Many Christians struggle to connect what they hear in church on Sunday morning to what they do during the week. Some of the lessons taught about God and Jesus seem so high minded as to be inapplicable in our day-to-day lives.
That’s one of the things I love about creation care: it’s a practical theology.
When we increase our understanding of God as our Creator and our place amongst creation, we see the connections that we have with our neighbors, human and non-human alike. We see how our actions impact the lives of others who share this creation with us, and we learn how to better love God and neighbor by caring for what God has entrusted into our hands.
My own life has been changed as I’ve deepened my understanding of God through the medium of creation. I’m constantly challenged to consider actions I perform regularly- how I grocery shop, the setting of my thermostat, what goes into my trashcan- in light of how it effects my neighbors.
We hope you will join us all September long as we celebrate Season of Creation 2021 and deepen your own connection with God through creation.
We have ample opportunities for you to grow in your knowledge of this lived out theology, especially our webinar series.
And if you missed the opening worship service last week, you can watch it here.
Upcoming Webinars
Coal Ash, BIPOC Farming, and Everything In Between: An Environmental Justice Panel
September 7, 7:00
Join George C. Jones, Jr. (Executive Director of Piedmont Business Capital, co-owner of Inheritage Farms), Phoebe Gooding (Toxic Free NC), Bobby Jones, and Cooper Sykes (NCCUMC) in a discussion about how communities, particularly BIPOC communities, are impacted by environmental degradation, and the work being done to combat these problems.
Creation Care, Spirituality, and the Healing of Trauma
September 9, 7:00
Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath will be sharing with us about the spirituality of creation care, and particularly its gifts for healing in our lives.
Eating Together Faithfully
September 14, 7:00
This webinar, led by Jimmy McKinnell of Life Around the Table, will introduce participants to Eating Together Faithfully, a framework for conversation designed to walk church communities through various food and faith topics. The framework is aimed at motivating churches to participate in food justice both on the individual level and as communities of faith.
Faith, Science and Ministry
September 16, 7:00
Jennifer Shecki-Shields of Discovery and Faith shares: “Today it is inevitable that developments in science will meet the practice of Christian faith if that faith is to have any cultural impact or relevance. Unfortunately, the church is not adequately meeting the challenges presented by the intersection of faith and science. The quality of the relationship between science and Christian faith is not just a matter of discipleship, but touches on many areas of outreach ministry and societal concern, including creation care. Having a role to play in all of these areas will require us to be scientifically informed and engaged so that we can proclaim Gospel hope to a world in need.” You can learn more about Jennifer’s ministry at Discovery and Faith here.
ReGenesis2.15: Tools for Regenerating the Soil and the Soul of Your Community
September 28, 7:00
Join Keith Sexton and Jacob Dye as we present the Creation Care team’s regenerative agriculture toolbox. Whether you’ve never heard of regenerative agriculture or you’re already engaged in the work, the toolbox will help you take the next step in restoring our planet’s health.
Living as Resident Aliens in God’s Land
September 30, 7:00
Dr. Ellen Davis (Duke Divinity School) and Rev. Jarrod S. Davis guide a study on Leviticus 25, seeking to understand the importance of Sabbath and Jubilee for the land and the community alike. How have our understandings of land ownership, indebtedness, and slavery shaped our modern world?
Climate Change: Where Religion and Science Meet
October 5, 7:00
Climate change is a religious issue as well as a scientific one because some of its effects, for which we bear responsibility, are contrary to religious teachings. The presentation will review three of those effects relevant to biblical teachings, clarify the severity of the issue, and identify actions for both congregations and congregants to mitigate climate change.