EarthCare Online Update

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 "CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION" www.earthcareonline.org

"The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof..." (Psalm 24:1, KJV)

earthcare news
Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, author of For the Beauty of the Earth,
to speak at Covenant College February 10-12

book review
Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World,
by Calvin Wall Redekop

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for reflection

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV)

Earth Healing <http://www.earthhealing.info> is a website that offers online daily meditations and reflections written by Father Al Fritsch. These meditations deal with Christian spirituality, simplicity, balanced living, and creation care. Father Fritsch is a Jesuit priest, author, speaker, and former director of Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest (ASPI).

Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, author of For the Beauty of the Earth,
to speak at Covenant College February 10-12

We invite you and your friends to join with us and Covenant College students and faculty February 10-12 for the conference "God, Earth, Ethics." The guest speaker will be Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger. The three days of meetings are being hosted by Covenant College as part of a lecture series sponsored by the PCA Women in the Church. There is no charge to attend lectures unless you are taking the course for college credit.

Dr. Bouma-Prediger currently serves as an associate professor of religion at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He is author of several books including: For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care (2001), Assessing the Ark: A Christian Perspective on Non-Human Creatures and the Endangered Species Act (co-author with Virginia Vroblesky, 1997), The Greening of Theology: The Ecological Models of Rosemary Radford Ruether, Joseph Sittler, and Jurgen Moltmann (1995), and Evocations of Grace: Writings on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics (by Joseph Sittler, edited by Steven Bouma-Prediger and Peter Bakken, 2000).

6:00-10:00pm Course lectures (with breaks)
Location: Nancy Mills Science Building, Room 270-280
Topics: Where are you at?: knowing your place / How does the world work?: an ecological sense of place / Is creation groaning?: the state of the earth

Topic: Do you want to be left behind?
Location: Dora Maclellan Brown Memorial Chapel

6:00-10:00pm Course lectures (with breaks)
Location: Nancy Mills Science Building, Room 270-280
Topics: Why are we in this mess?: in search of explanations / Is the Bible the problem? exploring the Old Testament / Is the Bible the problem? revisiting the New Testament

8:00am-12noon Course lectures (with breaks)
Location: Nancy Mills Science Building, Room 270-280
Topics: What kind of people should we be?: ecological virtues / Why care for the earth?: from prudence to piety / What on earth can we do?: practical earthkeeping

Cost:
No cost to attend the lectures unless you want to take the course for college credit.
The cost if you wish to take the course for credit is $780.

Meals:
Participants are invited to eat in the College's cafeteria Thursday or Friday evening or Saturday lunch. The cost is under $10 per meal (all you can eat).

Information and Registration:
No preregistration required to attend lectures (for no credit) or to attend chapel services.
To register to receive course credit, contact: Rodney Miller, Registrar at (706) 419-1134.
For more information, contact: Jerry Wenger .

February 8 - Tuesday
NO EarthCare Monthly Planning Meeting
The February planning meeting has been cancelled.
Our next meeting will be March 8.

February 10-12, 2005 Thursday-Saturday
Conference: "God, Earth, Ethics" - Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA

Speaker: Dr. Steven Bouma-Prediger, Dept. of Religion, Hope College. Author of the book For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care.

February 12 - Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Chattanooga
2nd Saturday of each month. 8am-noon.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 3925 North Hawthorne St., Chattanooga
Information: Chattanooga Public Works (423) 698-9531

February 18-20, 2005 Friday-Sunday
Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference - UT, Knoxville, TN
The three-day conference will include skills-building workshops, panels, speakers, and discussion regarding the possibilities of a clean energy future for Southeast college campuses.
Information: Contact Nick Algee at (865) 637-6055 ext 22 or nick@cleanenergy.org

February 19 - Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Dalton, GA
3rd Saturday of each month. 7am-2pm.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, Old Dixie Landfill, Dalton
Information: Dalton City Landfill (706) 277-3389

February 26 - Saturday
A Walk Through Cummings Bottom - sponsored by Reflection Riding, Chattanooga, TN
Join Lawrence Alexander, local archaeologist, for a walk through the historically significant area of Cummings Bottom. Meet at 9am at the Humphreys House in Reflection Riding for carpooling to site. Wear comfortable shoes - walk can be strenuous at times and usually lasts about 2 hours.
Cost: Free to the public.
Registration and information: Please call the office at (423)821-9582 x200.

March 8 - Tuesday
EarthCare Monthly Planning Meeting
2nd Tuesday of each month. 6:30pm.
Chattanooga State (follow the signs or contact us for info.)
Information: Jerry Faulkner

2005 Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice -
Washington, DC
"Make All Things New" is the theme of the third annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days gathering in Washington, D.C. addressing urgent global issues. This year the Ecumenical Advocacy Days will include an eco-justice track. Conference participants will examine U.S. policy regarding the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America, global economic justice, global security, eco-justice, and U.S. domestic issues.

Organic Gardening 101 - Crabtree Farms - Chattanooga
Saturday, March 12, 10am - noon

Learn the fundamentals of organic gardening, from garden planning, seed propagation and transplanting, to such topics as natural pest control, healthy soil management, and companion planting. Great for beginning gardeners! Class taught by the Farm Manager at Crabtree Farms, Padgett Arnold.

