From Pastor Jess

I went on a field trip this spring with several members of Christ Episcopal Church to Mass MoCa, the modern art museum in North Adams, Mass. It's pretty extraordinary, but I experienced stunned silence when I came upon the exhibit pictured here- a large rock-like structure with an inscribed plaque:

It was so piercing and uncomfortable, which I'm sure is part of the effect the artist was hoping to arouse- a rush of emotions everywhere from terror, anger and helplessness to hopefulness. I wanted to look away and I wanted to pick it up and carry it with me everywhere and show it to everyone. I thought about my children, and their potential children, and the babies who are born today and tomorrow- what will the planet be like? And, I thought of the Creation story in Genesis and Jesus's constant use of metaphors and examples from the natural world- seeds, trees, sand, rock, water, soil, bread, stars, wheat, fish, grapes and wine, sheep... The prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures used them as well. There is no part of our sacred texts that is not deeply rooted in and intertwined with nature and the environment, and that is because we, too, are of the earth and creatures of it.

On September 7th, the Sunday when we will be worshiping at Glimmerglass State Park and having a potluck lunch together, we will also be starting a Season of Creation worship series, for five Sundays. The broad themes for each Sunday are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Flora and Fauna.

Later in September, we will begin a book study of Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life, by Ferris Jabr. There will be more info on that soon, but I recommend starting to read it now and savoring it. I will put a paper in the back of the sanctuary where you can sign up if you are interested in participating, and if you want me to purchase you a copy for $13.

“Earth has shown us the power of community, diversity, and reciprocity. Among all existing creatures, we alone have the opportunity to consciously emulate our living planet and knowingly perpetuate its sublime composition. We are neither the cancer of Earth nor its cure. We are its progeny, its poetry, and its mirror.”

Ferris Jabr, in Becoming Earth, pg.229.

My Office Hours for the week of 8/18 are:

 Tuesday, 8/19 and Thursday, 8/21 from 8:30am-3pm

Rev. Jess Lambert