Sustainability
"So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."
(Genesis 1:26)
An interesting thing has happened on our church's journey towards construction of our final sanctuary: we have discovered the importance of changing the way in which we do things in order to make sure that there is quality of life for those who come after us. It started with the concept of building a "green" or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building, but it is growing into a church-wide emphasis that I hope will change our entire community.
Two church members, Shaunna Black and Mark Meaders, have helped us discover that being environmentally conscious is not just the right thing to do, but it is also cost-effective. Mark is now leading the effort with the entire congregation, and he is quickly becoming an extraordinarily knowledgeable expert in the field. Environmental leadership is one of our four major goals for 2008, and every member of the staff has been asked to think about the ways in which sustainability can be implemented in their area of work.
Recently I heard a great definition for what it means to live in a "sustainable" way: It means "living in such a way that we can meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations." Now that is powerful. And it is Biblical. God gave us "dominion" over the earth, not to ravage it but rather to be stewards of it. It is a goal that clearly compliments Christ United Methodist Church's long-time commitment to the next generation.
As we think about the next generation, I can't help but also think about those who went before us, our grandparents or perhaps great-grandparents who tilled the soil for a living. They knew the importance of sustainability because they lived so close to the land and were so dependent upon its fruits. They cared for the land because they knew the land cared for them. If we listen closely I suspect we can hear their voices calling to us out of the past, telling us we are doing the right thing and urging us on.
Don Underwood
Sanctuary Services 8:45, 9:45 and 11 a.m. This Sunday, Rev. Don Underwood will preach "Living Well." Contemporary Service (Christian Life Center Gym)  11 a.m.In Full Court Worship, Rev. Abe Smith will preach "Let's Talk." |
Miss the last message? "Journey Into Temptation" by Rev. Don Underwood "Somebody, One Body" by Rev. Abe Smith
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