A Moment for Mission
"Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created." – Psalm 148:5
You've heard the expression "busy as a bee." As it turns out, busy bees are the reason 80 percent of pollination happens. Pollination is necessary for our crops to grow our food. Due to drought, loss of habitat and dangerous pesticides, the bee population has dropped significantly over the last several years. While we may be tempted to "mind our own beeswax," we need the bees so that we can eat. Supporting these industrious bees is a no-brainer.
The General Board of Church and Society, one of our United Methodist agencies, challenges the church to live out its faith in all areas of life, including the care for God's creation. Our Social Principles encourage us to value water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life and space because they are God's creation, not only because they are useful to human beings. Whether modeling faithfulness to caring for God's creation finds you planting trees or participating in a Festival of God's Creation within your congregation, remember that God calls us to committed stewardship of the world around us.
Giving to the World Service Fund lets each of us play a part in doing God's work, whether we're saving the earth, building new churches, paying missionary salaries or expanding Bible studies. Our faithful apportioned gifts provide a financial lifeline to a long list of Christina mission and ministry through the denomination.
Offertory Prayer
Creator, your works are wonderful. Forgive us for the ways we misuse, abuse and manipulate your great creation. Grant us wisdom for greater stewardship and inspire us to care for your creation. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: Fifth Sunday of Easter - Eternal God, you are the great "I Am." We approach you with humility. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the salvation you have won for us in Christ. May we find joy as we freely give our prayers and presence, gifts and service to support the ministry and mission of the church. Let us be refreshed by the water flowing forth from your spring of life to people in our community and around the world. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Savior. Amen. (Revelation 21:1-6)
Newsletter Nugget
For 46 years, we have celebrated Earth Day on April 22. The movement gives voice to an emerging consciousness, channeling human energy toward environmental issues.
Earth Day is worth celebrating as people of faith. Our United Methodist Social Principles draw attention to our relationship with God's creation. "All creation is the Lord's, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it."
The General Board of Church and Society challenges us to put our faith into action, especially as responsible stewards of creation. In many ways, we can take responsibility for how we live in God's world and encourage the people of The United Methodist Church to act on issues that have an environmental impact.
The Earth Day website invites us: "This Earth Day, let's get really big stuff done for our planet. What are we waiting for? The time is now."
Our apportioned gifts to the World Service Fund help the General Board of Church and Society inspire us to care for God's creation. Every. Single. Day.