Care for Creation: Holiday Edition
As we journey through Advent and await the coming Christmas season, we are reminded to "prepare the way of the Lord." We are called to reflect on our lives: How can we grow deeper in our faith? Are we showing God's love to those around us? As we ponder these questions, we are challenged to take action -- to develop new habits that prepare our hearts for the coming Kingdom of God.
This extends to our care for creation: loving our neighbors through the responsible consumption and care for the earth's resources. In this Holiday Edition, we have gathered some materials to help us become more mindful of our care for creation during this season. Check out the links below and join us as we seek to extend our care for each other and for the environment this winter.
Sincerely,
MQHR Care for Creation Committee
Let Us Pray:
God of all creation, we enter with joy into the season of Advent, anticipating your coming in the humbleness of a child, your Son Jesus. We thank you for the great gift of the Incarnation, as Jesus joined in our human nature, sharing the material being of all creation.
Let us honor the goodness of all your gifts in the natural world. In a season too often marked by overconsumption and excess, let us give thanks for all the good things throughout nature.
Each day, let us ponder their goodness as signs of your love. Let us be in solidarity with those in poverty and nurture a spirit of true generosity. May the light of Advent grow daily together with our love for your creation, redeemed by your Son whose coming we will celebrate soon. Amen.
Advent Prayer from the Laudato Si Movement
Household Checklist: Winter Edition
Looking for ways to reduce waste and conserve energy during the winter months? We've compiled a list of ideas in our Household Checklist: Winter Edition.
Earth-friendly suggestions for living with ice and snow
Winter weather will be here before you know it -- check out this article by Peg Gabriel to see how you can prepare for ice and snow while caring for the environment this winter.
Learn More:
The holidays produce more waste than any other time of year. Check out this PBS News Hour Report to learn more about what creates waste during the holidays, how that impacts recycling, and how you can reduce waste during the holiday season:
Take Action!
Here are a few suggestions from our Household Checklist that can help you reduce waste during the holidays:
Get creative with holiday wrapping!
Many holiday wrapping papers are not recyclable in local programs - use recyclable materials such as newsprint, or a reusable gift bag, instead of wrapping paper for your holiday gift wrapping.
Holiday lights not working?
If a strand of lights no longer works, you can recycle those and other electronic items at Lexington’s Electronics Recycling Center.
Coming up in January...
Wanting to learn more about how we are called to care for the environment as people of faith? Then sign-up for Part 2 of the Creation at the Crossroads Study!
The study will be on Tuesdays January 11th - February 15th from 7:00-8:30pm.
For more information, contact Kabby Akers: kakers@cdlex.org
