Lisa Brenskelle
The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public ministry/advocacy. For some timely tips in these areas, see below:
- Worship: Everyone loves a hymn sing. Contact the synod Lutherans Restoring Creation for a creation-focused hymn sing service. See this slide deck for material on eco-theology and liturgy. A beautiful creation prayer is found at this site. Also, a creation-focused prayer is posted on the synod leaders Facebook group each week. Thinking about Epiphany? See this Epiphany reflection from the Orthodox tradition. Creation-focused commentaries on the lectionary can help with weekly sermon preparation.
- Education: Consider Year of Plenty for an adult book study. Here is a free educational resource for youth. Consider Green Church materials for use with both kids & youth.
- Discipleship: Make use of the “Bulletin blurb” eco-tips (+ Bible verses & creation-care quotes) on the synod leaders Facebook group each week. Aid members to educate their children about care for creation with this kids’ resource listing. Members may have interest in prayer in a garden. Home composting can make their garden greener. Recommend the book Love God, Heal Earth to motivate environmental stewardship at home.
- Building & Grounds: Curious about what a Green Team can do for your congregation? See these FAQs. This listing of creation care tips for congregations gives ideas on where the team could begin. Georgia Interfaith Power & Light has congregational guides on power, water, waste, and more. Responsible purchasing guides are available for a host of supplies. To focus specifically on energy, see the Becoming Carbon Positive manual for places of worship.
- Public Ministry/Advocacy: Use the Opportunities to Care for, Learn About, and Enjoy God’s Good Creation that is updated weekly (see upcoming opportunities link). Located near a body of water? Consider volunteering as citizen scientists to monitor water quality. Not near a body of water? There are other options for citizen science, such as bird counts. A quick online search will show local opportunities. Get plugged into advocacy opportunities related to creation offered by TX Impact. Consider joining them in hosting an interfaith prayer meet up on January 10 to discuss justice issues before the Texas legislature or join their Water Captains program.
To contact the synod Lutherans Restoring Creation Team for creation care assistance/information, write to Lisa Brenskelle.