Earth Rise and the Power of Resurrection

Earth Rise and the Power of Resurrection

by | Mar 26, 2024

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth in the Northern Hemisphere. As the earth wakes up from its winter slumber, new life bursts forth everywhere. Spring is the perfect backdrop to the Christian celebration of Easter. The 40 Day Lenten season that leads to Easter begins with short days and chilly weather. It culminates in warmer, light-filled days of spring with a joyous celebration of Resurrection: the triumph of life and love over death and darkness. The natural processes of the Earth and the spiritual message of Easter seem to be intimately connected.

However, the Earth and Easter are even more closely connected than they seem. It’s not just the calendar that connects them; it is God’s uplifting presence that unite the two. Let’s take a closer look at Earth Rise and the Power of Resurrection.

The Heavens and the Earth Reflect God’s Love

In the Book of Genesis, God creates the heavens and the earth over six days, and declares each day good, even very good.  (Genesis 1:31). God’s Creation is fruitful, diverse, and complex; it sustains a vast variety of life. From the towering mountains to the tiniest wildflowers to the multitude of stars in the sky, to the human family—all of Creation reflects God’s love. Like the Creation itself, this love is uplifting and enduring.

As much as we feel God’s presence in the Creation, it’s not until you get a picture of the whole of the Earth in the Heavens that you realize just how magnificent is God’s creation, and God’s love. For humanity as a whole, that day came in 1968.

 

Earth Rise and Resurrection

In 1968, the Apollo 8 mission sent astronauts around the moon. As the astronauts emerged from the dark side of the moon, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. They saw the Earth rising over the moon like a brilliant blue and white marble, set against the blackness of space. This awe-inspiring image, captured in the photograph dubbed “Earth Rise,” has had a profound impact on our spiritual understanding of God’s creation.

Seeing ourselves as inhabitants of a single, fragile planet fostered a sense of global community and a newfound respect for diverse cultures and religions. Interfaith dialogue flourished as we realized our shared connection to Earth. First time protections for the Earth were born. Earth Day, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and even the Environmental Protection Agency were all launched as a result of this stunning view of Earth. Shortly thereafter the war in Vietnam ended. All of this was influenced by the views that came back from space.

The concept of “heaven” also took on new meaning. The promise of a “new heaven and new earth” began to be seen not as an afterlife destination but as a future where heaven and Earth are reconciled; where people live in peace with one another in the here and now.

The Easter message of Resurrection resonates even more deeply when viewed through this lens. Salvation isn’t just about going to heaven after death; it’s about creating a heaven here on Earth, a world filled with harmony between God, creation, and humanity.

 

Showing Our Love Back to God

Through the Creation we experience God’s love and nearness. The sunrise, a babbling brook, a field of wildflowers – all these things bring joy and wonder to those who experience them. We, too, can show our love for God’s creation by cherishing and protecting it. Loving and caring for one another and for the Earth demonstrates our respect for our one shared home. Rejoice in the beauty of the earth, yes. Pray for the earth and her peoples, yes. Reduce, reuse, and recycle, yes. Also, pay attention to industrial and energy processes that impact the earth, and harm the climate. Find alternatives to war. In all these ways, we show our love for God, our respect for Resurrection, and our gratitude for this beautiful earth we call home.

 

A Time for Celebration

As we celebrate the Easter season, let us also give thanks for the wonder of God’s creation and our place within it. As Martin Luther said, “Our Lord has written the promise of Resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.” Let us show our love for God by becoming better stewards of Heaven and Earth. Read more about how to do this in Green Church: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice! and 7 Simple Steps to Green Your Church. Or reach out for a personal conversation on how to develop your vision of a new heaven and a new earth.

Happy Easter!

 

 

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The Earth is My Parish

by | Mar 7, 2012

John Wesley famously said, “The world is my parish.”
I believe this generation of Christians is called to claim the whole Creation as ours.
Even as people are suffering from hunger, thirst, the effects of war, unemployment, and a dizzying array of natural disasters, the Earth is suffering too. Climate change, polluted oceans, disappearing species, melting poles, and deforestation are taking their toll on the interdependent web of life God created.
Our fates are tied. We are seeing with greater clarity that what we do to the Earth, we do to each other. And what we do to each other ripples out throughout Creation.
Resurrection Sunday and Earth Day are just around the corner. Both focus on fresh, new life. This is a perfect time to start a green ministry in your church!
But don’t worry about biting off more than you can chew or gulping more than you can swallow. Instead take the “S.I.P.” approach.
1. Start! Even if it means starting small. Many churches recycle. Now take the next step and close the recycling loop. Stock the restrooms with 100% recycled paper products. I like Marcal’s Small Steps toilet paper. Or switch from regular coffee and tea to Fair Trade. Or make sure lights and equipment are turned off when not in use. Small steps build consciousness and momentum.
2. Make it Intergenerational. A recent Barna poll shows that young Christians leave the church in part because the church seems anti-science, and doesn’t deal with the problems of the real world. You can address that. Take a Mother Earth Mission trip and connect with the youth and young adults in your church and community. Clean up a local river or waterway. Pick up trash. Plant trees. Include boomers and seniors, too. This is a concrete way to reach out beyond the walls of your church while making a statement that Christians care about the environment.
3. Preach! Pastor, your impact is larger than you know. Fossil fuels create a sizable carbon footprint. But you have an even larger spiritual footprint in people’s lives. When you preach or pray something it becomes REAL. Check out Green Church: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice! for sermon ideas. Or try incorporating a simple refrain,in your weekly prayer concerns like, “For the gifts of earth and heaven we are grateful. Help us hear the cries of creation, and teach us to be wise stewards of this good gift.”
Six years ago I preached a sermon on recycling. It was summer and most folks were gone. As far as I could tell it was a big fat dud. But one person was listening and it touched something in him. He started a little recycling ministry. That grew into a small business. One that is continuing to this day. It has changed the consciousness of that town. You never know the power of your words!
Here’s to the Resurrection and Renewal of all Creation! Including your congregation. 🙂