This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Since 1970, when over 20 million Americans took to the streets calling for systemic change in how we relate to our environment, we are reminded each April 22 of our inseparable interconnectedness to nature, and the critical role we play as stewards of creation. At the time, Denis Hayes, the principal organizer of the original Earth Day, remarked, “The problem isn’t technological; the problem is a matter of values.”
Fast forward to 2020, we see brought into sharp focus how faith-based values grounded in love, compassion and justice critically shape our response to the pressing issues of our time, including preservation and restoration of the environment upon which we all depend. Across faith traditions, these values power a common voice that professes our responsibilities in caring for creation. By coming together across geographies and traditions (and in this time of social distancing, even across digital divides), bearing witness to God in creation, this voice grows with ever increasing magnitude each passing day and year.
While the current pandemic requires postponing our own in-person Earth Day celebration, we too can find creative ways to proclaim the good news, sharing our values in the care of God’s creation. Green Team member Barbara Duffy wrote the following tribute in celebration of this year’s Sunday school activities, intended for our April ceremony:
“The Sunday school focus this year was caring for God’s creation – the trees, birds and all living creatures in our grove. As St. Francis said, ‘all life is connected.’ The younger members of our community must learn to love nature in order to want to care for it.
“We began our stewardship by planting a small white pine tree, nurtured by our son and his family from a single rooted branch. The children even chose a name for the tree – as we all have names. Its name is Crystal. Marna Andrew and I planted it in the fall and the Sunday school classes met in the grove for a simple service. First we blessed the tree, then we had an interactive reading of the creation story. Teachers and students took turns reading about the many benefits of trees. Marna, our master gardener, told us about some of the other trees in the area and we looked up close at Crystal. Do you know that this particular pine tree has many clusters of 5 needles throughout the tree? I was blown away by that fact. What a wondrous God we have! We completed our service with a prayer and sang several verses of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” It was misting or we might have sing more!
“Our winter project involved being good stewards to our bird friends. We provided materials for the pre-K/K class, and the teachers directed an activity of placing bird seeds on pine cones covered with peanut butter. They were hung in the trees. The 1st-4th grade classes made bird houses out of used milk cartons and grass that will be hung in the grove as well. The 5th – 8th grade class will be assembling bat houses. Steve Cooper, parent of Alexa, cut and painted the pieces of wood, and the students will assemble them. They will be placed on poles at a later date.
“As you have heard, we have been showing our love for God’s creation through our activities. We must all step up and be good stewards of creation by doing all we can to keep this world from being destroyed for future generations. We owe that to our loving God.”
You can also find a “virtual” Earth Day video and photo album of congregation members enjoying the outdoors during this time (practicing good social distancing, of course!) on our Facebook page. Finally, you can make a personal commitment to change by visiting Living the Change. We look forward to coming together again soon. Until then, peace and blessings be with each of you. —Brian Lestini, chair