Caring for the Creation
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
Earth Care Congregation
In March 2013, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Environmental Ministries certified Providence Presbyterian Church as an Earth Care Congregation. This certification recognizes churches that take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden. This honor speaks to the great commitment that our congregation has to caring for God’s earth. Providence became the first Presbyterian church to be so certified in Fairfax County, and only the third in all of Virginia.
This is our Biblical basis for caring for God’s earth: Click to show allClick to hide all
1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
2the 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.
3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Gen 1:1-5
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5
1Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen 1:26-27
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.” Rev. 21:1-4
- Ex 20:8-11 and Lev. 25:1-7 (Sabbath practice extended to all of creation)
- Job 38 (God explained to Job how all was created)
- Ps. 8, 19, 104 (The incredible glory of God’s handiwork!)
- 2 Cor 5:17-20 and Col 1:15-20 (Christ is the first born of all creation)
To become an Earth Care Congregation, Providence completed an Environmental Audit. In its August 2012 meeting, the Session authorized an Earth Care Team to complete the audit for its September 2011 to September 2012 programs and activities in the areas of worship, education, facilities, and outreach. In order to qualify for this honor, churches needed 100 points to be an Earth Care Congregation; Providence scored 279 points! This is indeed a tribute to the vision and far-sightedness of our church leaders over many years.
During its December 2012 meeting, the Session of Providence Presbyterian Church affirmed the Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into all facets of its church life:
Earth Care Pledge Click to showClick to hide
Peace and justice is God’s plan for all creation. The earth and all creation are God’s. God calls us to be careful, humble stewards of this earth, and to protect and restore it for its own sake, and for the future use and enjoyment of the human family. As God offers all people the special gift of peace through Jesus Christ, and through Christ reconciles all to God, we are called to deal justly with one another and the earth.
1. Our worship and discipleship will celebrate God’s grace and glory in creation and declare that God calls us to cherish, protect and restore this earth.
2. In education, we will seek learning and teaching opportunities to know and understand the threats to God’s creation and the damage already inflicted. We will encourage and support each other in finding ways of keeping and healing the creation in response to God’s call to earth-keeping, justice and community.
3. Our facilities will be managed, maintained and upgraded in a manner that respects and cherishes all creation, human and non-human, while meeting equitably the needs of all people. In our buildings and on our grounds we will use energy efficiently, conserve resources, and share what we have in abundance so that God’s holy creation will be sustainable for all life and future generations.
4. Our outreach will encourage public policy and community involvement that protects and restores the vulnerable and degraded earth as well as oppressed and neglected people. We will be mindful that our personal and collective actions can positively or negatively affect our neighborhood, region, nation and world. We will seek to achieve environmental justice through coalitions and ecumenical partnerships.
The Team would like to solicit your ideas on how Providence can be a “greener”, more environmentally conscious church. Please send your ideas to us by completing the form below, and by joining us at one of our meetings.
Have questions? Ask one of the members of our Earth Care Team Click to showClick to hide
Earth Care Team
- David Kepley (chair),
- Kathy Hermann (Worship,
- Peter McClintock (Mission),
- Toby Fitzke (Property),
- Paige Legenhauser (Children’s Ministry), and
- Sharon Miller (Youth)
