Columbus Diocese 150th Anniversary Tree Planting

Picture courtesy of columbuscatholic.org

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Diocese of Columbus, they are encouraging all parishes to plant at least one tree in recognition of the historic milestone. The commitment should be done before April 22nd, Earth Day, when Bishop Cambpell will celebrate Mass to recognize the anniversary. The Diocese is also offering a Blessing of a Tree that can be downloaded. To make the Tree Planting Commitment or download the Blessing of a Tree, click here.

Religion and Environment Songs: Ones and Zeros by Jack Johnson

Picture courtesy of jackjohnsonmusic.com

Song Picks by Natalie

Ones and Zeros is song by Jack Johnson that starts out by saying,

“There’s a black hole pulling me in
I slowly bend until I see the back of my own sins
I stole my soul from myself now I wonder”

I believe that he is referring to being sucked into a state of oblivion and not even realizing what is a sin and what is not. At this point, man is no longer himself. He then says,

“In the future we’ll be laughing at who we were right now
As man plays god with the land that he plunders”

“To the one unknown no one can know nor see
That’s resistant to greed
If we listen to time after time, time can never go under”

Here I think he starts out by saying that when future generations look back, they will laugh at how man treated the land. People in the future will see how absurd it is that man tried to play God and take control of the land. I believe he is then referring to people ignoring God. He is referring to God by saying “the one unknown no one can know nor see” and that if people listen to Him, we can never go under.

He makes several other references to people being oblivious and ignoring the problems of the planet.

“Into a world of boys and girls
Are holding their handheld devices
While they’re eating and they’re sleeping
And they’re dreaming of the prices
We’ll be paying down the line
When the ice melts maybe it will turn to wine”

“And a lot of people like to have a feast
Not so many could stomach the killing”

At the end he says,

“Lot of traffic on the streets, so who’s really doing all the drilling
Keep on filling what can never be full”

I believe he is saying that people must take responsibility for our actions. We are the ones constantly wanting more and never being satisfied with what we have already been blessed with. We can never be content and that is the true problem.

To read the lyrics, click here.

To listen to the song, click here.

God’s Creation, Our Health: Taking Action Together

Picture courtesy of pcusa.org

God’s Creation, Our Health: Taking Action Together is a study from Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to engage older children in discipleship. The author, Mike Poteet, aims to teach about celebrating God’s gifts of the natural world, as well as God’s calling of human beings to be caretakers of it. There are four sessions: Caring for God’s Good Creation, Sustaining a Healthy Creation, Learning from La Oroya, and Working for Change. To read more, click here.

Presbyterian Eco Stewards

Presbyterians for Earth Care

Picture courtesy of presbyearthcare.org

The Eco–Stewards are a grassroots community that shapes young adult leaders through place-based experiences that connect faith and the environment. Each year, the Eco-Stewards program invites young adults to immerse themselves in a particular place to study an environmental theme. In 2018, the program will be held in Hawaii and is called Aloha ‘Aina, which means love of the earth. To read more or apply for the 2018 program, click here.

Religious Declaration of Ocean Emergency

Picture courtesy of interfaithoceans.org

This declaration from Interfaith Oceans discusses what is happening with the earth’s oceans and why people of faith must act to make people more aware and to change their ways toward more caring products and actions.

“There comes a time when people of various faith traditions need to declare together the truth of the destruction and injustice happening right before our eyes. And to work to stop it. That time is now.”

To read the entire declaration, click here.

Interfaith Oceans: Rising Seas, Storms, and Refugees

Picture courtesy of interfaithoceans.org

As polar sea ice melts, the ocean water rises and people all around the world are being overwhelmed by higher tides and storm surges. As 40% of people live near a coast, Interfaith Oceans believes that people must start to gradually eliminate their contributions to climate change, turn to alternative forms of energy, protect and plant trees, help coastal communities prepare, and welcome refugees. To read more about rising sea levels and refugees, click here.

“A rise in the sea level…can create extremely serious situations, if we consider that a quarter of the world’s population lives on the coast or nearby, and that the majority of our megacities are situated in coastal areas. . . .”

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home

Presbyterians for Earth Care

Presbyterians for Earth Care

Picture courtesy of presbyearthcare.org

Presbyterians for Earth Care, formerly Presbyterians for Restoring Creation, is a national eco-justice network that cares for God’s creation by connecting, equipping, and inspiring Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church. To read or download their brochure, click here.

Interfaith Oceans Strategic Plan

Picture courtesy of interfaithoceans.org

Interfaith Oceans has a plan for people of faith and science to join in caring for beautiful, stable, diverse oceans, and coastal communities. This plan includes their mission, priorities, ethics, approaches, and values. To read their entire plan, click here.

Interfaith Oceans

Picture courtesy of interfaithoceans.org

Interfaith Oceans is an organization that protects ocean systems and species, people, and cultures through faith and working together. The oceans support all of life on land with oxygen, food, weather, livelihoods, and beauty. Yet, ocean systems are being degraded by pollution and overuse. Interfaith Oceans believe that the voices of faith and science must work together to help protect and restore ocean communities. To read more, click here.