Having recently navigated California’s longest and hottest heatwave on record, there should not be any further question on whether or not humans are changing the environment. We have changed the environment in the establishment of cities and the concentrated amount of heat that comes from asphalt and black rooftops. We are presently in the midst of a sixth extinction event on our planet. As the Prodigal Species on the planet, we are facing a stark choice; Spiritually evolve as the New Creatures co-creating heaven here on earth, or continue on this present path of ecological destruction. This Sunday we will be exploring the very foundations of the creation stories we have inherited and look at these through the lens of Ecofeminist Theology. Is there room for a new story and a new narrative to reclaim God’s abundantly creative forces moving through the natural world that reestablishes right relations to God’s creation? Can humans once again become good stewards of God’s creations?
Genesis 1:27- 31 (Scripture Reading, NRSV)
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them,
and God said to them “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth
and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over
the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the
earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed
that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its
fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth,
and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant
for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and
indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning,
the sixth day.
(Mesopotamian Creation Story)
The ancient Mother Goddess Tiamat is ripped apart in an epic hand-to-hand combat by the young male Marduk.
Marduk then splits Tiamat’s body in half “like a shellfish”. He raises one
half upward as the sky, to seal off the waters above. He then fashions the
stars and planetary abodes of the heavens in the underside of her body.
Marduk then imagines a more daring work. He summons Kingu, Tiamat’s
conquered consort, judges him guilty of supporting her, and kills him. He
then fashions the humans out of Kingu’s blood mixed with clay. Imposing
servitude on these mortal creatures, he frees the gods for leisure.
Given the power of early creation stories, is there a connection between these early accounts of the universe and our present ecological crisis? Come and join us to find out more!
In Faith,
Rev. Dr. David Brown
Saturday in the garden--a free class on water 9:30am-11am
Sunday Gathering
3pm Work Together
4pm Worship Together
5pm Eat together
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