Days of Creation… 7 Weeks of Action
-
-
-
-
"...And there was light” (Genesis Chapter 1:3)
Thoughts from Called to CARE – A parish ministry working on Concern, Action, and Respect for the Earth. (If you are interested in joining us, email Pat at [email protected].)
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Day 1, Week 1: Light
This Lent we look to Creation for guidance: ”On the first day God said, let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis Chapter 1:3).
How can we take God’s Word during Lent and relate this to Care, Action, and Respect for our Earth? Some thoughts and suggestions:- Consider scheduling a PSE&G Quick Home Energy Assessment. You may qualify for free energy saving products, including LED lightbulbs.
- Consider installing solar path lights at your home to illuminate driveways and walkways. Also, motion-detection solar spotlights are ideal for security purposes. Both are environmentally-friendly options, instead of leaving electric outdoor lights on all night long.
And evening came…
-
-
-
"...God called the vault sky. ” (Genesis Chapter 1:7-8)
Day 2, Week 2: Sky
"God made the vault, and it divided the waters under the vault from the waters above the vault. God called the vault sky. ” (Genesis Chapter 1:7-8)
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Some thoughts and suggestions:- Check your fire extinguishers. If halon or halogenated hydrocarbon is the main ingredient, replace it with a model without this harmful ozone-depleting chemical. Your old fire extinguisher can be dropped off during the Mercer County household hazardous waste recycling event.
- Consider purchasing pump spray hairsprays, deodorants, and household chemicals to reduce the chance of using (CFC) chlorofluorocarbons.
Evening came …
-
-
-
"...and the mass of waters 'seas', and God saw that it was good."
Day 3, Week 3: Seas
"God said, 'Let the waters under heaven come together into a single mass, and let dry land appear.' And so it was. God called the dry land 'earth' and the mass of waters 'seas', and God saw that it was good." (Genesis Chapter 1:9-10)
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Some thoughts and suggestions:- Cut down on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, follow directions and use them sparingly. Consider using organic fertilizers, instead of chemical. Runoff of fertilizers pollutes local streams and rivers.
- Have a professional inspector check your septic system regularly and have it pumped when needed to prevent pollution of nearby lakes and streams.
Evening came …
-
-
-
"God made the two great lights..."
"God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars." (Genesis Chapter 1:16)
Day 4, Week 4: Sun
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Some thoughts and suggestions:- Open drapes/blinds in the colder months to allow the sun's heat (and light) in, close in the warmer months to keep the sun's heat out. Use the sun’s heat to hang laundry instead of using a dryer when weather appropriate.
- The Hopewell Valley Green Team provides a wealth of information on solar energy options including community solar: https://hopewellvalleygreenteam.org/energy/renewable-energy/
Evening came …
-
-
-
"Let the waters be alive with a swarm of living creatures..."
"Let the waters be alive with a swarm of living creatures, and let birds wing their way above the earth across the vault of heaven." (Genesis Chapter 1:20)
Day 5, Week 5: Sea Creatures
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Some thoughts and suggestions:
Clean up after yourself when visiting beaches and natural spaces. Plastic straws sicken sea birds, sea turtles, and other animals. Many sea creatures die of malnutrition when their stomachs become full of plastics. Over 1 million sea birds die a year mistaking floating plastic for food.
Evening came …
-
-
-
"God made wild animals..."
"God made wild animals in their own species, and cattle in theirs, and every creature that crawls along the earth in its own species. God saw that it was good."
(Genesis Chapter 1:25)
Day 6, Week 6: Animal Life
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Some thoughts and suggestions:
Use ceramic/metal food bowls for pets, instead of plastic. These heavier bowls are more stable, prevent spillage, and have zero risk of leaching BPA and other harmful chemicals into their food.
Do not use rat/mouse poisons. Poisoned rodents are eaten by owls, eagles, hawks, who are then poisoned. Better to use quick, (fairly) humane traps.
Evening came …
-
-
-
""...Such was the story of heaven and earth as they were created."
"God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating. Such was the story of heaven and earth as they were created."
Genesis Chapter 2:3-4
Day 7, Week 7: Our Earth
“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home, paragraph 14).
Please join us on April 28th at St. James for a community viewing of The Letter: Laudato Si Film. This documentary from the Vatican encourages us to see how “everything is connected.” The way that we treat our earth is a reflection of how we treat each other. Caring for each other means caring for our common home we share. The Letter: Laudato Si Film is also available on YouTube, more details to come!
-