Cost/Registration: Each workshop: $20 per person. Pre-registration required. Call 423/493-9155 x10, or email.
More information: www.crabtreefarms.org

March 12 - Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Chattanooga
2nd Saturday of each month. 8am-noon.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 3925 North Hawthorne St., Chattanooga
Information: Chattanooga Public Works (423) 698-9531

March 19 - Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Dalton, GA
3rd Saturday of each month. 7am-2pm.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, Old Dixie Landfill, Dalton
Information: Dalton City Landfill (706) 277-3389

April 13-15, 2005 Wednesday-Friday
14th Annual Southeastern Lakes Management Conference - Asheville, NC
Sponsored by the North American Lake Management Society.
Information: www.nalms.org

Do you enjoy giving flowers to friends and family? Now there is the option of purchasing organic flowers. According to OrganicBouquet.com there are many reasons to buy organic. Buying organic flowers can be another aspect of a healthy personal lifestyle. By purchasing organic flowers, we also contribute to the health of others: farm workers, their families, florists, and individuals who purchase or receive flowers. Organic cultivation helps protect groundwater, soil and ultimately the food chain. When we purchase organic flowers and foods, we are helping to support local organic farming communities and organizations. Also, each purchase gives the market notice that more organic flowers need to be grown, which encourages more flower farms to convert to using organic agricultural methods.

Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga <www.crabtreefarms.org>
Crabtree is a nonprofit educational and sustainable agricultural research project. Farms include a organic community garden and urban farm. Organic flowers are available during the regular market season. This year the Market opens May 3, 2005. For more information see their Floral Design page.

Johnny Green Seed <www.johnnygreenseed.com>
Johnny Green Seed donates the money raised from the sell of flowers to supply the National Park system with energy efficiency products and solutions.

Organic Bouquet <www.organicbouquet.com>
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Organic Bouquet products benefit partner non-profit and charitable organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and human/animal rights.

This year's Earth Day Sunday to focus on the topic-
Oceans and Seas
The theme for this year's upcoming 2005 Earth Day Sunday is "Sacred Oceans and Seas: S.O.S." Resource materials may be obtained from the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC). Their materials will include worship helps, a bulletin insert, and other resources. They will also feature art, poems, and prayers that have been submitted to NCC's Earth Day contest. For more information, see the NCC's Eco-Justice website.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV)

Many of us resolve at the beginning of each year to become more caring toward each other and more active in caring for God's creation. Environmental activism can take many forms. In addition to engaging in bold public demonstrations in support of environmental causes, there are many other ways each of us can become "environmental activists." Following are some ideas:

• Recycle.
• Make healthier, more sustainable food selections.
• Clean with natural cleaners.
• Landscape with native plants and without using chemicals.

• Buy recycled products.
• Buy organic, sustainably grown foods.
• Buy locally produced foods and goods.

• When you notice that a merchant is offering an environmentally-responsible item, write a quick note to thank them.

• Vote in elections.
• Email, write, or call your political representatives and leaders to inform them of your opinions regarding proposed bills.
• When your political representatives and leaders respond in an environmentally positive way (maybe by voting or addressing in a speech a particular issue of concern to you), contact them to let them know that you appreciate the action that they are taking.

• Christian environmental stewardship organizations. Such organizations include ecumenical organizations, such as EarthCare, and denominational organizations.

• Local environmentally-related organizations. Examples of these types of organizations are wildlife organizations, preservation organizations, environmental education organizations, organic gardening or shopping co-ops, and social justice organizations.

• National/International organizations that support an environmental cause with which you closely resonate.

• Political organizations that promote care of the environment (Check the Internet for an organization affiliated with your political party.)

This winter, kids and adults can enjoy indoor environmental programs at the Tennessee Aquarium. For a schedule of events, see the Aquarium's Events and Travel web page <http://www.tnaqua.org/Events/Events_travel.asp>.

Redekop, Calvin Wall. Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000. 283p.

The Radical Reformation of the 16th Century produced a number of religious denominations and sects, among them the Mennonites and the Amish. Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World, is an erudite description of how the Mennonite/Anabaptist traditions relate to earth care issues. Edited by Calvin Redekop, this 283 page book is available from Faith and Life Resources, Newton, KS and Scottdale, PA (800-743-2484) or through online booksellers. In Creation and the Environment, 14 authors explore the question, "Where does care for the earth fit into one's Christian commitment?" Theologians, biologists, economists, Native Americans, and others gather their thoughts in this book to explore the Mennonite perspectives on subjects ranging from the impacts of humans on the environment, the relationship of Mennonite life to the environment, theological and historical orientations, and the challenges of earth care in the development of the Mennonite environmental ethic. The book hosts helpful endnotes and a serviceable bibliography.

-reviewed by Tom Baugh
Deer Run, NC

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26, NKJV)

EarthCare Online Update is a free email newsletter published by EarthCare, Inc. Published approximately six times a year, the newsletter focuses on Christians' call to care for the earth, news of EarthCare activities, and resources to assist with daily aspects of creation care.

Please note that the views expressed in resources listed in the Update are not necessarily those of EarthCare. In the Update we attempt to include a variety of books, websites, etc. in order to facilitate readers' education and exploration of ideas regarding the care of God's creation. It is our hope and prayer that before embracing new beliefs or practices, readers will examine them in context of the teachings of the Bible and God's personal call in their lives.

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