September is the Season of Creation. The North Carolina Conference has been participating in this global, month-long focus on God’s creation in our ministries since 2020. This year, with the newly established role of Creation Ministries Coordinator and the collaboration with the Western NC Conference, we are happy to expand our Season of Creation observances across the whole state.
The Season of Creation is a time for Christians around the world to renew our relationship with God our Creator and examine our relationship with the rest of creation. You can read more about the global Season of Creation events and find resources here.
Throughout the month of September, we encourage local churches to observe Season of Creation in their worship services, Sunday school classes and Bible studies, mission opportunities, and their facility usage and practices. Don’t know where to begin? Reach out to Jarrod Davis (jdavis@nccumc.org), Creation Ministries Coordinator for NC and WNC Conferences, to help you get started, or to request a speaker (in September or anytime).
And don’t forget to join us at the following events:
Eco-Mission Preview Weekend
For too long our disaster response mission teams have focused exclusively on cleaning up after a disaster, then waiting around for the next disaster to strike. We want to change that.
Recognizing climate change and rising temperatures as disaster, we want our mission teams to be proactive in helping local communities mitigate disasters. We are excited to partner with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Duke University to provide real expertise on the disasters our communities are facing.
These eco-missions will focus on resiliency and mitigation in local communities in North Carolina, and will train participants in not only what to do while on the trip, but in how to assess their own community, as well as a deeper biblical understanding of what it means to love our neighbors when disaster looms.
A preview weekend is offered for all ministry leaders who want to learn more about this new way of doing mission work. Join us September 22-24 at Lake Junaluska to find out more about eco-mission and how your team can participate.
Webinars
We are thrilled to be able to offer a series of webinars around topics that have been requested by the people of our churches. See the descriptions below for our upcoming webinars. Each webinar is held via Zoom and will last for an hour. All are free, but must be registered for individually. (Registration required.)
Advocacy: Connecting Faith and Public Policy
September 5, 7:00
Tired of the partisan divide? Exhausted with the political wrangling?
Good News! Advocacy is nothing like the political theatre in the media!
Advocacy is civil, reasoned conversation with a genuine exchange of ideas and the opportunity to effect real policy change.
If you are ready for a positive, rewarding, faithful approach to Christian confession in the public square, then join us for the Season of Creation webinar, Advocacy: Connecting Faith and Public Policy, September 5 at 7:00.
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.
Need Help?
Got questions? Are you struggling to plan your own Season of Creation observances? Want to request a speaker to come to your church, small group, Bible study, or other group? Want to find others in your area who are involved in creation care ministries?
For any help or guidance, reach out to Jarrod Davis (jdavis@nccumc.org) and he will be glad to assist.