Workshops and Study Groups
"What does it profit to gain the world, only to lose it - to gain it economically, to fence it in, pave over it, harvest it, only to lose it scientifically, aesthetically, recreationally, religiously, as a wonderland of natural history, as a realm of integral wilderness that transcends and supports us - and perhaps even to lose some of our soul in the trade-off?"
Christians for the Earth has met regularly since it inception to study, to discuss and to open ourselves to the large body of knowledge documenting the escalating destruction of God's good creation, and to explore the Christian response that will define our ecological actions to fit our faith. We have used both workshops and study groups to learn about environmental issues and share ideas on faith-based solutions.
Workshops:
• "Step It Up 2007." Over 136 people attended our first annual day of climate justice. This community-wide event was part of a national effort by more than 1,400 churches to urge Congress to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. We heard from renewable energy advocate, David Spence, and also from City of Flagstaff Sustainability Manager, Nicole Woodman. Additionally, Geoff Barnard shared information on a program employing handicapped persons to rebuild ink cartridges. Lunch was provided by Community Supported Agriculture, featuring only locally-grown produce, and by A Bar H Farms, featuring hormone-free, humanely raised local beef. As a result of this event, we obtained over 100 signed postcards to forward to Congress demanding climate justice.
• " 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple." In April 2006 we sponsored a community-wide workshop, " 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple: A Faithful Exploration of Simple Living." Rev. Peter Sawtell of Eco-Justice Ministries led the workshop. Rev. Sawtell described simple living as "a path toward a joyous, centered and responsible life. It encourages us to live in healthy and rewarding relationships with our families, our communities, the Earth and with God. It invites us to make liberating choices about our priorities, our possessions and our time. It offers us an option to the constant stress and alienation that so many of us find in our daily lives." During the workshop we remembered how simple living is deeply rooted in our faith and saw how it is an expression of global justice and environmental stewardship. We explored a wide variety of specific things that we could do to simplify our lives.
Study Groups:
• Beginning April 2007, class on The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice led by Mick Henry
• Viewing Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" as a group and meeting for discussion and suggested action
• Study and group discussion of the book, Food and Faith: justice, joy and daily bread, compiled by Michael Schut
• Class led by Rev. Mike Brown based on the book, Simpler Living, Compassionate Life
• Brown bag lecture on recycling by Tammy Bishop, City of Flagstaff Program Assistant for Commercial Recycling
• Guest speaker Helen Yard, avian ecologist, speaking on the impact of commercial coffee operations on avian ecology
• Talk on organic architecture and building in harmony with nature, by Jay McCormick and Joel Baillere
• Five series program by Dr. Arne Hassing and Dr. Max Oelschlaeger titled "Christianity and Sustainability" based on upcoming book
• Lessons from Dr. Arne Hassing on centering prayer as part of his class on "A Spirituality of Caring for Creation"
• Guest speaker David Sholin, with information on Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
• Meeting for lunch at a local restaurant to discuss the book, And the Leaves of the Trees are for the Healing of the Nations, by Dr. Carol Johnston
• Review and discussion of the book, Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice, by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
"What does it profit to gain the world, only to lose it - to gain it economically, to fence it in, pave over it, harvest it, only to lose it scientifically, aesthetically, recreationally, religiously, as a wonderland of natural history, as a realm of integral wilderness that transcends and supports us - and perhaps even to lose some of our soul in the trade-off?"
Christians for the Earth has met regularly since it inception to study, to discuss and to open ourselves to the large body of knowledge documenting the escalating destruction of God's good creation, and to explore the Christian response that will define our ecological actions to fit our faith. We have used both workshops and study groups to learn about environmental issues and share ideas on faith-based solutions.
Workshops:
• "Step It Up 2007." Over 136 people attended our first annual day of climate justice. This community-wide event was part of a national effort by more than 1,400 churches to urge Congress to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050. We heard from renewable energy advocate, David Spence, and also from City of Flagstaff Sustainability Manager, Nicole Woodman. Additionally, Geoff Barnard shared information on a program employing handicapped persons to rebuild ink cartridges. Lunch was provided by Community Supported Agriculture, featuring only locally-grown produce, and by A Bar H Farms, featuring hormone-free, humanely raised local beef. As a result of this event, we obtained over 100 signed postcards to forward to Congress demanding climate justice.
• " 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple." In April 2006 we sponsored a community-wide workshop, " 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple: A Faithful Exploration of Simple Living." Rev. Peter Sawtell of Eco-Justice Ministries led the workshop. Rev. Sawtell described simple living as "a path toward a joyous, centered and responsible life. It encourages us to live in healthy and rewarding relationships with our families, our communities, the Earth and with God. It invites us to make liberating choices about our priorities, our possessions and our time. It offers us an option to the constant stress and alienation that so many of us find in our daily lives." During the workshop we remembered how simple living is deeply rooted in our faith and saw how it is an expression of global justice and environmental stewardship. We explored a wide variety of specific things that we could do to simplify our lives.
Study Groups:
• Beginning April 2007, class on The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice led by Mick Henry
• Viewing Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" as a group and meeting for discussion and suggested action
• Study and group discussion of the book, Food and Faith: justice, joy and daily bread, compiled by Michael Schut
• Class led by Rev. Mike Brown based on the book, Simpler Living, Compassionate Life
• Brown bag lecture on recycling by Tammy Bishop, City of Flagstaff Program Assistant for Commercial Recycling
• Guest speaker Helen Yard, avian ecologist, speaking on the impact of commercial coffee operations on avian ecology
• Talk on organic architecture and building in harmony with nature, by Jay McCormick and Joel Baillere
• Five series program by Dr. Arne Hassing and Dr. Max Oelschlaeger titled "Christianity and Sustainability" based on upcoming book
• Lessons from Dr. Arne Hassing on centering prayer as part of his class on "A Spirituality of Caring for Creation"
• Guest speaker David Sholin, with information on Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
• Meeting for lunch at a local restaurant to discuss the book, And the Leaves of the Trees are for the Healing of the Nations, by Dr. Carol Johnston
• Review and discussion of the book, Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice, by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
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