When most congregations are lucky to hear even one sermon on caring for the Earth, what motivates Dr. Bob Hill, senior minister at Community Christian Church, to give four this April? In an interview, Dr. Hill says it’s because Holy Scripture compels us to tend the garden of creation. Reason and tradition also motivate him…
Uplifting the Sacredness of Creation in Worship
March 26, 2013 by
(By Jerry Rees, Chair of Environmental Action Committee of Village Presbyterian Church) This year the Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition is hosting 100 Sermons for the Earth. Clergy of all faiths are being asked to give at least one talk or sermon sometime during 2013 dedicated to the importance of Earth Care as a spiritual, moral, and religious…
What One Green Team Can Do: Climate Change Forum a Wild Success
March 25, 2013 by
If you didn’t attend the March 9 climate change forum at Village Presbyterian Church, you missed out. The forum, attended by over 100 people, was a panel discussion featuring experts articulating a variety of perspectives on climate change — moral, social, theological, economic, environmental and national security. It was a wonderful example of a Green…
10 Times Bolder: Make Earth Day Count This Year
February 26, 2013 by
In one of her books, Laurie Beth Jones asks a very good question, “What would you do if you were 10 times as bold for God?” Worth pondering, right? How about if we were 10 times bolder for the Earth? Maybe that can be our mantra for Earth Day this year–10 times as bold! What…
My Two Calendars
February 21, 2013 by
A special guest post by Rev. Helen J. Nelson, Pastor at Oak Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kansas City, Kansas and member of the Board of Directors of SSC. Recently two acquaintances each gave me a different desk calendar as a gift. One of the desk calendars has daily tips for physical, mental, emotional, and…
What’s Happening at SSC
February 20, 2013 by
100 Sermons Project – We have 40 clergy signed up to give sermons regarding Earth stewardship, and are working hard to get to our goal. If you know any clergy, would you please invite them to take part? Refer them to this website and the Faith and Ecology tab. Programs – We are getting more…
Feel Powerless to Get Yourself or Others to Change? Think Again.
January 31, 2013 by
It was one more book recommendation, one I figured I had no time to read. But then I saw it in audiobook form at the library, a definite sign to me to check it out. I did. I listened and was enthralled with Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and…
Don’t Let Winter Hold You Hostage
January 2, 2013 by
Winter is always getting a bad rap. Newscasters slander cold weather and snow like they are akin to the plague, even though we desperately need the moisture. Everyone complains about this maligned season, as if it was purposely bent on causing them misery. Now surely God didn’t doze off while winter was being created and…
Nature’s Gift of Darkness
November 28, 2012 by
Many people lament and resist the darkness of these winter days, refusing to find anything good about them. But since they are a reality, how much better to put aside our prejudices and find joy in them. Genesis 1 says, “God separated the light from the darkness,” and “God looked at everything God had made…
A Message from SSC Board President, Rev. Dwight Tawney
November 27, 2012 by
I serve as President of the Board of SSC because, as someone personally concerned about the health of the planet, I share the organization’s belief that there is a spiritual, religious, and moral imperative to be good stewards of the Earth and its resources. As a minister, I also believe communities of faith have an…
