September 17, 2006 - Citizenship Day, Outdoor Worship, Church Picnic on the Church Grounds

Lesson: Genesis 1.26-31; 2.15

Sermon Title: Earthkeeping

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  1. This morning, please let me read the Lesson from the New Living Bible.

Genesis 1:26-31, (New Living Translation)

26 Then God said, "Let us make human beings (1) in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."

27 So God created human beings (2) in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."

29 Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground--everything that has life." And that is what happened.

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

Genesis 2:15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.

  1. Play Environment Word Scramble

Give papers to children and have them enlist the adults in solving the jumbles names.

  1. To watch over it

Watch in the Hebrew means: that is to, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.:--beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man). (3)

    1. Well, he did not do a very good job of it, this watching and protecting.

    2. He fell foul of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."

      1. Not only his life, but all life began to die.

      2. The landscape changed.

      3. Thorns and thistles appeared.

  1. We have inherited the mandate to TEND AND TO KEEP

    1. "To Preserve and Protect"

      1. Motto of Police Departments

      2. Mission Statement of many environmental groups

    2. Earthkeeping is about: (4)

      1. Recognizing the fundamental mystery of the world, and accepting it.

      2. Understanding the ecological processes which govern our planet.

      3. Enjoying natural beauty, experiencing wonder and awe, and most important, being humbled.

      4. Protecting the life of other species as well as our own, preserving the flow of wildness; practicing conservation in our use of the environment. KNOWLEDGE

      5. Developing an understanding of the interdependence of living things is an exciting and satisfying activity.

    3. Devotion

      1. Enjoying the beauty and mystery of the world is easy - simply pay attention!

      2. Motorized contraptions only get in the way -- walk or crawl and witness the beauty and infinite complexity of the things around you.

    4. Works

      1. Learning to preserve wildness, promote ecological harmony, and work against environmental degradation is one of the most satisfying activities.

      2. Skills of Earthkeeping can be learned through reading and participation in environmental organizations.

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  1. We can only do what we can, where we can.

    1. I received this story from Bob Berthold

He wrote: "Les, I think that you might enjoy this one. It is right up your alley."

    1. It was a forwarded message originally from Roger A Brown

The story of The Cracked Pot

A Water Bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the and of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the Water Bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." The pot said.

The Water Bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

  1. We may not able to do much, but if we will do what we can the world will be a more beautiful place because of us.

1. 1:26 Or man; Hebrew reads adam.

2. 1:27 Or the man; Hebrew reads ha-adam.

3. Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, First Edition, Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998, Parsons Technology, Inc. Cedar Rapids, Iowa All rights reserved. Used with permission.

4. Copyright is held by the indicated organization and/ or author. All rights are reserved. All other material, Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 Universal Pantheist Society. All rights are reserved.

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