Polar bears suffering
New data has traced a direct link between greenhouse gas emissions and the decline in polar bear populations. (Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash.com.)
A United Methodist Insight Column
The ecumenical spiritual observance "Season of Creation" began Sept. 1 with an encouraging calendar of events. For United Methodists, there's no better place to start that a full month's worth of liturgy resources from United Methodist Creation Justice Movement.
Insight has published news of UMCJM's resources previously but they're worth repetition. Our colleague, the Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, helped draft the resources and wrote a feature on the resource's theme, "The River Mighty, Beloved, Restored." In a compilation of dozens of other faith-based observations as well, she writes on her JustCreation blog:
"A full season liturgy guide out of the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, The River Mighty, Beloved, Restored - A Season of Creation Resource. This one especially brings me joy, as I had the opportunity to share and contribute."
Take a gander at Richenda's compilation.
Grieving and recovering on Maui
Maui residents are still coming to terms spiritually with the catastrophe of its Aug. 8-9 wildfires that decimated the town of Lahaina. Here's an excerpt from one account by Christie Wilson, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser via Yahoo News:
Among those offering messages of hope and perseverance at the Kahului vigil was Pastor John Crewe of Lahaina United Methodist Church on Front Street, whose 100-year-old sanctuary is now in ruins. The church was founded primarily to serve the Japanese laborers who came to Lahaina to work on the sugar plantation. Worship services are now held in English and Tongan.
Crewe told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that more than 80 % of Lahaina UMC's 75-member congregation lost their homes in the Aug. 8 fire. A church caretaker was able to save one of its preschool buildings and the parsonage, but Crewe was displaced along with thousands of other Lahaina residents.
He's been holding services at the Aston Paki Maui condominium in Honokowai and has made arrangements with another church to convene there going forward.
Crewe's message and the words shared by other speakers Friday emphasized gratitude for coming together and the sense of connectedness brought out by the disaster.
"I know that this community here is very strong, and this process of coming back from this, if it can happen anywhere, it can happen here, " he told the Star-Advertiser. "And I feel that community in Lahaina and all over Maui."
Opportunities for action
With appreciation once again to the Rev. Richenda Fairhurst for keeping close tabs on creation care events and issues in her JustCreation newsletter, here are opportunities for action and education:
Last month's legal victory in the youth-led climate lawsuit Held vs. Montana has energized Our Children’s Trust, the law firm which has two other climate-related trials on tap including Juliana vs. United States. Richenda writes: "The original plaintiffs, a group of youth and children from Oregon, are seeking to retry their case. They made it all the way to the Supreme Court—almost. They are asking for signatures to support their call for a new hearing."
School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling. Application period is now for a virtual 8 week program for clergy, faith leaders, and non-faith affiliated folks “The School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling will bring together a national group of faith leaders virtually to learn, grow, and sharpen their abilities to offer new and creative solutions to the issue of hunger within their communities. Application period closes September 14th.
March to End Fossil Fuels. People vs Fossil Fuels is organizing a March on September 17th in New York City. GreenFaith has promoted this March…online details are few, check with your local GreenFaith circle and see more information here.
Climate Change hurts polar bears. From Inside Climate News, New Research Shows Direct Link Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Polar Bear Decline. The beautiful portrait of a polar bear is FREE along with other stunning nature photos by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash.com.
Climate change taking lives in South Asia
Here's the latest alert from Bill McKibben:
"New data last week from University of Chicago researchers showed that across South Asia, air pollution—mostly from burning fossil fuels—is robbing people of five years of life on average. Five years! If you live in Delhi, the most polluted big city on the planet, that number is an unimaginable 11.9 years. If you would have lived to 70, you died at 58. Thank about that. Across the region, 'particulate pollution levels are currently more than 50 percent higher than at the start of the century and now overshadow' other health risks. Every breath that people take is killing them, every hour of every day."
This ought to be enough impetus to get going on creation care, whether you have links or heritage to Asia or not. Bad air is everywhere, and as we saw this summer from wildfires, bad air can blow in from anywhere to anywhere. Remember a slogan from the American Lung Association: "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters."
Media Mentions as of Sept. 5, 2023
Orangeburg church continues worship after tree downed by Idalia storms - WLTX-TV
Youngstown should be proud of statue project - The Vindicator
Troop 31 Scout Completes Eagle Project | West Bend News
An aging Minneapolis church gave its building to a younger congregation | Features – Telegraph Herald
Church invites community for movie and picnic | Applause | dailyitem.com
Former students return to St. Paul's to run preschool - Manteca Bulletin
Jenkintown Food Cupboard, United Methodist Church share photos, highlights from Jenkinfest 2023 – Glenside Local
Church looks to revive former Galesburg preschool - Tri States Public Radio
Midwest Mission, in Jefferson, IA, receives equipment funds from Panora United Methodist Church – Iowa Annual Conference
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An award-winning religion journalist who has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" forms part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of some 500 news outlets around the world committed to enhance climate coverage. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.