Praying for Creation
October 24, 2008
I’ve recently become involved in Renewal: Students Caring for Creation. These are students and recent grads who have a heart and love for all that God has made. The mission of the Renewal network is “to inspire and equip the student generation to lead its communities with justice and compassion in Christ-centered stewardship of all of God’s creation.” It’s a beautiful vision and one that I think will have a tremendous impact in the days ahead.
One of Renewal’s first activities is a Day of Prayer for Creation Care. These students are calling on the entire creation care community to set aside October 29, 2008 as a national day of prayer. They are asking all of us to pray for the church’s stewardship of creation, for our own repentance from callousness towards creation, and for the renewal and wisdom from God to walk boldly in the light of the Lord on this matter. So gather, fellowship, and worship the Lord Jesus on October 29th and pray for the renewal of all that he has made.
Below is my contribution. You can find out more at
http://www.renewingcreation.
Praying for Creation
Father, we come before you as your children. We come to repent for our poor stewardship of creation. Lord we know that in our materialistic age that we abuse all that you have made, particularly your creation. Though you have given us Christ, in this present age we poorly reflect your intent when it comes to creation care.
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have neglected your truth, we have turned from your ways, and we have abused your creation. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Father help us to have discernment to understand the times that we live in. Give us, and indeed all peoples who call upon the name of your Son Jesus Christ, wisdom to care for what they have been entrusted with. Help us to steward creation in such a way that all might come to know you and glorify your Son.
Lord we ask that you would empower this generation with your spirit to boldly be who you are calling us to be. Help us to lead with your heart for creation. Help your servants, especially our present leadership, to more truly reflect your will in the church.
Father your word says that the Creation eagerly waits with anticipation for the children of God to be revealed. Your word says that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. Father your word speaks of the hope, reconciliation, and peace of Jesus Christ for the whole of creation. Lord we long for your scripture to be fulfilled! We long for our own freedom from sin, corruption, and decay. We long to live in such a way that we might walk with you in humility and truth. We long to be instruments of your reconciliation to all creation.
Father may our prayers be added to the groans of creation as we call upon your Son Jesus Christ to be our wisdom and shield of protection. Help our work in creation care to bring us and all peoples closer to you.
Amen.
Alexei Laushkin, a graduate from Claremont McKenna College, works for the Evangelical Environmental Network. He and his wife live in Alexandria, VA.
The Joy of Bees
October 20, 2008
by Margie Haack, from Creation Care Issue 35, Spring 2008
A long time ago when our children were young and we lived in Albuquerque, Denis traveled a lot. The reason I mention he traveled a lot is because when he was out of town there was some kind of cosmic balance that shifted and it did nothing to favor me. Thus trips to the ER, little fires in the kitchen, escaped animals, and most annoyingly, the times when our bees swarmed, happened when he was gone and I was left to deal. It was easy to imagine him in El Paso drinking Corona, eating chili rellenos someone else labored to make, and having lively conversations with students and staff about theology and culture while I tried to capture bees from the yard of a neighbor who was calling the police and demanding I be arrested.
It was a time in our lives when we were determined to live simply, become urban farmers, and eat healthy. (I admit tanning rabbit hides in the garage didn’t work. Just five minutes at midday was hot enough to give a lizard heatstroke. My dreams of stitching rabbit hides into mittens, slippers, and rugs perished when the hides rotted with such ferocity the odor would have killed a dung beetle.) In all the books I read no one mentioned any of this would be difficult or dangerous. Read more
The Restoration of All Things
May 7, 2008
Greg Pitchford is a fisheries biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He lives in Chillicothe, Missouri with his wife Donna and daughters Abbey, Anna, and Rebecca.
This post originally appeared in Creation Care magazine, issue 35 (Spring 2008).
I recently lectured at a university about an ecological restoration project on a stream I am working on. It was not one of my better performances. I spoke about the elements of biological integrity (water quality, physical habitat, biotic interactions, flow regime, and energy sources) and how the stream was compromised in all five areas. I told them that any restoration efforts that did not address all five areas would not achieve a balanced, diverse community that reflected what was historically there. The longer I spoke, the more depressed I became. After the talk, though I was with some of the best and brightest of the next generation, I could sense frustration and cynicism. Read more
