I Love God’s Green Earth by Michael and Caroline Carroll

Image courtesy of tyndale.com

I Love God’s Green Earth is a three-month devotional for kids who want to connect their Christian faith to learning more about the world and how to care for it. The devotional offers ninety days of exploration of the creation and faith. Each day begins with a Bible verse and short devotional on the topic of the day. Daily connections link the devotional to personal faith and “What can I do?” gives examples of easy actions to take care of God’s creation. “Crazy facts” and jokes sprinkled throughout the devotion break up the serious topics.

A wide range of topics are covered including energy production, endangered animals, and creative solutions to recycling. In the first ten days, I was disappointed that many of the “What can I do?” sections recommended reflecting and “relaying” thoughts to God instead of specific actions that can be taken. However, after the early days, the book managed to find a balance of action and reflection in its recommendations. It also offered many websites for readers to learn more about topics they were of interest and take their own initiative in creating change. This section of the devotional also gives space for children to reflect and engage big conversations around creation care from nuclear power to endangered animals.

While it does not take as strong a stance on global warming as I would have liked, it recognizes the changing climate and acknowledges human influence on the changing climate. I was impressed by the range of topics it covered and pleased with the action suggestions. Though it was published in 2010, this book’s introductory approach to faith and care for creation has prevented it from becoming outdated. This is a wonderful resource for families and Sunday school leaders across Christian denominations. It can be purchased through most major retail sellers as well as the publisher’s website directly, which offers discounts for single and bulk purchases.

To visit the publisher’s website click here. For a 25 page excerpt of the devotional including the table of contents click here. A brief bio on author Caroline can be found here and one on Michael can be found here.

Grounded by Diana Butler Bass

Cover image courtesy of dianabutlerbass.com

Acclaimed public theologian, Diana Butler Bass’s 2015 book Grounded explores the connection of contemporary spirituality and nature. In opposition to many voices within the church who run in fear from the changing American spiritual landscape, Bass sees an invitation to participate in a spiritual revolution. Throughout the book, Bass deconstructs a vertical theology in which the divine is above and separate from humanity and the Earth and turns instead to an understanding of the divine’s immanence. She also recognizes the need for something stable in an age of change. She turns to the presence of the divine in dirt, water, and sky to find her own ground.

Bass recounts her conversation with a man who was a writer and farmer whose own experiences in close encounter with the ground had led him to a profound spirituality. In the chapter on water, Bass looks at current events and argues that water is vital to a flourishing spirituality. Bass gracefully reconciles the big bang theory with the book of Genesis in her chapter on sky.  For the second half of the book, Bass considers more specific structures of human experience, finding the presence of the divine in roots, home, neighborhood, commons, and revelation.

This book is a bridge from a disconnected church and culture to an Earth created in beauty. Bass’s utilization of memoir contextualizes her theological analysis making it remarkably accessible. For those questioning where to turn in an unstable spiritual time, Bass offers a hopeful perspective that uplifts a twenty-first century faith firmly rooted in human experience of the natural world. The ecumenical approach found in this book makes it a wonderful choice for book groups across Christian denominations.

To be directed to Diana Butler Bass’s website click here.

Grounded and Bass’s other works can be found on ebook or in print through Amazon, other major booksellers, and your favorite independent bookstore.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Picture courtesy jenhatmaker.com

Overwhelmed by the excess in her own life, Jen Hatmaker and her family set out on a project they called “Seven.” Highlighting seven areas of excess, they committed to living a little more simply every month. Originally published in 2011 and updated in 2017, has been utilized for book studies in many Christian faith communities. For those overwhelmed with the task of implementing creation care in their own lives, Hatmaker’s memoir tells of her family’s practical and faith inspired experiment. More information about Hatmaker’s project can be found on her blog.

Hatmaker’s book can be found here and through your favorite book retailer.

Evangelical Environmental Network: Resource Page

One book recommended by EEN. Image courtesy of creationcare.org.

The online resource page for the  Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) offers many helpful resources for clergy and lay persons looking to engage their faith with care of the environment.

This page gives introductory resources for those entering the conversation as well as practical implementation of creation care. Sermon starters and devotionals provide links for personal or community consideration of scripture and environment.  It also links to books recommended by the EEN in Creation Care, Food and Food Policy, National Parks and Public Lands, Sustainable Business, and Children’s books. This section of the page may be especially useful for those looking to do a book study in creation care.

Click here to be directed to the EEN’s resource page.

Mennonite Creation Care Network

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Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN) is a Christian organization affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA and Canada. They work to engage people with their peers and facilitate partnerships, gather and share faith-based resources, bring lessons learned by individual congregations to the broader community, and support each other in prayer. To read more about the MCCN, click here.

From the Smallest Seed

Picture courtesy of arocha.us

From the Smallest Seed is a project from A Rocha to connect faith, ecology, and songwriting. They have created two albums, From the Smallest Seed being the first volume, and Together in the Harvest being the second volume. These albums formed from a project held by the Nashville chapter of A Rocha where a group came together over ecology and songwriting. To purchase, or get a sneak peak of these albums click below.

Volume 1 : From the Smallest Seed

Volume 2: Together in the Harvest

Garden Manual

Picture courtesy arocha.us

A Rocha believes that a garden is a place to meet with the Lord and marvel at His miracles. It’s a place to love your neighbor, care for creation, and grow veggies. Gardening plays a prominent role in God’s plans by meeting needs and celebrating the bounty of God’s earth. They have created a manual for groups interested in growing gardens and blessing their communities. To read this guide, click here.

A Rocha Conservation and Hope

Picture courtesy of arocha.org

A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organization. They are an international organization that focuses on science and research, practical conservation, and environmental education. They are identified by five core commitments and to a practical outworking of each: Christianity, Conservation, Community, Cross-Cultural, and Cooperation. To view more about their mission and commitments, click here.

Young Evangelicals for Climate Action go to Germany

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The Young Evangelicals for Climate Action are going to COP 23, which is a framework convention on climate change in Bonn, Germany. This meeting will be the first time the world has gathered to implement the Paris Climate Agreement since the U.S. government announced its intention to withdraw. They are going to stand with those who are suffering, to bear witness to the church’s concern for God’s world, and to take action to respond to climate change with love and compassion. To read more or receive their daily email updates, click here.

Caring For Creation Pledge

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The Caring For Creation Pledge is a pledge created by the Evangelical Environmental Network. It states that a person will pledge to keep an open mind and speak up, to support a price on carbon, to acknowledge that climate change isn’t just a ‘liberal issue’, and to sign the Joseph Pledge.  To read in more detail and sign this pledge, click here.