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Eco-Prayer Guidelines
Eco–Prayer Guidelines offers suggestions for eco-prayer and good will intentions. They describe eco-prayer principles and explain why praying and positive intentions are important. Their 9 principles are listed in the guidelines and more information on the definition of eco-theology. -
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
Overwhelmed by the excess in her own life, Jen Hatmaker and her family set out on a project they called “Seven.” Highlighting seven areas of excess, they committed to living a little more simply every month. Originally published in 2011 and updated in 2017, 7 has been utilized for book studies in many Christian faith communities. For those overwhelmed with the task of implementing creation care in their own lives, Hatmaker’s memoir tells of her family’s practical and faith inspired experiment. More information about Hatmaker’s project can be found on her blog. -
Pope Francis and Environmental Leaders Forge Vision for Global Action
Environmental leaders, activists and advocates gathered with Pope Francis for a two-day Vatican-organized conference with hopes to emerge with a shared vision for protecting our planet. The conference was inspired by the third anniversary of the Pope’s encyclical and was attended by political and religious leaders, scientists, economists and heads of civil society organizations. Inspired by the call for unity and action in the encyclical, UN Environment also introduced their Interfaith Rain-forest Initiative at the conference. -
A Prayer for Labour Day
As Labor Day approaches, it is important to remember to relax and enjoy a day free of work. Godspace (https://godspacelight.com/about/) has offered a prayer to give thanks for the hard work of laborers and communities, and to reflect on gratitude, mercy, service, justice, and the beauty of creation through God’s work. This prayer is adapted from a prayer found on the Christ Church Ontario website. -
For Love of Lavender
For Love of Lavender is an account of how Christine Sine, creator of Godspace and writer for Evangelical Environmental Network MOMS, encountered God through the beauty, fragrance, and abundance of the lavender in her garden. Reflecting on her garden informs her of God's work and calls to mind numerous bible verses, including Proverbs 27:9: The heart is delighted by the fragrance of oil and sweet perfumes, and in just the same way, the soul is sweetened by the wise counsel of a friend. Christine also mentions how to use these lessons to teach children. -
WCC Executive Committee: global biodiversity crisis reaches urgent level
This article from the World Council of Churches discusses the current biodiversity crisis. The majority of land surfaces and ocean areas are significantly modified, and over 85% of the wetlands are gone. The following excerpt notes how this subsequently affects the poor and vulnerable:
"The statement notes that, increasingly, the drive for relentless expansion built into dominant economic systems are endangering the survival of many of God’s creatures. 'Ultimately our significant and adverse impacts on ecology will impact humanity’s own future,' the statement reads. 'Already they are destroying the very basis of sustenance of our income-poor, vulnerable and Indigenous sisters and brothers, who contribute least to the ecological damage for which human beings are collectively responsible.'" -
Interfaith Rainforest Initiative
From the organization's website: "The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that aims to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. It is a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society and business on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard those that serve as their guardians." The initiative focuses on raising awareness, mobilizing action, and influencing policy. -
Engaged Organizations: Stratford Ecological Center
The Stratford Ecological Center is an organic farm and nature preserve that provides education sessions, tours, and hiking trails to the public. They also offer various workshops and classes on an ongoing basis.
Trinity Catholic Elementary School 4th and 5th graders participation each year in a 5-day environmental camp "Messages of the Earth" at the Stratford Ecological Center. -
Engaged Organizations: Kenyon College Brown Family Environmental Center
The Brown Environmental Center at Kenyon College offers both self-guided and educational sessions that showcase their diverse range of natural habitats that are maintained at the center.
St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio makes annual trips for their K-6 students. -
Christians and Endangered Species
Throughout time, it has often been difficult to reconcile concepts from both biology and theology. This article focuses on the critical impact of endangered species with regard to various Christian religions. Citing biblical text, especially the story of Noah’s Ark, many religions have deemed the preserving and caring for all living creatures to be of utmost importance. -
Today is registration deadline for Columbus Diocese Creation Care Conference on Oct. 8
The Columbus Diocese is offering a day of reflection, inspiration, study, and sharing of resources to help Columbus area Catholic communities respond to Pope Francis’ environmental urgings in his recent encyclical, Laudato Si: Caring for Our Common Home. The conference: “Enlivened by Laudato Si’: We Care for our Common Home: Our practical response to care for God’s creation” will be held at the Martin De Porres Center in Columbus from 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 8.
The conference will feature creation care team building sessions, spirituality and worship, education, sustainability information for energy savings, and advocacy to care for creation and the poor. Dr. Greg Hitzhusen of the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State will deliver a keynote address. -
Science Mike to speak tonight at Broad Street Presbyterian
Event Announcement:
Columbus Broad Street Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Scioto Valley Commission for Nurture and Outreach will host Science Mike on Friday, October 14.
