Creation Care

Our weather news recently has been dominated by coverage of the destruction caused by hurricanes especially Hurricane Ian, but also others. Prior to that, the weather news was dominated by the drought in the southwest and the expanding water crisis in that region. And that’s just in the US.

Weather scientists agree that the increased frequency and severity of these and other ‘angry weather’ storms, or lack of rain and snow, is a result of climate change that is warming the atmosphere and causing these changes in comfortable weather patterns. While we, in our area, have been blessed to be relatively unscathed by these most recent events, we all know people who have suffered devastating losses, perhaps including loved ones. Our first response is to pray and to make donations to organizations like Mission Central or UMCOR, the United Committee on Relief, who send help in a variety of ways. It is now time for us to seriously consider what we can do, individually and corporately, as a congregation and community to stem the use of fossil fuels as well as other practices that are contributing factors to climate change.

Here are a couple of suggestions you might consider:
Now that fall is here and the temperatures are falling, see if you can survive by lowering your home’s temperature a few degrees and wear more layers. Also, go after those sneaky leaky windows and doors: get a caulking gun and hunt for gaps to fill or ask a neighbor to help you.

Election Day is coming soon: As the election season heats up, remember that the planet is heating up, and find out where candidates stand on dealing with climate change and the injustices done to so many people. And Vote Your Values!

Holiday shopping season is fast approaching: do your best to shop and buy products manufactured by companies that are kind to Mother Earth. When grocery shopping, continue to use reusable bags rather than plastic; and use mesh bags for produce, or just get the amount you need without bagging it.

If you can, plant some perennials: they are good for pollinators, for withstanding drought, and for saving money.

Finally, use washable cups or travel mugs rather than Styrofoam: manufacturing just one Styrofoam cup demands 10 times the amount of the water used to wash just one reusable cup/mug.

Jesus told us that we are to care for the “Least of these who are member of [Christ’s] family (Matthew 25:40). Working to ameliorate
climate change recognizes that people Jesus described, those with few resources or connections, will suffer the most

Be sure to check out this article in our full November 2022 newsletter - Click Here!