Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)
The author of John's first epistle sums it up so succinctly; we are God's beloved children. I wonder though if we often forget the profound meaning of that truth. God's Grace should invoke righteously compassionate responses from us. I also wonder if in the midst of our forgetfulness we lose sight of the fact that we live on a planet where God's love is ever-present and ever-available but not necessarily sustainable if we keep consuming natural resources the way that we do. Are we taking too much for granted these days?
This coming Sunday is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. In that time, I believe that I've observed more, rather than less human-driven destruction of Mother Earth. Earth Day should be more than just an annual reminder to recycle plastic bottles and aluminum soft drink cans. Clearly, we as people of faith and citizens of the most prosperous but most "needy" nation of this world should better understand and respond to our responsibilities as God's beloved people.
The Interfaith Moral Action on Climate Team invites us to "hold forth a brighter vision for our human future within the community of creation as we seek commitment to a set of clear, widely held moral principles." You can read more about their call to action here.
St. James has taken some steps to reduce its carbon footprint through the reduction of energy expenditures and the recent improvement of the parish's heating and cooling systems. We've also become more intentional about recycling paper and other recyclables. There's certainly more that we can do and its my sense that there are leaders in our midst who are willing to guide us as a Christian community toward becoming more aware of how we can make life more sustainable close to home and across the globe.
 The Rev. Jane Gerdsen, Fresh Expressions missioner, will join us in Word, Worship, and Sacrament as we celebrate Earth Day this Sunday. She will also offer us a brief overview of her work here in the diocese at the beginning of Coffee Hour. So, join us as we live into our common and sacred lives as God's beloved children. Till then, turn off the lights when you don't need them. Let us commit ourselves to becoming more aware of how we may best serve God as we save the planet that God has lovingly given to us to care for in our time.
Blessings Along The Way, Jim+
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