Mission Focus of April: Earth Day (April 22, 2023)

Raising Awareness about Earth Day (April 22, 2023) and care of God's creation: (this information is intended for parents)

Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin is considered the “founder” of Earth Day. Nelson’s idea evolved over a seven-year period beginning in 1962 and resulted in the first Earth Day being held on April 22, 1970. Now Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for God’s creation and honor it. Creation care is so important, but oftentimes, we do not think about the earth’s resources that we consume and how that affects others. From the created order, breath of God and intimate relationship God has with humanity, humans are God's special creation since we are all made in God's own image. Children need to grow in the knowledge and understanding of our awesome Creator God and God’s special purpose for their life. Taking care of God's gifts is our loving response to God’s divine initiative to create, redeem and provide for all of God’s creation. Through Scripture, God calls us to reflect God’s glory and character through caring for and advancing God’s great gift of creation. Our care of creation can draw us closer to God and God’s purpose for all of creation. At the end of this month, it will contain practical projects to help care for God’s creation and make it a better place for all of us to live.

READ Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson (Click HERE to access a re-aloud to this Book)

Summary of Book:

The words of Brother Sun, Sister Moon are retold by the author, Katherine Paterson from St. Francis of Assisi and are like a hymn devoted to nature and praising God’s creation. This author “reimagines a hymn of praise originally written by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224. It is illuminated with the exquisite illustrations of cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton and offers a stunningly beautiful tribute to nature (citation for this).” Beautifully rendered butterflies and animals, sunflowers and fruit, wheat and bread make the world vivid, present and lovely.

The song begins with this line:

“For this life and the life to come, we sing our praise to you, / O Lord, the Father and Mother of all creation.”

It starts with “Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Brother Air and Sister Water, and leads on to thanksgiving for Sister Earth and Brother Fire, through praise for those who can forgive, comfort for those who suffer, courage for those who make peace (citation).” Saint Francis reaches out to the natural world and identifies the sun, the moon, the wind, the water, and the earth as members of God’s divine family. This book nurtures thankfulness and gratitude as it praises God for God giving creation variety, beauty, and bounty. And within this sweep of praise, the author also includes those who are sick, suffering, or facing death. 

Discuss the following:

1. Read Psalm 104:24, which says: "How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”

Then reflect on these questions below:

Every detail in the illustrations of this book helps us praise God’s creation.

1. How many different things from God’s creation can you find on the cover inside as you open the book?
2. Now, think about this: What wonders of God’s creation do you see around you within the community of Charlotte or even within your neighborhood? What stands out to you and why?

In the book titled, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, it makes it clear that we understand that praise, specifically bringing all praise, honor, and glory to God, is essential to the Christian life. This book tells us that the created world, including death, is even a cause for praise. It also tells us that human compassion, peacemaking, justice, and suffering are occasions for praise. Through it all, we are taught to praise God.

1. What are some ways you can praise God for God’s gift of creation?

Read this quote from the book above: “In the beginning God created the world, and the created world has been speaking of God’s love and power ever since.” This quote comes from the two stories of Creation found in Scripture, Genesis 1 & 2. Now reflect on these questions:

1. Genesis 1 and 2 tell us that we are all part of this created world with a special relationship to God and we all have a special responsibility in caring for God’s creation. How do you see God’s love and power exhibited through creation? How can you share God’s love with all of creation?

Discuss with your family or friends about the gifts that sun, moon, wind, air, water, fire, and the earth provide us? Make a list of all the things that these elements of God’s creation provide us with.

What impact would speaking of earth and water as sister and brother or siblings in Christ, like this book does, have on our treatment of our environment?

Read Genesis 1:28, which says: “God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Then reflect on the following questions below this:

1. Read Summary of Scripture Passage: In our Scripture Passage today, we are given a responsibility to “have dominion” over all of creation. Having dominion over creation means that we are called to act as caretakers or good stewards of God’s creation. For we must be reminded that the natural world is a gift from God and that from the very beginning of creation, God asked humans to care for one another and for all of creation. What do you think are some ways we can take care of God’s creation?
2. Why do some people take care of God's creation while others do not care for it?
3. What does it mean to care for God’s creation? What about the people that God has created?
4. What is one thing you would like to begin doing to care for God's creation? 

Activities to do at Home:

1. Share your favorite memories of being outside or what your favorite thing about nature is to a friend or family member.

• Connecting with creation and being reminded of God's goodness is a powerful way to motivate ourselves and others to care for God’s creation. .

1. Draw or collect pictures of things within God’s creation for which you praise God. Make a collage.
2. Plant and care for our own seed. Do this by finding some seed planters (old egg cartons or Dixie cups). You will also need a few pots of soil, spoons to fill the seed cups, and a jug of water. Seeds can be purchased at any garden store. You are going to be planting seeds and will get to watch them grow. Now, plant and water your seeds and put it in the sunlight and watch it grow. As you watch your seed grow into a plant, think about how you can sow seeds within God’s creation and care for it.

• Other options include: Keep track of your plants’ growth by keeping a journal or taking pictures. Take joy in watching God’s creation grow!
• Decorate cans and repurpose them into vases for plants. Discuss how reusing and repurposing items is a way we can respect our earth and be good stewards of our resources.
• Teach recycling, composting, and minimizing waste in your home.

1. Visit a local farm or even the ZOO and learn more about the varieties of animals within God’s creation. Then reflect: how did God design each animal to be unique and special, and what does this say about God?
2. Find Bible Verses that teach us about God’s gift of creation (examples: Genesis 1 & 2; Psalm 19:1-4, Psalm 24:1, and Psalm 104:24.) Then consider this question: What does it mean to be a good steward of what God has given us within creation?
3. Use this LINK to study ways you can celebrate Earth Day every day. 

Prayer:

God, we thank you for your gift of creation that you gave us. We also thank you for creating each one of us and continually caring for us. You made the world and everything in it and put us in charge. Help us to treat your world and everyone in it with love, respect, and justice, and find ways to make a difference. Amen.

written by: Lindsey Odom, Director of Youth Ministries