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Pastor Carol’s
Message… I have heard so many comments of
appreciation from people about these glorious spring days that we’ve been
having. The sunny days, green grass, the sound of birds, and even bunny
sightings, all remind us of the amazing beauty of God’s good gift of nature. On April 22nd with the help of our High
School and Confirmation students we celebrated “The Day of Creation/Earth
Day.” This day is an annual reminder
to us that God is truly the Creator of all that we see. Recent discoveries of
a new planet, Gliese 581 C, located 20.5 light
years away, show that it is similar enough to earth that scientists theorize
it could have all that is necessary to sustain life. Discoveries like this
remind us that God is also the Creator of all that is yet to be seen. Our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson wrote a
letter to the Church in anticipation of our Earth Day Celebrations. In it he
states: “In the 1993 social statement,
Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope and Justice, the ELCA recognized that
"the buildup of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide"
threatens our planet. It urges us to accept responsibility for our sinful
treatment of God's gift of the earth. A substantial part of the problem is
our use of fossil fuels to run our homes, our churches, our cars, and our
places of business. Those of us who live in the Caring for Creation
also urges us to advocacy and action, both as individual Christians and as a
church body. On this Earth Day, I urge each of you to take up the challenge
presented to us as a people of hope and conviction by the threat of global
warming. Consider contacting your elected officials
to urge them to address this problem. Look for ways to reduce your use of
fossil fuels. Walk when you can, use public transportation if it's available,
and change your light bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent light
sources.” God has given the Creation to us as a gift.
We are in the months of the year, spring and summer, when we seem to enjoy
the blessings of creation the most. As you experience the outdoors with its
sunshine, fresh air, star lit skies, beaches, rivers, oceans, the coolness of
the grass and the shade of the trees, remember to stop, stand in awe, and
give thanks to the Maker of all. But don’t stop at awe and thanks giving.
Consider what Bishop Hanson invites us to do in advocacy and action. Change
some of the ways you live. Make a difference for the sake of the earth, the
poor (those most greatly affected by pollution), and those who come after us. Look at other articles in Channels each
month for suggestions of ways that you can make a difference.
"When we face today's crisis, we do
not despair. We act." (Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and
Justice)
Peace, Pastor Carol |
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Come in and
"Grow In Faith With |
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