Awakening to God’s Call to Earthkeeping: A four-session small group study to encourage, empower, and equip Lutherans in their calling to care for creation.
Caring for creation is an essential component of religious faith and witness. Faithful “earthkeeping” can deepen our relationship both with God and with one another, as we work for the healing of the world.
Earthkeeping is a term being used by many people of faith to describe the nature of our responsibility to care for creation. It springs from our wonder, awe, and gratitude for God’s wisdom, creativity, and blessings that fill the natural world. It also grows out of our dismay and concern for the degradations and “groaning” of God’s good creation.
Faithful earthkeeping involves extending the justice, peace, reconciliation, hope, and love of Christ to all creation. In caring for the Earth, we also deepen our relationship with God and with one another, making our faith more alive and relevant, in and to a broken world.
This study guide has been developed to help group participants hear and respond to God’s call to earthkeeping, as a way to grow in their faith and to work for the healing of the world, both individually and in congregations.
For creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.
-Romans 8:19