EarthCare Online Update

MAY/JUNE 2005 "CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION" www.earthcareonline.org

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

book review
The Care of Creation: Focusing Concern and Action,
R. J. Berry, editor

For EarthCare Online Update subscription information, please click here.

for reflection

"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (Nehemiah 9:6, NIV)

We hope that you are finding EarthCare's calendar useful in keeping up-to-date on creation care events. In the calendar, we list major Christian holy days, EarthCare events, other Christian creation care events, and regional environmental events (including Chattanooga, TN, Dalton, GA and surrounding region). Creation care events are publicized in the EarthCare Online Update and in occasional News Bulletins. To subscribe free of charge, send an email to . The complete calendar is available on EarthCare's website.

We invite you to submit creation care activities sponsored by your church or organization for inclusion in EarthCare's calendar. Please include the name of the event, date(s), time(s), location, description, and contact information. If your organization has a website, that information is helpful, also. To submit an event, please send your information as far in advance as possible to .

May 14 - Sat / rain date: May 21
EarthCare Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup - Chattanooga, TN
9am. Meet at Central High School.
Contact: Patrick Spiesser to sign up to assist with cleanup (423) 855-7488

Solar and Wind Interconnection Seminar - Murfreesboro, TN
10am - 2pm CDT
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, Room 121

Hosted by Green Power Switch General Partners and the Center for Energy Efficiency at MTSU. The free workshop, featuring Kevin Lynn of the Florida Solar Energy Center, is open to anyone interested in learning about the technical aspects of wind and solar installations and how these systems can be safely connected to the local power grid.
Cost: Free
Registration: Email: cacopeland@tva.gov. Please include the number attending and the name of your local electric power distributor.

"Bringing Environmental Justice into the Life of the Church"
National Council of Churches Young Adult Environmental Justice Conference - Atlanta, GA
Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA
The conference will empower and equip young adults to address environmental justice issues in their congregations and communities through training, fellowship, and worship.
Cost: $185.00 by May 1; $210.00 after May 1
Registration: cassandra@toad.net. Cassandra Carmichael, Director, Eco-Justice Programs, National Council of Churches, 110 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 544-2350 ext. 27
More information: NCC Eco-Justice Programs

Chattanooga Nature Center Summer Camps - Chattanooga, TN
The Chattanooga Nature Center sponsors summer camps for ages 6-13. For camp schedules, visit: Chattanooga Nature Center - Camp Programs.

Lula Lake Land Trust - National Trails Day - Lookout Mountain, TN
Extended hours: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Lookout Mountain, TN
Regular hours: The Trust is open the first and last Saturday of every month for hiking, biking and picnicking from 9am-5pm. Pets are allowed on a leash.
More information: Call (423) 821-2424; directions; website: www.lulalake.org.

Southeast Biofuels Workshop - Gatlinburg, TN
Sponsored by Southeast Alternative Fuels Task Force, this workshop is the 2nd in a series of workshops that the SEAFTF is putting together to advance alternative fuels use across the southeast, primarily the four states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee..
Cost: $30 by May 18; $40 after May 18
Registration and more information: Southeast Alternative Fuels Task Force

Sharing the Waters of Life - Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
5th National Eco-Justice Conference - Silver Bay, NY
Registration and more information: Presbyterians for Restoring Creation

Environmental Interfaith Resurgence Conference
Earth & Religion: Crisis, Opportunity, Convergence - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Sponsored by the Resurgence Association.
More information: www.earthandreligion.org / (845) 679-8761

June 11 Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Chattanooga, TN
2nd Saturday of each month. 8am-noon
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 3925 North Hawthorne St., Chattanooga
Information: Chattanooga Public Works (423) 698-9531

Randy Beavers of Sleepy Hollow Farm will lead this workshop on how to prepare herbal medicines. Participants will learn what to look for in their own yards and how to make these remedies.
Cost: $20 a person
Registration: Pre-registration is required. Register by phone 493.9155 x10 or email to sign-up.

June 14 Tuesday
EarthCare Monthly Planning Meeting - Chattanooga, TN
2nd Tuesday of each month. 6:30pm.
Chattanooga State (follow the signs or contact us for info.)
Information: Jerry Faulkner

June 18 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

Learn the key steps to growing terrific tomatoes. Lessons will include disease prevention, trellis options, pest management and pruning. See and taste first-hand the tomatoes growing at Crabtree and learn tips on how to choose varieties especially heirlooms. Class taught by the Farm Manager at Crabtree Farms, Padgett Arnold.
Cost: $20 a person
Registration: Pre-registration is required. Register by phone 493.9155 x10 or email to sign-up.

July 9 Saturday
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Chattanooga, TN
2nd Saturday of each month. 8am-noon.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 3925 North Hawthorne St., Chattanooga
Information: Chattanooga Public Works (423) 698-9531

July 12 Tuesday
EarthCare Monthly Planning Meeting - Chattanooga, TN
2nd Tuesday of each month. 6:30pm.
Chattanooga State (follow the signs or contact us for info.)
Information: Jerry Faulkner

July 16 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

August 5-8 Friday-Monday
Alternative Energy Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
60th Annual Meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation - Grantham, PA
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
"The American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) is a fellowship of men and women in science and disciplines that relate to science who share a common fidelity to the Word of God and a commitment to integrity in the practice of science."
Information: www.asa3.org

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

• Change your oil on the schedule and using the octane recommended by the manufacturer.

• Avoid unnecessary breaking by not following too closely and anticipating situations.

• If possible, store items in the vehicle rather than on the roof, and remove roof racks when they are not in use.

• Plan efficient travel by using maps, organizing errands, and taking needed items for multiple outings.

Transportation Task Force
Create a separate task force to work on transportation concerns.

