Why should congregations care about pollinators? Pollinators bring us nearly one of every three bites of food we eat and are vital in the procreation of almost 80 percent of the flowering plants on the planet. Worldwide, roughly 1,000 of the 1,200 plant species grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be… Continue Reading→
Headphones for Trent Park Elementary
Volunteers from Trinity UMC in New Bern have worked hard to equip each and every children at Trent Park Elementary School with a set of high-quality headphones. They were presented on April 11 along with handwritten cards for each student as part of their “Sounds of Learning” initiative. Serving as the hands and feet of… Continue Reading→
Lenten Reflection: Greenhouse Gas Emissions as a Religious Issue
One of the teachings that appears in both the Old Testament and the New Testament is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18; Mark 12: 30-31; Matt. 22: 36-40) This is to serve as a principle to guide our actions. The legal authorities in biblical times, when the Israelites ruled themselves, were also religious… Continue Reading→
Lenten Reflection – Transgressions: Effects of Climate Change and Biblical Teachings
A previous Lenten teaching asserts that climate change is a religious issue for Christians and Jews, as well as an environmental one, because some of its effects are contrary to biblical teachings. That is, since our actions (e.g., the burning of fossil fuels which sends greenhouse gases into the atmosphere) result in climate change, we… Continue Reading→
A Perspective on Lent and Creation Care
The Lenten period affords Christians the opportunity to connect with the period when Jesus withdrew into the desert and fasted for 40 days and nights, and then resisted three temptations of the devil (Matt. 4: 1-11). It is a period of reflection, ideally at times in solitude, that might now include considering whether the devil… Continue Reading→
Lenten Reflections 2018
Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday on February 14. Lent is a time of soul-searching, self-examination, and repentance which prepares us to receive the grace and hope Christ gives through his death and resurrection. As you walk through the 40 days of Lent, we invite you to join us in sharing a daily Lenten Reflection. A reflection… Continue Reading→
Caring for the Homeless While Caring for God’s Creation
Holly Springs resident Jean Kinyon is on a mission to convert plastic bags into bedrolls for the homeless folks and homeless veterans. The group meets twice a month at Holly Springs UMC and everyone is welcome to join in the fun and fellowship. Jean explains how to prepare the grocery bags and actually make… Continue Reading→