This morning as I finish packing for Durban, South Africa, where the United Nations climate talks will take place over the next two weeks, I’m cherishing the encouraging words in a message from one of our United Church ministers:
I’m travelling to Epiphany Explorations today, thinking about Epiphany as a season for renewing our response to Christ’s call, and encouraging one another in our respective responses to Christ’s call.
This week’s General Council Executive meeting unanimously decided that the work of the General Council Office will be focused on supporting denominational identity and connection. (Read more about these decisions on the United Church website.)
In the days since our meeting, I’ve been blessed by events and conversations that have reminded me of core strands in our denominational DNA—our identity.
You already know about my admiration for Haitians and their strength of Spirit. You can also imagine how the challenges facing Haitians have been lying heavily on my heart since returning from our visit with partners there.
Mary Ann Hodge, the Chair of the Environment Committee of First-St. Andrew’s United Church of London, Ontario, was kind enough to send along her news release this week describing how they at First-St. Andrew’s have taken up the Moderator’s challenge. In their words, they have
Below is my response to my colleague, Bruce Sanguine, as part of an on-going email exchange within Vancouver Burrard Presbytery. I'd be interested in other's responses.
Welcome to my blog — a place to reflect with me on God's healing of soul, community, and creation. I hope you will visit often and be part of this sacred conversation.
My first official stop as Moderator was on the beach at Naramata Centre on Wednesday, August 19. Within a cathedral of light reflected by earth, lake, and sky, the community gathered for worship. Lake Okanagan was at my back as I donned the moderatorial stole for the first time since the installation service. As I draped it over my shoulders, the fringe of the stole touched the sand at my feet. My immediate reaction was to gasp and blurt out to the crowd “Oops—don’t tell anyone it touched the ground!”
Since I moved back to the city, I am dismayed to find no green bin at my apartment building to recyle organic waste. I have lots of apple cores, carrot tops, coffee grounds etc. that just go to the landfill.
After some initial revulsion, I am looking at the idea of turning that stuff into compost for my planters by starting my own worm farm. I don't have much of an issure with the bin outside, but worms need to be warm during the winter, meaning I'd need to coexist with them in my living quarters.
The definition of "a common anthropology" is "the understanding of who we human beings are and where we fit into the scheme of things". The author (Sallie McFague) AFAIMC points to an ecological lifestyle, which in turn means that we should begin to switch from an individualistic world-view to a communitarian world-view.
The current book the Westminster bookclub is reading and studying is the book "A new Climate for Theology" by retired Prof Sallie McFague.
