sacredness of creation

Tag: sacredness of creation

Climate Resources for Online Reunions

Posted on May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 by GPNW2020

Submitted by Susan Oxley, North American Climate Justice Team

The North American Climate Justice Team of Community of Christ has created two engagement sessions for online reunions to offer participants in the Sacredness of Creation and concerns over Climate Change. Each is designed to be a stand-alone hour-long session. Here are summaries of the content, and contact information is provided at the end of each summary.

Spiritual Formation/Worship/Discussion session: “Creation is Sacred”

The North American Climate Justice Team of Community of Christ has created a spiritual formation session utilizing prayer and lectio divina to explore the Sacredness of Creation and God’s call for a prophetic community to emerge to bring peace on and for the earth.

This session is flexible and can be adapted to a variety of purposes. It can be used as an alternative to a prayer and testimony service, or a teen/adult class. If you add some music, it functions as a worship service. It includes a breakout session for sharing. The plan can be implemented easily by a local member of the reunion staff, or you can request the assistance of the North American Climate Justice Team in leading it. It’s designed to last 60-70 minutes. If you are interested in receiving the instructions and outline for this session, please contact: Joan Thompson, joantcanuck@hotmail.com or Rod Downing, rdowning94@shaw.ca.

Class Session on Climate Change

In Community of Christ history, we honor the Zionic ideal of community over isolated individualism. The hour-long reunion class created by the North American Climate Justice Team of the Community of Christ challenges participants to embrace a community-oriented perspective in responding to climate change. The class includes a TED talk that explores how all of us tend to deny and avoid climate issues, and ties denial to the Christian story of the Apostle Peter. The transformation from denial through fear to Christian community and perseverance provides a template for facing the multiple crises threatening our world today.

This class can be used as part of a morning class, an enrichment experience for afternoon chats, an option for evening discussion, or an exploration in a post-reunion setting. The stand-alone class outline and instructions can be implemented by a local member of the reunion staff, or you can request the assistance of the North American Climate Justice Team in leading it. It’s designed for 60 minutes, and includes 1-2 breakout sessions. If you are interested in receiving the instructions and outline for this session, please contact: Dean and Susi Wight, deantw@aol.com and sewwight@aol.com

Sacredness of Creation: Conversation #4

Posted on October 16, 2020October 16, 2020 by GPNW2020

Hope for a New Creation: Building a Bridge to the Future

Come join us in the fourth conversation about the Sacredness of Creation as we acknowledge the evidence of creation increasingly out of balance. Share your hope for the future and the evidence of God’s activity even when creation is unraveling in climate crisis. Invite your friends to join as well. All sessions are free. Participation in previous conversations in the series is not necessary to join in this opportunity.

LOOKING AHEAD: Phase II of our series begins with a Sunday webinar “The Unraveling of God’s Sacred Creation” with Dr. Richard Gammon on November 15, 2pm PT, 3pm MT, 4pm CT, 5pm ET. Dr. Gammon will be sharing with us scientific data underlying the concerns about climate crisis, and the projections resulting from that data. Dr. Gammon was among the scientists who drafted the first UN report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He brings both expertise and experience to his 1 ½ hour presentation at our webinar. You won’t want to miss it! Our conversation sessions later in November will provide opportunities to discuss the ideas Dr. Gammon presents.

During the winter of 2020 and 2021, there will be six more conversations/presentations, each building on a webinar by a qualified presenter. We will explore the unraveling of God’s sacred creation, the re-weaving of the web of life, climate change and the Community of Christ, and lifestyle practices that foster hope. Dates for these subsequent conversations will be publicized in your mission center news briefs and on the website below. Watch for them!

What: “Hope for a New Creation: Building a Bridge to the Future”

When: Thursday, October 22, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PDT

and Sunday, October 25, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm PDT

Where: Online Ministry

To connect to “Hope For a New Creation: Building a Bridge to the Future,” please register at https://www.cofchristclimatejustice.org.

Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link a few days before each session of the series.

Download Flyer.

Sacredness of Creation is an online ministry sponsored by the Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center for Community of Christ. The North American Climate Justice Team includes members from GPNWMC, Canada East, Canada West, Inland West, Sierra Pacific Mission Center, and Southwest Pacific International Mission Center.

Sacredness of Creation: Join the Conversation

Posted on September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 by GPNW2020

Notice, Gaze, Cherish, Bless: Holy Attention to Awaken Our Hearts

Come join us in the third conversation about the Sacredness of Creation as we practice noticing and cherishing nature in its beauty, and as we acknowledge the evidence of creation increasingly out of balance. Share your story of intentional moments you have noticed and gazed upon the sacredness of creation. Share your awareness of the need to courageously “gaze even here,” at the devastation humans have caused to the planet. Invite your friends to join as well. All sessions are free. Participation in previous conversations in the series is not necessary to join in this opportunity.

Further conversations in our Phase one series will include “Hope for a New Creation,” during the month of October. In addition, President Steve Veazey will join us for worship on October 11, to share a special message about the climate crises we face and our response as a faith community.

During the winter of 2020 and 2021, there will be six more conversations/presentations, which will constitute Phase Two. We will explore the unraveling of God’s sacred creation, the re-weaving of the web of life, climate change and the Community of Christ, and lifestyle practices that foster hope. Dates for these subsequent conversations will be publicized in your mission center news briefs and on the website below. Watch for them!

When: Sunday, September 20, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm PDT and Thursday, September 24, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PDT

Where: Online Ministry

To connect to “Notice, Gaze, Cherish, Bless: Holy Attention to Awaken Our Hearts,” please register at https://www.cofchristclimatejustice.org.

Once registered, you will be sent a Zoom link a few days before each session of the series.

Download our Flyer.