Lately in St Paul’s Morning Prayer on Zoom, we have been reflecting on readings that highlight faith and works. During this Season of Creation It’s especially fitting that this biblical combination grabs our attention.
When we accept the words in Genesis, “God saw all that He made, and it was very good*,” when we have faith in those words of God, those words that are from God, our response could be to just leave it at that: nice words, a comforting thought. Or, as the members of the body of Christ, we can incorporate those words, and do more. We can take action to ensure that all that God has made – our natural world and all that is in it – can be respected and cared for. That includes people, yes. It also includes our sentient neighbors: animals, and even plants and minerals, especially as we are learning more about the richness of ecological communities.
So to care for God’s good creation, we are called to love, first and foremost. And if we love God and God’s creation, then we try to avoid harm. We do that when we look at our lifestyles and assess how they can contribute to care: when we use less energy; advocate for policies that house the unsheltered; bank with financial institutions that do not finance fossil fuel extraction and production; support laws that reduce species extinction. The list goes on.
The climate crisis is so complex that we often feel there’s not much we as individuals can do. When we choose love, much follows that can lead us to choose life over destruction. Thanks to free will from our gracious God, we can make a choice. It is said that when we decide not to make a choice, we still choose. How will you choose?
As the Season of Creation continues, we are blessed with worship that helps us examine our choices through the gift of faith and works. In addition to this Homecoming Sunday’s service, next week we have two additional worship opportunities:
- Contemplative Prayer: Connecting with Creation, Zoom, Thursday, 9/14, 5:30 – 7 pm; Register lulu2parsons@gmail.com
- Contemporary Courtyard Service on Creation, Thursday, 9/14 and 9/28, 6-7:00 pm, St. Paul’s Cathedral
To examine our climate grief, which can find healing in community:
- Climate Trauma Interfaith Workshop, Saturday, 9/23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, St Dunstan’s, For more info: Register here
On September 24, our 9 am Adult Forum will feature members of Simpler Living with A Faithful Call to Defund Fossil Fuelishness, in the Guild Room.
And on September 30, we are invited to connect with nature through direct experience with Fr. Brian Petersen, rector of the new St Brigid’s Church without walls in Oceanside, a Chaparral Chapel Walk at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 9:45 am to noon; pastor@holycrosscarlsbad.org
We are blessed with opportunities: the choice is ours!
Diane Lopez Hughes
Simpler Living Chair
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*Genesis 1:31