Travel to Church
Encourage people to carpool to worship and other meetings or to walk, bicycle, or use public transportation.
Install bicycle racks at church entrances.
Work out the most efficient routes when picking up people for events.

Vehicles Owned by the Church
Purchase transportation and cargo vehicles that get good gas mileage ratings or that use alternative forms of fuel.
For gas mileage ratings, visit FuelEconomy.gov.

Parking Lots
Use porous surfaces for parking lots, and include "nature spaces" throughout.

Education
Distribute information on fuel stewardship and automobile maintenance.
Hold workshops to teach auto maintenance skills.

Service
Start a church auto maintenance ministry for widows and those who cannot afford to pay for maintenance.

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God. (Hebrews 6:7, NKJV)

Purchasing organically-grown food from local markets supports good health, sustainable farm practices, local farmers, and reduction of pollution from transporting food. Sources for local sustainably grown seasonal vegetables, herbs, eggs, and cut flowers in the Chattanooga area are:

Chattanooga Market
Sundays, 12noon-5pm
First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St.
Opened April 17, 2005

Crabtree Farm Stand
Tuesday thru Saturday 9-1pm
1000 E. 30th St.
Open May 3 - October 30, 2005

GreenLife Grocery
Monday thru Saturday 9am-9pm / Sunday 12noon-8pm
1100 Hixson Pike
Open year-round
Sells local organic produce, as well organic produce from other sources.

Lookout Mountain Farmers Market
Wednesday evenings 4-7pm
Good Shepherd Church lower parking lot, Franklin and Crandall Streets
Open May 18 - October 26, 2005

The Tennessee Aquarium's new Ocean Journey building opened April 29, 2005. The expansion of the Aquarium includes 10-foot sharks, barracuda and stingrays that glide through coral formations. The exhibits include: a tropical rainforest, shark island, butterfly garden, and a "secret reef, which is a representation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary located 110 miles off the coast of Texas. The Aquarium expansion adds 700,000 gallons of saltwater exhibits to what is currently the world's largest freshwater aquarium. For photos of exhibits and more information, visit the Tennessee Aquarium Newsroom.

Berry, R. J., ed. The Care of Creation: Focusing Concern and Action. Leicester, England:
Inter-Varsity, 2000. 213p.

The Care of Creation is a compilation of stimulating theological commentary by several leading theologians and environmental practitioners regarding the 1994 Evangelical Environmental Network document An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation. The various viewpoints of these writers help the reader understand Christians' relationship with nature and our call to protect it, as well as inspire us to put into practice what we have learned.

Contributors to The Care of Creation include:
Richard Bauckham, R. J. Berry, Calvin B. DeWitt, Susan Drake, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Ron Elsdon, John Guillebaud, Peter Harris, John T. Houghton, Alister E. McGrath, I. Howard Marshall, Jürgen Moltmann, Michael S. Northcott, Oliver M. T. O'Donovan, Ghillean T. Prance, Stephen Rand, Ronald J. Sider, Howard J. Van Till, Lynn White, Jr. (1966 lecture that sparked debate in the Christian community), Loren Wilkinson, and Richard T. Wright.

The five affirmations of An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation addressed in the book are as follows:

As followers of Jesus Christ, committed to the full authority of the Scriptures, and aware of the ways we have degraded creation, we believe that biblical faith is essential to the solution of our ecological problems.

We and our children face a growing crisis in the health of the creation in which we are embedded, and through which, by God's grace, we are sustained. Yet we continue to degrade that creation.

Many concerned people, convinced that environmental problems are more spiritual than technological, are exploring the world's ideologies and religions in search of non-Christian spiritual resources for the healing of the earth. As followers of Jesus Christ, we believe that the Bible calls us to respond in four ways:

First, God calls us to confess and repent of attitudes which devalue creation, and which twist or ignore biblical revelation to support our misuse of it.

Second, our actions and attitudes toward the earth need to proceed from the center of our faith, and be rooted in the fullness of God's revelation in Christ and the Scriptures.

Third, we seek carefully to learn all that the Bible tells us about the Creator, creation, and the human task.

Fourth, we seek to understand what creation reveals about God's divinity, sustaining presence, and everlasting power, and what creation teaches us of its God-given order and the principles by which it works.

Thus we call on all those who are committed to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to affirm the following principles of biblical faith, and to seek ways of living out these principles in our personal lives, our churches, and society.

We believe that in Christ there is hope, not only for men, women and children, but also for the rest of creation which is suffering from the consequences of human sin.

(For the full text of An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation, visit EEN's website <creationcare.org>.)

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.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to EarthCare Online Update, or change your email address, please email us at . Occasionally, compelling news items may warrant an additional Bulletin between publication of issues of the Online Update. Subscribers typically receive no more than one Bulletin per month. Current and back issues of the Online Update and News Bulletins are available on EarthCare's website www.earthcareonline.org. The Online Update is sent only to those who have registered for our email list. We do not rent, loan, or sell our list to anyone.

EarthCare, Inc. is a non-profit Christian organization that exists to promote creation stewardship within the Christian community. For more information about EarthCare, caring for God's creation, and links to other creation care resources, please see our website www.earthcareonline.org.

"EarthCare Stewards" are what we call the generous individuals and churches who contribute to the ministries of EarthCare. We invite you to become an EarthCare Steward and join with us in supporting creation care in the Christian community. The ministries of EarthCare are funded entirely by gifts from folks like you who want to make a difference. Most gifts we receive are small, but because we're all volunteers any amount that you give will have a big impact! Your gift will go directly to support EarthCare ministries (projects, conferences, website, email list, mailing services, and other EarthCare activities). All gifts are tax deductible.

You may contribute by mailing a check or money order to the address below. Thank you!

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