50th Anniversary of Earth Day

April 22, 2020 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day

As Christians, we celebrate that God created the world and God’s hand continues to create life. We are greatly blessed with the natural world we live in. As people of faith, we also take our Biblical commission from God to care for creation seriously.

Here are some ideas on how to practice your faith in relation to creation:

• • To celebrate Earth Day, take time to get outside and notice the beauty of nature all around you!
  • Take your Bible outside with you and read a creation psalm and meditate on it (Psalm 104 or 148, for example).
  • Consider how you can keep doing your part to care for the precious corner of the world you inhabit.
  • Spend a bit of time picking up litter you find on a walk.
  • Be mindful of how you use water in the days to come.
  • Review your recycling practices.
  • You certainly can pray that God help all of us to be mindful about how we care for all that God has made.

In many ways, our community, Madison, “owns” Earth Day. Earth Day’s founder, Gaylord Nelson, lived here and was serving as our Senator at the time. He had the idea to have a national day to focus on the environment and that idea became Earth Day, which is now a day recognized throughout the world.

But did you know an active member of Good Shepherd Church, Harold “Bud” Jordahl, Jr., worked on the first committee Senator Nelson appointed to establish Earth Day? Later, Bud also worked with Senator Nelson as a leader in establishing Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and later, creating Wild and Scenic Rivers Act which preserves Wisconsin’s St Croix and Namakogon Rivers as waterways for all to enjoy. You can read a little more about Bud Jordahl by clicking here.

Blessings,
Pastor Sheryl