Month: November 2017

Freedom for Your Children’s Health

Picture courtesy of creationcare.org

The Evangelical Environmental Network created a resource about fossil fuels and their connection to the health of children. The post discusses how one in three children suffer from one of the four “A” diseases: asthma, autism, ADHD, and severe allergies. Leading medical Christian doctors and researches are now linking it to the consumption of fossil fuels. The danger can come from plastics, fuel for transportation, electricity consumption, or home and body care with harmful chemicals. To read more on this topic, click here.

MOPS & MOMS Support Material

Picture courtesy of creationcare.org

MOPS are organizations run by mothers of preschoolers, for mothers of preschoolers. The Evangelical Environmental Network created a resource for busy MOPS and MOMS. It contains information to help spark ideas and share the message of caring for God’s Creation. They have provided guides on children’s health, air pollution, and food waste. To read more, click here.

Religion and Environment Songs: Medicine by Rising Appalachia

Picture courtesy of risingappalachia.com

Song Picks by Natalie

Medicine is a song by Rising Appalachia. The song is describing the medicine that is found all around us. I believe that they are describing nature, religion, and music and their healing possibilities.

“Remedies are bountiful and surround us                                                                                                                                                                                              from the garden to the farthest prayers made of star dust                                                                                                                                                                          find your healing in the music that calls”

I believe that these lyrics are talking about ways to heal outside of traditional medicine. They are talking about “the garden” which is nature, and then they say “to the farthest prayers made of star dust,” which I believe is them saying to find remedy in the deity you pray to. When they say “find your healing in the music that calls,” I believe they are saying to find your healing in whatever speaks to you. I interpret the word “music” as the belief, whether it be nature or religion, that heals your mind.

To hear the song click here.

To read the lyrics click here.

Columbus Church Earns Green Spot and Energy Star Certification

Picture courtesy of energystar.gov

The First English Lutheran church in Columbus created a Green Team to measure their energy use and carbon footprint. They took those numbers and applied to become a Columbus Green Spot and was soon after awarded the certification. Soon after, they replaced their gas furnace with a highly efficient one and became the first congregation in Ohio to earn the Energy Star Certification. To read more about the First English Lutheran church in Columbus, click here.

Going Green: A Matter of Faith for Ohio Churches

Picture courtesy publicnewsservice.org

First Presbyterian Church of Athens was recognized for its energy-efficiency efforts in the EPA’s 2013 Energy Star National Building Competition. They reduced their energy usage by 20% and prevented an estimated 9.2 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. To read more about their work, click here.

Christians Rally in Support of Refugees and Acknowledge the Cause

Picture courtesy of sojo.net

This article discusses the relation of climate change and refugees. The author argues that as the U.S ignores climate change, and countries like Australia ignore their agreement of climate change decisions, the climate continues to warm and force people to move. Christians urge people to love their neighbors and help the church to create a climate of justice. To read more, click here.

A Climate of Justice

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A Climate of Justice is a book that focuses on loving your neighbor in a warming world. It discusses the importance of Christians reflecting God’s character by working towards climate justice around the world. To view a summary of the book, or buy it, click here.

Blessed Tomorrow: Craft Your Story and Create Your Mission

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blessedtomorrow.org

Craft Your Story and Create Your Mission is an initiative from Blessed Tomorrow to help people with their creation care journey. It gives advice on how to tell your story and craft a creation care mission statement. To read the entire article, click here.

Pope Francis on Humanity and Climate Change

Picture courtesy of sojo.net

Pope Francis stated that the recent amount of natural disasters should prompt people to understand that humanity will “go down” if it does not address climate change. When asked about the Paris Agreement and the U.S’s decision to withdraw he commented, “All of us have a responsibility, all of us, small or large, a moral responsibility. We have to take it seriously. We can’t joke about it,” he said. “Each person has their own. Even politicians have their own.” To read the entire article, click here.

A Hymn for Hurricane Relief

Picture courtesy of sojo.net

This article from Sojourners magazine provides a hymn written in response to the recent severe storms. Titled, “O God, We’ve Prayed in Wind and Rain,” describes the prayers that have been said for those suffering from hurricanes in the U.S to devastating flooding in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. To view or download this hymn click here.