Dearly beloved,
This Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day. Beginning on college campuses in 1970, it has spread across the globe with more than a billion people participating in this event every year. (Note: you can see one of the original 1970 news reports with Walter Cronkite in the link below)
As people of faith, we are called to care for all that has been entrusted into our care. While the topic of climate change is marred by political division, we look past the rhetoric to see the beauty and intricacies of God’s creation. We marvel at the wide variety of animals, birds and plants. We rejoice at the songs of the birds and the peepers. We are warmed by the sun and calmed by the moon. Our very lives are sustained by the very air that we breathe, the food that provides nourishment, the waters that quench our thirst and the beauty that is all around us.
For us, creation is more than a part of our world – it is the handiwork of God in all its glory and wonder. We give thanks to our Creator through our care for all of creation. We act out of love of God and our love of all that God has made.
This Saturday (10am-12pm), we will be cleaning a portion of the bike path. You can park in the church lot walk down Old Route 6 to the entrance of the path across from Schech’s pool supplies. We will have a base of operations with bags & gloves (as well as “God’s Work, Our Hands” t-shirts – to borrow or purchase [$10 each]).
In doing this, we not only care for God’s creation, but we bear witness to what it means to live as a person of faith. As such, we will be offering pet blessings to any pets that come along on the path as well as give some basic information to anyone who might be interested in learning more about Trinity and the ways that we live out our faith.
If you are not able to join us, we invite you to do what you can at your home or neighborhood. You can also bring any 5 cent deposit cans/bottles (rinsed) as well as any of the items on our Terracycle list to church (see attached list). They can be placed in the upstairs coat closet in their designated containers.
And you can pray! Use this prayer or offer one of your own as we give glory to the Creator of heaven & earth!
Creator God, who set the stars in their places and directs the course of the planets; who robed this earth with a thin garment of air, making it a haven of beauty and life; who breathed into each of us the breath of life: We thank you for the gift of air. Create in us such a sense of wonder and delight in this and in all your gifts that we receive them with gratitude, care for them with love and generously share them with all your creatures, to the honor and glory of your holy name. Amen. (All Creations Sings, Lutheran Worship Book)
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Jen