Join In The Work Of The Church In Renewing The Earth
As Easter Sunday leads us into the season of spring, it is good to reflect on the renewal of the Earth occurring all around us. The week after Easter, the promising signs of spring are everywhere we look - the new crocus and daffodil flowers are in bloom; the sound of bird song fills the air; and smelling the sweet scents of the new flowers.
John 20 tells the story of Jesus’ disciples and their experiences after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Mary Magdalene, keeping watch at the tomb, mistakes the resurrected Jesus for the gardener of the cemetery. The image of Jesus in the garden on Resurrection Sunday is one that evokes images of renewal, of peace, and of restoration.
Scripture speaks to the link between salvation and redemption of all people and all creation - the book of Acts calls this “the restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). The global church, which is the body of Christ on Earth, also has a mission as a witness of renewal for all people and all creation. During this time of climate change impacts in every country around the world, the church living out its mission includes demonstrating readily available earth care solutions.
Many Christian faith communities set aside the Sunday closest to Earth Day (April 22) as Earth Sunday. Churches and Christian communities around the world are carrying out actions of Earth care to witness to God’s love for people and all creation. For example, St. Luke’s Eastport in Maryland is restoring their local watershed by creating pollinator gardens and creating a stream valley with native trees, shrubs, and grasses. This restoration in turn supports the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, one of the most crucial watersheds in the Eastern US. The United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program has set a goal for its churches to reduce carbon pollution by 80% by 2050. They are working with 148 churches across Canada to install energy-efficient building retrofits, and installed solar panels. Plant with Purpose works with communities in Latin America, the Caribbean and East Africa to replant trees in areas that have been clear cut. Planting trees helps stabilize the soil and supports agriculture, purifies the air, and also sequesters carbon from the atmosphere.
Churches and Cristians have contributed to the global divestment movement, which shifts investments away from oil and gas industries. Last year, over 45 faith organizations including the
Catholic and Protestant churches in 21 countries announced their plans to divest their financial holdings from oil and gas industries. There are now 400 organizations worldwide committed to divestment.
Christians have also been speaking up for bold climate action. In Canada, churches and Christian faith organizations launched For the Love of Creation, a campaign to call Christians to talk about climate change, reduce their own environmental footprint, and to write to the federal environment minister to improve Canada’s climate plans. In the United States, churches and faith-based organizations have been calling for financial institutions to stop investing in oil and gas major projects.
Theologian N.T. Wright writes about acts of faith as “signposts of renewal” that point towards God’s Kingdom. While consumerism and materialism tempts society with its promise of fulfillment and happiness through endless consumption, earth stewardship reminds Christians of a different calling. Christians are called to be stewards and caretakers in God’s garden, working for the renewal and restoration of God’s creation, giving rather than consuming. Christians uniting together to reduce their environmental footprints, restore nature and watersheds, and advocate for system level change in government and in the economy, are all signposts of the renewal in the world and reversing the environmental damages caused by sin and greed.
This spring season, join with God’s people in renewing the Earth.
Go Deeper:
Read more about St. Luke’s Eastport’s incredible story of restoring nature and hope in Maryland: https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/annapolis/ac-cn-st-lukes-0606-story.html
Find out what your household and church’s environmental footprint is, and what you can do to improve it, using the Cool Congregations calculator: https://www.coolcongregations.org/calculators/
Pray:
Creator God, this earth is miraculous and beautiful. Forgive our confusion and inaction as we confront the challenges of climate change. In the light of your truth, seen so clearly in the life and teaching of Jesus, help us to re-examine ourselves and our lifestyle choices and see clearly the implications of how we live on all that sustains life on this earth. May we follow your leading in caring for every aspect of this precious world, which you made, and love. Inspire us now to work together, as your people, to change priorities in the way we live, so that we build a fair and safe world for all your creation; a world where your will is done as it is in heaven. Amen.
- Adapted from the Climate Change Day of Prayer resource booklet
Take Action:
Pick one habit to live more sustainably and work on it over the next month. You can check out the Minimalist Vegan’s 100+ tips to get started: https://theminimalistvegan.com/live-a-more-sustainable-lifestyle/
Add your name to the Earthkeepers: Christians for Climate Justice Open Letter for Bold Climate Action. We’re calling for our Canadian government to set a more ambitious climate plan; invest in a Just Transition; restore degraded forests and oceans; and fulfill our international climate commitments.