Mike McHargue is the host of two podcasts, Ask Science Mike and The Liturgists. Mike, an amazing and popular communicator, will be recording an episode of Ask Science Mike during his evening presentation at Broad Street PC.
Tickets are $15 and are available from: www.findinggodinthewaves.com/tour
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Dalai Lama Espouses Sustainability in Business
His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently spoke in Brussels to promote global responsibility in business and economics for the sake of social and environmental sustainability. His appearance was coordinated with the recent publication of Business as an Instrument for Societal Change: In Conversation with the Dalai Lama (https://www.routledge.com/go/greenleaf-publishing), a book by Sander Tideman. For more information about the Dalai Lama’s teachings on the environment, visit his website and browse his list of environmental speeches and messages (https://www.dalailama.com/messages/environment). -
Profile: Rev. Pat Watkins
The Reverend Pat Watkins is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. He is guiding a new, globally-focused United Methodist Ministry with God’s Renewed Creation, based at Global Ministries and also closely related to the Council of Bishops. While faith has traditionally looked at relationship with God and relationships with other people, he began to see a relationship between faith and the created order. Please click the link below to read more about Reverend Watkins: -
New Community Project Creative Arts Page
The New Community Project created a creative arts page to offer resources for justice, peace, and care for creation. In the caring for creation section, there are skits, checklists, and worship resources all centered around this topic. -
Earth Ministry Songs and Hymns
Earth Ministry has been a leader in engaging faith communities in environmental stewardship and advocacy. They have created a list of songs and hymns from various artist that are related to God's gift of creation. The list was compiled as a resource for creation-honoring worship services. -
6 Ways to Green Your Holiday
6 Ways to Green Your Holiday is a graphic made by the Sierra Club. It gives 6 easy ways make Christmas traditions more sustainable. To view the image, click below or *download* -
Creation Care Hack: Train Yourself to use Reusable Shopping Bags
Creation Care Hack: Train Yourself to use Reusable Shopping Bag is a post from Evangelical Environmental Network MOMS. The article discusses how using a reusable shopping bag is only easy if you make it a habit, which can be difficult. It then gives a few tips on how to make this sustainable practice a habit. The article also has a graphic on how plastic bags are killing the planet, which can be found below. The author finishes by saying, “If the 70% of Americans who identify as Christians practiced using less disposable plastic bags what a witness and difference that could make.” See additional attached media for an infographic (.jpg) for visual information on plastic bag use. -
The Regeneration Project
The Regeneration Project was created as the parent project of Interfaith Power&Light. It is meant to help deepen the connection between ecology and faith and to help people of faith recognize and fulfill their responsibility for the stewardship of creation. They do so through educational programs for clergy and congregations -
12 Days of Christmas Recycling
12 Days of Christmas Recycling is an article from Evangelical Environmental Network about all the “stuff” that accumulates over Christmas. December is the highest month for landfill deposits with household waste increasing by 25% between Thanksgiving and Christmas. An average of 30 million Christmas Trees will end up in landfills and 4 million tons of wrapping paper and gift bags will be used. The article gives 12 ways to “reduce the overuse” and to move the focus of Christmas back to the birth of Jesus. -
Skits & Readings - Creative Arts and Educational Resources
Worship resources on the themes of justice, peace, and care for creation curated by the New Community Project. This is a list of activities to engage and educate students on christian and sustainability teachings. -
Tu' B'Shvat: The Green of Judaism
Tu B’Shvat: The Greening of Judaism is a handout from Interfaith Family. It offers a brief overview of Tu B’Shvat and different activities to celebrate the holiday. It also offers examples of how to be caretakers of the earth. To read the entire handout, click below. -
A Buddhist Perspective on the Eco-Crisis from David Loy
This short video consists of David Loy discussing the Buddhist perspective on the Eco-crisis. He begins by describing anata, the belief that all things are constantly changing and there can be no such thing as a permanent self. He then talks about dukkha, which is the idea that human experience is short-lived and suffering results from excessive desire. These ideas come together to describe the Buddhist idea that there is no “self.” Loy maintains that, “our sense of self is usually haunted by a sense of lack.” This sense of lack and false sense of “self,” create issues for people that can be related to consumerism, the Eco-crisis, and more. -
The Worship of Nature
The Worship of Nature is a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier published in 1867. The poem describes nature and forests as a holy place and Whittier makes a comparison to it being an altar. He describes the winds as hymns of praise and the blue sky as the temples arch.