“Behold! I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not see it?”
Isaiah 43:19a
Several years back, I shared this line from Isaiah with a group of pastors as we gathered to discuss our ministry ups and downs. I will never forget one pastor’s response to these words from Isaiah:
“Nope. I don’t see it. But I really want to.”
I believe that God is continuing to do a new thing in the United Methodist Church. We have an opportunity before us to follow the Holy Spirit into a great future of building up God’s Kingdom, but sometimes we can’t see what God is up to.
Let me share with you some of the new things that God is doing with creation care in North Carolina.
Active Advocacy
Advocacy is a work of faith, fulfilling Jesus’ call on our lives to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves, to bring about healing and justice in the land.
Advocacy can also be daunting if you have never done it before.
Fortunately, we have some great leaders who are helping to guide us in our advocacy work. Rev. Keith Sexton has been busy organizing advocacy opportunities with three of our Federal representatives who are at work on the 2023 Farm Bill. Keith’s guidance has helped many of us feel more comfortable speaking with these representatives. Check out this video that was made for our Season of Creation workshop.
The dates for these Farm Bill advocacy opportunities are:
- Thursday, August 17 at 1:00 p.m. with Congresswoman Alma Adams
- Thursday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m. with Congressman Don Davis
- Tuesday, August 29 at 11:30 a.m. with Congressman David Rouzer
If you would like to be a part of any of these meetings (don’t underestimate the importance of a face in the crowd) please reach out to Keith at ksexton@nccumc.org.
Keith will also be leading our first Season of Creation 2023 webinar with his presentation, Advocacy: Connecting Faith with Public Policy on Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00.
Eco Mission Journey
This great collaborative ministry between the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences is seeking to shift how we do local mission work and disaster response. With a focus on both educating mission participants and environmental practices that can mitigate disaster, the Eco Mission Journey is partnering with rural churches in North Carolina to aid local communities.
Watch this video for more information:
To register for the upcoming preview weekend at Lake Junaluska, just follow this link.
If you have any questions, reach out to Jarrod at jdavis@nccumc.org.
Other Upcoming Webinars
Heat Resiliency and the Local Community
September 12, 7:00
July 2023 was the hottest month recorded in global history, yet it seems this is just the beginning. What can we do to make our communities more heat resilient? How can local churches prepare to love our neighbors in the years ahead?
Join Dr. Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Duke University, as she shares about the real dangers of rising temperatures, and what we can do about it.
Eco-Grief: How Do We Respond to Climate Change?
September 19, 7:00
Climate change has been described as the greatest threat the human race has ever faced. As this cataclysm looms, many are reporting feeling anxious, afraid, sad, guilty and even paralyzed. The threat of climate change has already started impacting our mental health and our hope for the future.
Psychiatrist Dr. Brendan Johnson will be joining us to share about his work around eco-grief, this anxiety centered around our fears of climate change. Join us as Dr. Johnson explains this relatively new area of mental health, and provides us some guidance for dealing with it.
Energy Use and God’s Creation
September 26, 7:00
What measures can individuals and congregations take to save energy and reduce carbon waste? What renewable and sustainable energy options are out there? How are the Bible and God’s teachings connected to our power bills?
Join us on September 26 to learn answers to these questions and more. Our time together will be led by John Rees.
John Rees is a retired Energy Engineer from NC State University and is active with several organizations focused on care of Creation. He performs energy audits for North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light and Waste Reduction Partners.