Lutherans Restoring Creation

"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to your life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these." Matthew 6:26-29

"We see the despoiling of the environment as nothing less than the degradation of God's gracious gift of creation."

ELCA Statement “Caring for Creation”


	LRC is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the ELCA.

NEW Between Economy and Ecology Offers ELCA Leaders Practical Information

A stewardship workshop for seminarians, pastors and leaders in ELCA congregations, was held April 6 at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Dr. Jim Martin-Schramm, Professor of Religion at Luther College in Decorah, began by reminding participants that this is the century of climate change--the social justice issue which will eclipse and umbrella all other social justice issues of our time. [Read More]

Nurturing a Network and Celebrating a Season of Creation

The mission of the Northwest Minnesota Synod Creation Care Team is “to nurture a growing network that inspires our congregations and their members to live out God's call to be stewards of the earth for the sake of the whole creation.” At their first retreat in February, the Team did just that. [Read More]

Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Hosts Environmental Educators

Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NLOM) hosted the 2013 Environmental Education Intensive for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. Educators from camps in Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Illinois gathered from Feb. 11-14 to share ideas, develop new programming, network, and worship. [Read More]

Going Solar

It probably seemed like it would never happen. Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, NY was exploring installing photovoltaic solar panels on its roof. The price--$190,000--seemed exorbitant. However, the congregation's Environmental Stewardship Committee didn’t let go of the idea. [Read More]

Read more stories about what Lutherans are doing to care for creation.

Tell us your story about what you or your congregation has done to care for creation.

PLAN AHEAD

Ideas, themes and resources for the coming months

Read More about the items listed below.

After Earth Day:

Celebrate Mother Earth Day.
Father's Day Project: Collect Neckties for Quilts
Transportation Month (May or June)
Season of Creation (September)

For Worship Planning resources throughout the year, go to our companion site: www.letallcreationpraise.org.

Archive for Planning Ahead

JOIN FRIENDS OF LRC!

Sign up to receive the Lutherans Restoring Creation Newsletter and updates, and tell us how we can make the LRC website and newsletter even more useful to you.

NEW LRC Profile: Ron Rude, ELCA Campus Pastor

"While leading workshops/conferences recently in Racine, WI and Fort Collins, CO on “Sustainable/Faithful Living,” I was struck by two things. First, contrary to popular perceptions, many Christians are desperately surprised and appreciative of a pastor/theologian of the church who integrates Christian faith and the natural sciences, especially evolutionary biology, astronomy, geology, and paleoanthropology. They apparently are not hearing much of this in our congregations." [Read More]

[See additional LRC profiles]

Fossil Fuel Divestment Resolution Passes at Oregon Synod Meeting. [Read More]

NEW Write your representative to say we need a better farm bill [Read More and Take Action]

NEW Call your representative to say we need a better farm bill [Read More and Take Action]

LRC RESOURCES FOR PREACHING

NEW EACH WEEK

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (by Dennis Ormseth). We must acknowledge that God is in, with, and under all creation.

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost in Year C (by Dennis Ormseth). Can we be freed by a "cultural exorcism" to seek God's new creation?

Overall Care for Creation Reflections on the Gospel of Luke for Preaching in Year C. (by David Rhoads)

Archive of Commentaries

HIGHLIGHTS

Programs

Energy Stewards Initiative: program for ELCA congregations and outdoor ministries to lower energy use and carbon footprint. [Read more]
GreenFaith Certification Program for ELCA Congregations: a two-year program to bring care for creation into the full life and mission of your parish. [Read more]
The GreenFaith Fellowship Program prepares lay and ordained individuals for religiously based environmental leadership. Application deadline for 2014 has been extended to June 15, 2013. [Read more]