As we celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of Earth Day, Liz Bady, a member of our faith community provides today’s devotional.
Scripture: Psalm 104:24-35
What a wildly wonderful world, God!
You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Oh, look — the deep, wide sea,
brimming with fish past counting,
sardines and sharks and salmon.
Ships plow those waters,
and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
All the creatures look expectantly to you
to give them their meals on time.
You come, and they gather around;
you open your hand and they eat from it.
If you turned your back,
they’d die in a minute —
Take back your Spirit and they die,
revert to original mud.
Send out your Spirit and they spring to life —
the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.
The glory of God — let it last forever!
Let God enjoy his creation!
God takes one look at earth and triggers an earthquake,
points a finger at the mountains and volcanoes erupt.
Oh, let me sing to God all my life long,
sing hymns to my God as long as I live!
Oh, let my song please God;
I am so pleased to be singing to God.
From: The Message by Eugene Peterson
Reflection
Look at all that God has given to us - our earth, our food, wonderful nature in which to revel, and life itself! God gave us Jesus, God’s son, as an example, a teacher and our redeemer. There is so much we have been given, so much to rejoice and worship.
I lived for 33 years in the woods of Maine. I was able to rejoice in nature every day. I took a three mile walk each day with my Mom and a dear friend. One day we got a very up-close opportunity to observe nature. It was in the Fall and up ahead we saw an absolutely huge bull moose! Now in the Fall, it is not a good idea to get anywhere near a bull moose, and he was a magnificent fellow! We quickly turned around and hurried home to the more mundane nature of raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and porcupines.
There is so much that God has provided, so much to be amazed at. In this time of isolation, I think we have all come to appreciate what God has provided even more. And, I am hoping that we are thinking more about how we need to take care of our world and what God has lovingly given us. Mistreating our world has most likely contributed to what is happening in the world today. We are celebrating another Earth Day. Let us embrace what each one of us can do to better this wonderful creation from God.
Prayer
Dear loving and creating God. We thank you for all you have provided us. And, let us strive to do better each day in taking care of your world and creations. Help us to remember this time in our world and help us to become transformed. In your son’s name. Amen
Important Announcements
1. Would you like to write a devotional for this series? We need to receive a new supply of devotionals so that we can continue this series. If you’d like to submit a devotional, just as Liz Bady did for today, please know that all devotionals are welcome. If you have a devotional—or, would like to write one—please contact Richard at richard.randolph@christumclinc.org. Just about every day, Richard receives an email from someone who deeply appreciated reading the devotion for that day. Contributing one of these devotionals is an important way we can support and care for members of our faith community.
2. Join us for a virtual Midweek Retreat this Wednesday, April 22nd, from 5:15-6:30 pm. We will spend most of our time seeing and talking with friends from Christ United Methodist Church. Then, towards the end of our time together, we will conclude with a “virtual” celebration of Holy Communion. If you don’t grape juice and bread for communion, please join us anyway. It will be perfectly all right to use substitutes—anything, such as saltines and water. We will consecrate your elements from a distance, and receive the sacrament in our homes.
Once again, we will use zoom technology to connect. To join our virtual Midweek Retreat, get on your computers or phones and go to the website https://us02web.zoom.us/j/458451147If you need it, the Meeting ID is 458 451 147.
If you don’t have a computer or phone, with a camera and microphone, you can still join our virtual Midweek Retreat by traditional telephone. Simply call 346-248-7799. When prompted, type in the Meeting Id number, 458 451 147. This will allow you to participate in the virtual Midweek Retreat using your phone. We hope that you will join us for this special meeting.