"God's Planet Too"

The Month of September 2009

Saint Peter's Catholic Church

Hinckley

"THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND ITS FULLNESS THEREFORE" (psalm 24)
 

Creation, even without humanity, is intrinsically good. And so it is that the bible starts with Genesis and thus creation.

We are not asked to see the earth as separate from ourselves but rather that nature in its own right indicates a deeper reality of God’s unfathomable power and creativity. We are the stewards of the earth and as such bear a heavy responsibility in its preservation not just for the lifestyle that we are used to but for the generation to come and the generation after that, and .... the generations after that.
It is through prayer and meditation, through awareness and reality that we are called to take up the mission of:

"Caring for our Planet, Stewards of Creation"

How do we do this? In the first instance we will take a look at ourselves and then we look to find a way to live in harmony with the earth and all living things.

The Pope says in "Caritas in Veritae"
"The natural environment is more than a raw material to be manipulated at our pleasure; it is a wondrous work of the Creator containing a "grammar" which sets forth ends and criteria for its wise use, not its reckless exploitation."

During September we would like to take you on a journey that will once again restore our vision of the earth, to awaken us again to its glories, its beauties and mysteries and to remind ourselves of how we can

CARE for THE PLANET,

for now, for us and for all future generations.

While we ignore the possibility of climate change, the developing world is already feeling the effects of the changing seasons. No longer able to rely on the rains, their time for planting is shortened and the time for harvesting does not come in cycle. Our brothers and sisters of the two thirds of the world still trying to develop and feed and water their people suffer as a result of our way of life. All development efforts over the last years will be lost as the climate dominates all the human effort.
Can we adapt?
How do we adapt?
What does Christ ask us to do, and be, for the sake of the planet and all its people?

Diary of Events

Sept. 5th & 6thThe Theology of Creation: Taking time to look at what God asks to do with His creation.

Sept 12th & 13th The Problem of Climate Change: Living in an inter-connected world, have we a responsibility to the universal world?
In 2000 Make Poverty History was an agenda to which most of us agreed 
What happens now when climate change will make "Poverty Permanent"?
What is our role on this planet Earth?

Sept. 17th (Thursday). Climate Justice; an evening with Mike Monaghan. 7:30pm in the hall.

Sept. 20th & 21st St Martin's School will help to prepare us for the petition of the Cafod "Climate Justice" campaign.
"Climate Justice" is a coalition of Christian Aid, Jubilee Action, Operation Noah, Cafod and many other organisations interested in support for poor countries struggling to cope with climate change.
These groups come together on December 5th 2009 for a demonstration in London for Action in Copenhagen, the meeting of world powers.

Sept. 26th & 27th Our Climate is in Our Hands. Sunday (only) Homily: Father Robert Moore.
St. Peter's School will be helping us to look for ways to be in harmony with Creation, and to be more frugal in using the earth's resources.


Further biblical references

Stewards of His creation. (Genesis 2: 19-20)
The covenant that God made with Noah after the flood, of which the rainbow is a constant reminder. (Genesis 9:12)
The lure of wealth and power. (Matthew 6: 19-21; Luke 9: 1-6, Ephesians 1: 9-12; Colossians 1: 16-17)
Mary the Mother of Life challenges us to abandon the pathway of death and return to the way of life. (Luke 1: 52)
'Choose life and then you and your descendants will live' (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)

USEFUL WEBSITES

 Cafod                                                          www.cafod.org.uk
Questions and answers.                                   e-mail ask.thelantern@gmail.com
Nottingham diocese Justice and Peace Office. www.justiceandpeacenottingham.org.uk    
                                                                       e-mailnottinghamjp@yahoo.co.uk

                                                                       www.stampoutpoverty.org

 Operation Noah                                             www.operationnoah.org

                                                                       http://www.stopclimatechaos.org