Category: Earth Letter

Storytelling

To celebrate the beauty of the season's colorful transition and Earth Letter’s new design, we chose to center this issue around the theme of God's divine artistry reflected in the world around us and our response to this wonderful gift.

As summer approaches, we feel the desire to rest and renew, to draw in breaths of fresh air, to center ourselves and reconnect with God. To move us into that reflective place, we bring you an excerpt from Nancy Roth’s newest book, Grounded in Love, and a reflection by Clare Brauer-Rieke on I Thessalonians 5:16-19. Turan Kayaoglu offers praise for Christian churches providing shelter to Muslim communities in need of sacred places to pray. Marcus Borg reminds us to work for justice in the here and now. Lastly, Jessie Dye brings us an exclusive “behind the scenes” recap of how our Coal-Free Future for Washington bill became a law. We hope that this issue of Earth Letter refreshes and inspires you.

Spring in Seattle has been a welcome change from the storms and cold of last winter. Daytime temperatures now rise up into the forties and there are fewer rain showers. It is a time of rebirth and renewal, and, in that vein, this issue begins with a thoughtful essay “For Our Children” by Sarah Holmes. Spring also brings the Washington State Legislature back into session, in a time of national (and global) belt-tightening and economic uncertainty. Jessie Dye asks Chris Olson, a former Lutheran Volunteer Corps staffer at Earth Ministry, why he’s an environmental advocate.

This issue of Earth Letter comes as we move from 2010 to 2011. Even as the holidays draw near, Earth Ministry is as busy as ever. Our biggest event was the Sermon Contest featuring four remarkable preachers (see pages 8 and 9). Goings-On will give you a snapshot of the many activities and events Earth Ministry has sponsored this fall. Our Washington State Environmental Priorities give us a preview of the concerns we will promote at the State Legislature (joining with many other environmental organizations). LeeAnne Beres and Jessie Dye help us focus on the seriously detrimental impacts of burning coal as a fuel. College student David St. Charles shares his poetic vision of "where nature’s beauty meets the soul."

This Fall issue of Earth Letter has a three-article focus on sin and grace as revealed in our human interaction with the rest of creation. Earth Ministry staff member Clare Brauer-Rieke utilizes biblical and theological foundations to explore sin as human separation from creation and suggests opportunities for grace. Rev. Pamela Dolan uses the recent BP oil spill as an example of a human-made, disastrous sin. Finally, the United Methodist Women provide thoughtful points for consideration for avoiding environmental and racial sin in the planning of their national conferences. Their inspirational focus is a beacon for ways we too can move forward as empowered people of faith.

This issue features the role of youth and young adults (up to 25 years old) involved in environmental activism in a variety of settings. Some are from other countries, some are from other parts of the USA, and some are from Seattle. One is a poet whose poetry is included in a recent book by poet and author Naomi Shihab Nye: Time You Let Me In, containing the works of 25 poets under 25 years of age. In addition, there is an article by Kaitlin Torgerson, a former Lutheran Volunteer Corps staff member at Earth Ministry. Each year Earth Ministry is aided by having an LVC recent college graduate join our staff for a year of service – Kaitlin worked with us from 2007-2008. We hope that you are inspired by learning about the work of all of these inspirational young adults.

This issue begins with an enchanting article by Scott Russell Sanders. In Goings-On we highlight some of the many ways Earth Ministry has been active in the last few months. It is always good to know what the organization is doing with your support. Former Outreach Coordinator Chris Olson shares a small epiphany, one of those wonderful moments when God's creation is revealed in a particularly powerful way. This issue also shares an article by Peter Sawtell, who gives us strength for our journey of recognizing and supporting God's creation.

We begin this issue with a provocative sermon by Rick Ufford-Chase illumined by his long experiences with migrant worker immigration issues. In Goings-On we highlight the many actions that Earth Ministry has taken since our Autumn issue. Earth Ministry’s Board Chairman reviews our financial picture, and makes a suggestion for the coming year. The Saint Francis Sermon Contest participants are highlighted, and the winners (Rev. Anne Hall and Elizabeth Freese) share their sermons with us. Lastly, Jessie Dye presents the Washington State Environmental Priorities Coalition goals for 2010.

This issue of Earth Letter focuses on children and nature.There was a time in America’s past when most children played outside. There were nearby fields, streams, and forests to be explored. There were birds and wild animals to be seen, "forts" to be built, adventures to be had! Now with increasing urbanization and mushrooming of crowded suburbs, children’s exposure to natural habitats is much more limited. There are also increasing distractions from playing outside – television, electronic games, mountains of toys, structured children’s activity groups and daycare centers. In addition we seem to be building more crowded subdivisions, with small lots, few trees, and no open spaces. This leads to what Richard Louv has called "nature deficit disorder" – a lack of un-programmed exposure to a fuller spectrum of God’s Creation (see his article on page one.)

The financial problems begun on Wall Street have now impacted the world economy, from the Fortune 500 giants to small non-profits. Earth Ministry is one of those non-profits. This issue of Earth Letter presents several perspectives on our situation. Beyond Earth Ministry related articles, Desmond Tutu and James Leape present the current state of action to address global climate change, and the Union of Concerned Scientists discuss the economic and environmental impacts of factory farms. In our final article Bill McKibben comments on former Earth Ministry staff member Mike Schut’s latest book. All of these articles help focus our individual efforts as we each seek to build a just and sustainable future in these trying times.

This issue of Earth Letter has a focus on environmental responsibility, especially in our own backyard with articles from Earth Ministry's Chris Olson reviewing Rev. Nancy Roth's book, Organic Prayer: A Spiritual Gardening Companion, Earth Ministry's Beth Anderson on Pesticide Free Zones, and Marie Iannotti on Organic Gardening. On a totally different note Auden Schendler tells his engaging story of meaningfully addressing climate change – at, of all places, a world famous ski resort. He’s become an expert on addressing this central issue of our time. Those of us who care about God’s Earth need to take heed.

Taken as a whole, this issue presents a kaleidoscopic “view” of the emergence of recognizing the sacredness of God’s Creation in our time, and its call to us as we move into the future. We honor the finalists in Earth Ministry's first Celebration of St. Francis Creation Care Sermon Contest and present the sermons from the two winners. Jessie Dye gives a summary of the legislative priorities for 2009, Joan Chittister writes on the riches of interfaith experiences, and Cormac Cullinan discusses legal rights for nature.

This issue focuses on the 2008 presidential election. Many Americans see this election as particularly significant. They have significant concerns about peace, justice, and the integrity of Creation, and they understand that these three issues are inextricably interconnected. Additionally, articles on climate change and hunger give our readers round out this issue.

This issue invites our readers into some of the central eco-theological issues of our day from local organic food to climate change to biofuels. The lead article comes from an evangelical pastor who doesn't fit the stereotype of an evangelical but brings issues of poverty, hunger, and justice into sharp focus.