Happy Earth Day!

April 22nd is the day our secular society has set aside to celebrate this amazing planet we call home.  As people of faith, we believe this place to be God’s good creation of which we have been entrusted to be good stewards.  It is our God-given duty to treat the earth with respect and for the well-fare of all.  To that end, the Anglican Consultative Council, when they developed the “5 Marks of Mission” as a benchmark for engaging in God’s work in the world, made the 5th mark: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
I believe we humans need to hold ourselves accountable for the way we live life and how our actions affect our environment.  We are kidding ourselves if we believe what we do has no effect.  In fact, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, has gone on record to say that those who deny climate change are immoral.  You can see the video of her keynote address of a climate change crisis conference held in March here .
If you would like ideas of how to respond to living into Mark 5 in your daily life, there are practical ideas for you and your family to follow for 30 days here.
While it might seem trite, I agree with the statement that “we don’t inherit the earth from our parents; we borrow it from our children.” To ensure the well-being of the earth for generations to come, we need to be diligent in caring for the earth today.  It is a sacred duty, not just a humanitarian one. 
Happy Easter,

Rev. Valerie+

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