Sunday, September 4
- 9:30am Hybrid Worship (Civic Center and Zoom; contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Speaker: Anne
- Communion, but no potluck (see below for the good reason)
- 11:00am Invitation to Worship and Harvest in Creation with families from the Cool Learning Experience
- Worship
- Pizza and apple lunch followed by apple harvesting
- Gather on the Edible Landscape across from Linda’s home
- Please RSVP to Anne
Tuesday, September 6
- 7:00pm Action/Reflection Creation Care (ARCC) meeting (see Announcement below)
Thursday, September 8
- 7:00pm Bible Study on Revelation led by Shane (contact Anne for details on how to join)
Sunday, September 11
- 9:30am Zoom Worship (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Speaker: Suzanne will continue her series on Ezekiel
- 10:30am Sermon discussion
Our next Action-Reflection Creation Care meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 at 7pm. Please click on the following link to see the agenda:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-XSv39G3f6LgYV7qNPAzxcgjmBY3ptgo4hYI9B38ysQ/edit?usp=sharing
The zoom link for the meeting is included in the agenda document. Email Janelle if you wish to add more items to the agenda.
Mennonite World Conference has proposed changes to its “fair share” funding system that will impact Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) constituents. These proposed changes include an increase in the assessment of MC USA’s fair share per person and no longer crediting denominations for direct donations from individuals. Read more about the changes here: mennoniteusa.org/news/mwc-funding
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a 49-year precedent that protected the freedom to have an abortion. Glen Guyton, the executive director of MC USA, answers the question, “How should we respond?” in his blog “Abortion and the third way” here: mennoniteusa.org/abortion-third-way
Jeryl Hollinger, the pastor of Mountain View Mennonite Church in Kalispell, Montana, participated in the Special Session of the Delegate Assembly in May. In his blog, “A more vibrant garden,” he encourages the members of Mennonite Church USA to keep learning, listening and communicating honestly with one another. Read his encouraging words here: mennoniteusa.org/more-vibrant-garden
Please pray for those leading and participating in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference Annual Fall Gathering on Sept. 9 and 10. May God bless their time together.
–from Creation Justice Tips | United Methodist Church
Be Blessed by God’s Creation
Often a bit cooler, September is a good time to get outdoors. Find a trail to explore. Walk early morning or at dusk to see what critters might be about also. Find a high place with a view. Soak up the beauty and fresh air. Arrange for a slow boat of some type for a lazy trip on the water with an eye toward seeing the inhabitants. After dark find a place where the stars are bright. Allow God’s creation to bless you.
It’s Tree Planting Season
Trees produce oxygen, clean and cool the air, and absorb carbon dioxide, lessening the effects of burning fossil fuels. Assess your space at home and at church for new trees. The earth needs us to plant more! Tree planting season is optimum September through March.
–from 10 Steps You Can Take to Lower Your Carbon Footprint | Washington Post
Protect Our Forests
A truck carrying old-growth trees that were recently cut drives through the Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)
Engaging with on-the-ground organizations as well as the policy process are a couple of ways that experts suggest individuals can encourage protection of the nation’s old-growth forests.
There are a number of groups that aim to help protect forests and old-growth trees. Joan Maloof, founder of the nonprofit Old-Growth Forest Network, said land trusts often buy and conserve land, and that the Land Trust Alliance runs findalandtrust.com to help connect people to organizations close to them.
“There are a lot of local organizations that speak out for their old-growth forest, too,” Maloof said. Nationally, she said there was a dearth of organizations advocating specifically for forest protection, which is why she started the Old-Growth Forest Network. But there are groups that have broader forest interests, such as promoting tree-planting and other restoration initiatives, including the Arbor Day Foundation and American Forests.
MCC Thrifty 50 Challenge
Do you want to help our planet but aren’t sure where to start? MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Thrift is celebrating their 50th anniversary by issuing 50 challenges to help us be more equipped to care for our planet. We’ll include one challenge each week for the next 50 weeks.
Week 13 | Eco-friendly paper products in your bathroom
Kitchen Tip of the Week
Try composting. Once you’ve consumed and repurposed all that you can, a certain amount of food and related products still need to be disposed of. That’s where composting comes in. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.” If you’re not ready to start your own pile at home, store compostable material in the fridge or freezer to avoid odors and insects before taking it to your local farmers market, community garden or other composting site.
A little bit of humor from actual church signs, courtesy of Jim—
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?