We will turn this week from Consumption to Climate and reflect upon how our faith might shape the ways we consume. The outline for this worship series began to develop earlier this summer when we attended a conference called Seizing An Alternative. We hope this worship series will encourage us to consider how our faith tradition calls us to honor the earth. The earth is in a time of peril and we believe our Christian tradition can both teach and encourage us to respond more faithfully in our daily lives.
Outline for Earth-Honoring Faith
▪August 16: Caring (Psalm 139)
▪August 23: Communion (John 6.56-69)
▪August 30: Consumption (James 1:17-27)
▪September 6: Climate (Genesis 1-2.4).
The Social Principals of the United Methodist Church states: We acknowledge the global impact of humanity’s disregard for God’s creation. Rampant industrialization and the corresponding increase in the use of fossil fuels have led to a buildup of pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere. These “greenhouse gas” emissions threaten to alter dramatically the earth’s climate for generations to come with severe environmental, economic, and social implications. The adverse impacts of global climate change disproportionately affect individuals and nations least responsible for the emissions. We therefore support efforts of all governments to require mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and call on individuals, congregations, businesses, industries, and communities to reduce their emissions (¶160.D Global Climate Stewardship).
In what ways are you already reducing emissions? What next steps might you consider taking in order to live more simply and tread more lightly?
Read the first creation story in the bible: Genesis 1-2.4.
What do you think God means when God declares the creation “good” in Genesis 1? What changes, either small or large, are you considering making in your life based on our Earth-Honoring Faith worship series?