Special to United Methodist Insight | April 28, 2026
Uncommon care
for our common green spaces—
national, state, city, neighborhood, and pocket parks,
greenways, biking and hiking trails—
each a patch of Eden,
calling us to tend and keep
for all creatures for all time.
Immerse yourself in nature. Try forest bathing (using all your senses to connect to your environment), hiking, enjoying a park, hunting for waterfalls and wildflowers, going to a botanical garden or arboretum, getting out on the water in a sailboat, kayak, or canoe. Renew your commitment to care for the nature that renews you.
Lead the next generation to love nature. Create a scavenger hunt or play I Spy that is age-appropriate for your children, grandchildren, or neighborhood children. Invite them to observe and wonder. Add a sketch pad and colored pencils or allow them to use phone cameras to document their treasures from the day. Talk about God’s call to us to take care of creation.
Creation Justice ident
Pick up litter. Take a walk in a park. With a bag and gloves, where you see litter, pick it up and dump it in available trash cans. Other people may see your actions and be prompted to care for their own rubbish or perhaps join your efforts.
Leave no trace. Have a picnic and then be sure to clean up all leftovers or debris. Pack it in/pack it out. Take your trash home with you. Before you leave, challenge children to see if they can find any indication that someone was there. Teach by example.
Walk on established pathways—concrete, asphalt, wood chip trails. Staying on the path keeps green areas green. Remind children that the green spaces are home to critters who are God’s creation too and deserve our respect.
Protect wildlife. Microplastics from degraded discards like plastic bottles and bags are ingested by birds and other animals, which endangers them. Prioritize removal of plastics from parks and other public areas.
Adopt a park. Visit it frequently. Attend special events at the park, such as fairs, concerts, and play performances, and stay to help clean up after. Report any damage to nature, tripping hazards, or other dangerous conditions to the park office.
Join a “Friends of [...]” group in support of your favorite park or trail. Work together to clean up or shore up the conditions, including trail building or repair, pulling invasive plants, removing trash. Or volunteer as a Sunday school class or congregation for a workday on behalf of God’s creation.
Take advantage of nature on the church’s property. Create a space for outdoor worship or for exploring the environment close at hand. One church used their trail through the woods on their property as a special learning and prayer place.
Advocate for more trees and pocket parks. No matter how small, as air temperatures rise, a green oasis can be a source of cool and community, keeping tempers down and bringing people together as neighbors. Speak up to local decision makers. .
Yes, One Person Can Make a Difference! As a reader of the Tips, do you have a Tip to share from your own experience? Send your idea to tips.creationjustice@gmail.com.
Videos: "A Minute For Mother Earth!"
A series very short videos to help your congregation recognize God's call in the midst of climate-related issues. Each "Minute" is based on the curriculum, Wake Up World, A Curriculum on the Climate Crisis for Faith and Community Groups (available free on the website and in print form from Cokesbury). Access the complete series of "Minutes" free at www.wakeupworld.earth.