10 Ways to Care for Creation

Thrive has updated this resource for churches looking for fresh ways to address our call to care for creation. "Ten Ways to Care for Creation" includes ideas such as starting an intergenerational gardening project, holding a storytelling series, and much more!

We invite you to download this FREE resource and share it with your church, or order printed copies for a small fee at FaithAliveResources.org.

Ten Ways to Care for Creation

1. Start an Intergenerational Gardening Project
Create a church garden or green space and tend it with the help of church members of all ages. Consider enlisting those in your church who are familiar with gardening to manage the project. The garden could be used to grow fruits and vegetables for church or community members, or could simply be a place to plant native flowers and vegetation. 

2. Be a Climate Witness Partner
Become a part of the Climate Witness Project (crcna.org/cwp). Through this project groups of people are helping their congregations engage in creation care around four core areas: worship, education, energy stewardship and advocacy. 

3. Host an Adult Education Series on Creation Care
Hosting an education series is a great way to get the conversation started on creation care. The Climate Witness Project has a number of resources for you to use. From global climate video series Climate Conversation: Kenya and Bangladesh, to domestic ones like the Hunting Park Film Series and study guide, the Climate Witness Project’s education webpage has the tools you need to get started! 

4. Host a Film or Film Series on the Impacts of Climate Change
Partner with area congregations to rent out a theatre or host the event at your church. Popular films on this topic include For the Love of, Climate Conversation: Bangladesh, Before the Flood, Hunting Park Film Series and From the Ashes. Invite panelists who are impacted or who have expertise to continue the conversation after the film. 

5. Pray for Communities that are Impacted by Climate Change
Highlight stories in worship and pray for affected communities. World Renew has ideas you can use to give support through a special offering (https://worldrenew.net/resources). Maybe one of your missionaries could share in worship or World Renew could help connect you with a field staff person who can speak in your worship service. 

6. Advocate
Sign up for advocacy action alerts (justice.crcna.org/advocacy) or help interested members of your congregation to sign up. You can learn more about the church and advocacy with a study of this advocacy guide. Thrive and World Renew staff can also assist you by training and equipping you for how to engage in faithful advocacy. Learn more at justice.crcna.org/advocacy.

7. Form an Intergenerational Creation Care Team
Creation care teams help their churches creatively engage in creation care activities. Teams might adopt a trail, regularly share ways to reduce energy and water usage at church and at home, transition coffee hour from styrofoam to reusable cups, volunteer at or host a tree planting, and even help plan a creation care oriented education series. Use our step-by-step Recipe for Building a Creation Care Team guide found our resource page (https://www.crcna.org/climate-witness-project/education). 

8. Creation Care Storytelling Series
Hold a creation care storytelling series. This could happen in worship over the course of many weeks. It could happen over a large group meal or breakfast or it could happen through a series of house parties. The focus is for participants to share stories about why caring for creation is important to them. You could also deepen the experience by inviting outside speakers with a special interest in this topic to share alongside the rest of the group. 

9. Save Energy
Congregations across the U.S. and Canada are already leading by example (and saving thousands of dollars) by stewarding their energy usage. Schedule an energy audit for your church building to discover areas that need improvement (some utility providers offer these for free.) Dr. Henry Brouwer wrote a practical handbook for how to save energy in your church building. Learn more at justice.crcna.org/energy-stewardship. Local electricians and utility providers may also be able to provide tips on grants and rebates. Many CRC churches have even been able to achieve an ENERGY STAR endorsement for their facilities. 

10. Promote Intergenerational Learning
Check out World Renew’s small group study Live Justly. It has short readings and can be utilized by adults, young adults, high school, middle school, or a mix of all four groups. You will especially want to look at lesson 6 on consumption and lesson 9 on creation care. Find out how to get the books and watch the free videos at https://www.crcna.org/SocialJustice/resources/live-justly.

This resource has been developed by Thrive. We provide resources that respond to God's call to justice and discipleship by advocating alongside and in support of those who are marginalized, vulnerable, and oppressed. If you have questions or would like support in ministry, please email [email protected].