Love God/Love Creation. Our Lenten journey this year invites us to examine and re-examine our commitment to be faithful and passionate stewards of God’s creation. The challenge to each of us is put succinctly by essayist Wendell Berry: “If God loves the world, then how might any person of faith be excused for not loving it or be justified in destroying it?”

How, indeed?! The environmental crisis, or creation crisis as we might put it, is at heart a spiritual crisis. As one young adult, a high school science teacher and United Methodist, reflected: “Answering to God about what has happened to God’s creation should put most Christians, me included, into a spiritual crisis.”

Throughout Lent this year, we walk with Jesus from the wilderness to the Tree of Life and deep into the darkness of the earth towards the brilliant light of Easter morn. The worship and music of the church offer us space to listen and reflect. The art in the Fireside Room, titled “KNOW, LOVE, DO–Changing Nature and Us,” provides much to celebrate and ponder. The Blessing of the Bicycles on Palm Sunday and taking stock of the environmentally-sensitive practices we have in place here at the church inspire
us to go farther along the path of responsible living. Our new sign board out front invites passers-by to add their own word of testimony and hope for a healed creation. A new meal-time grace shared around our family tables in our congregation and Preschool families gives us pause each day to live as grateful stewards.

Our April Book Study author, UM Sharon Delgado, writes: “Love makes this possible…the experience of God’s love for us enables us to face the reality of climate change and our love of God and neighbor can motivate us to compassionate action as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.” For as the old hymn puts it: “Dear to God is the earth Christ trod. No place but is holy ground.”

Let’s walk this walk with the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.