2010 Celebration of St. Francis: Creation Care Sermon Contest

Finalists: Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Minister S. Emmanuel Epps, Rev. John Helmiere, and Rev. Doug Bland

On October 2, 2010, over 100 members and friends of Earth Ministry celebrated the Feast of St. Francis with a celebratory evening of worship featuring a sermon contest at Olympic View Community Church.  In this year's contest, four finalists were selected to present their inspired messages calling the Christian community to action on behalf of God's good creation.  Each sermon presented was unique and provided a different perspective on the ways we can be called to care for creation through our faith traditions.  We all appreciated their words and took them to heart.

The winners of this year's sermon contest were selected by the attendees of the event who voted with their dollars.  Two awards were presented, the Franciscan Philanthropist Award, to the contestant whose sermon raised the most money in support of Earth Ministry's work and mission, and the People's Choice Award, to the contestant who received the most number of votes regardless of the amount of money donated. The two winning sermons will be published in the Winter Issue of Earth Letter and all four sermons can be read by clicking on the links below.

Congratulations to

Rev. John Helmiere,
winner of the Franciscan Philanthropist Award,

and

Minister S. Emmanuel Epps,
winner of the People's Choice Award! 

I Worship the Author of the Horrendous Space Kablooie* by Rev. John Helmiere, Seattle, WA *Winner of the Franciscan Philanthropist Award

Earth's Answer to a Curious Journey* by Minister S. Emmanuel Epps, Brooklyn, NY *Winner of the People's Choice Award

Grappling Green by Rev. Doug Bland, Tempe, AZ

When a Leaf Needs to Speak by Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Northampton, MA

Thank you to each of our participants for sharing your insightful and thought-provoking creation care sermons!

We were blessed that all four of them could join us to honor the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. And many thanks to all who entered the contest this year.  The judges had a difficult time narrowing their choices to just four finalists and the final votes were very close as the audience determined the winners.

In addition to the sermon contest, the Olympic View choir provided beautiful creation-themed music for the evening and thirty-eight Greening Congregations were recognized and blessed in their good work. 

While the votes were being tallied from the sermon contest, those gathered viewed the touching film, "Covenant," which is available for check-out through Earth Ministry's resource library.

Thanks to all who attended and supported Earth Ministry. We raised over $7000 in support of religious environmental stewardship!