Celebrating God’s Creation

A report of 2007 programs at Second Presbyterian Church

Richmond, Virginia

In February 2007 a task force representing the church councils was formed to develop a year long program focusing on God’s creation and the individual and corporate responsibility for stewardship. The fall included an art show featuring recycled materials. Beginning in October four Sunday forum classes were devoted to programs related to the Biblical foundations of Creation and topics related to conservation and the environment. To emphasize the creation one Sunday had a sermon and music. Daffodil bulbs were provided the children in the Sunday school for planting at church and home. The church also adopted a policy of using recycled paper and replacement of light bulbs with energy efficient ones.

The spring brought another series of four forum speakers, an art show featuring images reflecting Gods creation, and two sermons were presented one with the theme of Conserving our Heritage. The Church hosted the spring meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The theme of their conference was Regenerative Design, which focused on sustainable design and development practices. Earth Day was celebrated by a special sermon and music. The sermon reflected a conservation theme and the recognition of Earth Day. The children and young adults were provided with pine seedling to plant at home or some other location.  Special materials were used in the church reflecting God’s gifts.  The communion table was covered with evergreen boughs and numerous carved wooden birds, native flowers were used in the flower arrangements in the front of the church as well as a cross of evergreen boughs.  Forum classes with conservation themes were continued after the Earth Day program.