From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
Go Green...
“And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth and the waters that were gathered together he called the Seas. And God saw that it was good!”
- Genesis 1:9, 10
When astronauts orbiting in outer space looked back on the earth, they marveled to see the deep blues of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the dry lands of the Sahara dessert of Africa, the forests and rivers and Rocky Mountains of America. They remarked how tiny the earth looked with the backdrop of the vast expanse of space. Then they said an amazing thing, “We are all brothers and sisters.”
This beautiful fragile planet is something we share in trust from God with the people of Russia, the oil rich sheiks of Saudi Arabia, the warring peoples of Palestine and Israel, the tribes living in the Amazon, the sheepherder in Colorado, the business tycoon on Wall Street, the striking UAW workers at G.M., and the farmer harvesting the fall crops.
Scientists tell us that God has made a complex and inter connected world. Here one species depends upon another for survival. The loudest environmental issue of our day is global warming. Yet University of Chicago's Jerry Coyne and Harvard University's Hopi Hoekstra warn of the greater danger of 30,000 species disappearing each year from the earth. The cause is human activity. Healthy ecosystems depend upon a variety of species performing hidden services like waste disposal, nutrient cycling, water purification and oxygen production. As species disappear, those activities go. Over fishing is eliminating major predators. Potential life saving pharmaceutical advances will be lost if key plant and animal species disappear. They speak of a grim future world where exotic diseases flourish but natural medicinal cures are lost, sweltering heat, failing crops and impure water.
Soon fall colors will erupt in once a year delight . God will demonstrate a tiny bit of the “behold it was good” of the world that He created.
Out of love for God and the world that he has entrusted to us, would you go green. Make a point to use less of the world's limited and precious resources. Recycle cans, plastic and paper, cut down on your use of electricity by turning up the thermostat in summer and down in winter, drive the car one less trip per week, let the grass grow longer so you can mow it less, (what a year for mowing grass!) and go plant a tree. These may seem like tiny fruitless efforts in the face of so massive a challenge but each move to conserve will leave more for the grand generations that follow. You may ask how one person can make a difference.
Three trees were recently purchased and planted on the church grounds in memory of Cynthia Klernomos. God spoke most loudly to Cindy in the beauty and wonder of nature. Cindy was a developer of property with her husband Angelo. Her first concern was the impact on the environment. All trees were to be saved. Nature was a treasure. Cindy served on the board of the women's auxiliary at Brookfield Zoo. She made a point to invite underprivileged children and their families to enjoy the zoo. Here they were introduced to the incredible animals and species that share our planet and the conservation of God's beautiful gift. Cindy's life was a living testament. You can make a difference!
Having only one of something makes it most precious. We have but one earth. Please join me in being a good steward of God's awesome creation as we live out the truth of the first article of Creed, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.”
Let's Go Green!
In His love,
Pastor Dave