way for us all to gather together prayerfully to celebrate our shared commitment to faithful creation care.
Our 2026 Theme - “The Canopy of Creation: Trees, Faith, and the Work of Justice”
The only members of creation that show up more often in the Bible than trees are humans. They are gifts, they are witnesses, they are, mysteriously, instruments of healing. They are a matter of creation care and environmental justice. Access to the life-giving benefits of trees, including shade, clean air, and cooling, has been shaped not by chance, but by systemic inequity. We are invited to listen, learn, and be inspired to act, to build the canopy and deepen the roots of relationship and justice in our communities.
A Look Back
Here's a quick look back at last year's 2025 Harrisonburg Ecumenical Earth Day Worship Service.
A large turnout - including members of multiple congregations and the local community - enjoyed meaningful worship, special presentations from local partners, fellowship, music, activities for kids, and more. And all in the spirit of Earth Day!
When & Where
WHEN: April 19, 9:45am (we encourage arriving around 9:30), rain or shine
WHERE: Turner Pavilion (home of the Harrisonburg Farmer's Market), 228 S Liberty St Harrisonburg, VA 22801
PARKING: There is plenty of free parking in the municipal lot surrounding Turner Pavilion, as well as the Water St. Parking Deck and street parking along S Liberty. Those who are able are encouraged to park a little farther away, to allow those with lower mobility access to the spots nearer to the pavilion. The spaces directly bordering the Pavilion are reserved. We encourage everyone to arrive by 9:30am so they have time to park and get situated at the pavilion. See THIS MAP for more details on parking.
*We strongly suggest that attendees plan to carpool to reduce the amount of traffic, and please note there are bicycle racks available at the pavilion!
Earth Day Worship Details
SEATING: Please bring your own chairs or blankets.
RESTROOMS will be available for use at Asbury UMC and St. Stephen's UCC.
Accessible restrooms at Asbury: Enter the building using the glass doors on the side of the building that faces Turner Pavilion. Follow the curve of the building to the Men's Room. The Women's Room is around the corner.
At St. Stephen’s: Representatives will be onsite to assist you. From either entrance on Main Street or Campbell Street, the restrooms are downstairs. An accessible restroom is available using the elevator at the rear of the building from Campbell Street.
CHILDREN: Kids of all ages are invited to participate in supervised activities that will be provided during the service.
*SEEDLING GIVEAWAY: Thanks to a grant through Thrivent Financial, we will be bringing 100+ tree seedlings to the worship service on April 19 (purchased through the VA Department of Forestry) so that many attending can take home a free seedling!
Partners
Thank you to these congregations and organizations who are participating in this year’s Earth Day Service!
EMU Office of Faith and Spiritual Life
Shenandoah Valley Faith and Climate
Special Offering
We will be collecting a special offering to support the efforts of Renew Rocktown (renewrocktown.org) - a local organization that “fosters resilient communities and a healthy planet through collaboration, education, and transformative local action.” At the service on April 19, participating congregations will also have collection baskets to receive "regular" offerings.
Resources
BULLETIN: click the button below for a digital copy of the bulletin for the worship service on April 19.
LIVE STREAM: if you are unable to attend in person but would like to watch our live-stream of the service, follow the link below on April 19 starting at approx. 9:35am.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: below, please find additional resources related to our worship service, Earth Day, and our theme for 2026.
“Climate Change and the Healing of Creation” by Steve Pardini (purchase HERE)
“JoinTrees” to Restore the Earth, from “Mennonite Men” - mennonitemen.org/jointrees
“The Canopy of Creation” resource download from Creation Justice Ministries - creationjustice.org/canopyofcreation
Harrisonburg Conservation Assistance Program (tree-planting initiative) - harrisonburgva.gov/hcap
Books with tree themes- some suggestions to get you started:
“The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss: A classic story about a creature who speaks for the trees against a greedy industrialist. It highlights the negative consequences of deforestation and environmental destruction.
“Wangari’s Trees of Peace” by Jeanette Winter: This is a picture book biography of Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who started a movement to plant trees in Kenya.
“Amrita’s Tree” in The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey: Based on a true story, this tale features a young girl who physically defends her special tree by wrapping her body around it, stopping the woodcutters from felling the forest.
“The Great Kapok Tree” by Lynne Cherry: A man goes into the Amazon rainforest to chop down a tree, but is stopped by a variety of animals who show him the importance of their home.
CONTACT US: if you have any questions, please feel free to email us at earthdayworship@gmail.com. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response.