In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
Psalm 95:4-5
Earth Day History
Happy Earth Day! Wishing you all opportunities to spend time outside today, quality moments with loved ones in the great outdoors, and another year of cherishing the beauty of our wonderful planet! At YECA, we stand for climate action, creation care, and environmental enjoyment every day of the year. But this week we pay special attention to cherishing the beauty that God gifted us in the form of our wonderful planet! Earth Day comes on the heels of Creation Care Sunday, a day where church congregations across the world celebrate our stewardship of the land and God’s glory revealed through creation. From last Sunday, to today, and beyond, we are rejoicing alongside you for the oceans, animals, stars, planets, mountains, atmosphere, trees, flowers, and everything in between.
Earth Day is an annual celebration on April 22. The event traces its roots to a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara in January 1969. Shocked by the disastrous event, democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, decided to take action and raise awareness for the detrimental effects of air and water pollution. To help bring environmental education to the public, Senator Nelson teamed up with Pete McCloskey, a republican Congressman, and a young activist named Denis Hayes to organize teach-ins on college campuses. Together, the team brought awareness to the dangers of environmental degradation. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in public spaces to spark conversation on the impact of pollution on human health and encourage action.
The inaugural Earth Day ushered in an era of environmentally conscious measures such as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and passing of several Acts (among which are the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act). Fifty years later, the effects of Earth Day continue to grow, reaching a billion participants worldwide standing for conscientious practices, conservation, and for leaders to address a changing planet. Earth Day is a proven success, demonstrating what effective change looks like when we work together with a common goal. Earth Day 1970 was a protest that unified both Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, and urban and rural populations across the nation. What started as a response to oil spills grew into a movement encompassing factory pollution, energy concerns, sewage concerns, pesticides and toxic waste handling, extinction, climate change, wildlife stewardship, and more. When we unite around shared common values out of concern for our neighbors, we can achieve change and impact beyond our wildest imagination.
Celebrating Earth Day
How can we celebrate this day by giving God the glory, standing for justice, and adhering to the original message of solidarity? We recommend committing to praying and practicing today!
Prayer: Before anything, prayer is the most powerful action we can take. As Christians, we believe that prayer is relational and consequential in every meaning of the word. Take a moment today to open your heart to God to unload concerns, convey praise, express gratitude, ask for guidance, and request help. If you’re unsure on how to start, YECA has a prayer template for having a creation conversation with our Lord.
Jesus, each spring is a testament to your faithfulness. The renewal of nature is reminiscent of how You make all things new again. As we enter a new season of life will you continue to show your triumph over death and power to make all things new in my life. On this Earth Day, I am reminded that You are the most thoughtful artist. We see Your greatness in the tiniest flowers, the majestic peaks of the highest mountains, the roaring of the oceans, and the bright colors on each bird. We love and praise You. In particular I want to thank you for____________. It makes me feel ____________. As I reflect more about responsible stewardship and loving my neighbors by caring for their health and safety, will you open my eyes and ears? The issue that’s on my heart is______________. I’m thinking of this because _____________. Will you have your hand over the people involved, namely _________________? Please lead me onto avenues that show your heart to others and illuminate opportunities for me to act on faith. Amen.
Practice: Below are some ideas of how you can tangibly put faith into action this Earth Day. Having faith means living out our values and showing the world what it means to be responsible stewards, humble servants, and loving neighbors. Consider your schedule, geography, and community as you plan your action this week. Every effort, no matter how small, is seen and honored by the Lord.
Write to a small business to encourage sustainable options like: composting food waste, straws with a purpose, or changing the lightbulbs to energy saving models.
Plan a prayer walk with friends or family at a nearby park or trail
Talk to your pastor about setting up a creation care themed sermon around September 1st
Add one of YECA’s recommended readings to your book club lineup (A great place to start is Following Jesus in a Warming World)
Host a clothing swap
Spread hope by sharing how people of faith are combatting climate change
Plant native plants in your garden
Limit AI usage
Read Psalm 8, once slowly to yourself and once out loud
Reach out to local environmental groups to volunteer for a clean-up, pledge a donation, or join their membership
Sources
https://www.the-independent.com/climate-change/news/earth-day-2022-when-what-date-b2062209.html
https://www.earthday.org/history/
