Then God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

We are one with the earth, or in the least we should be. The stories of creation in Genesis remind us of how deeply and intricately connected all of life is. Earth sustains and fills all of creation for we are in a symbiotic relationship with all that God has made, starting with the earth itself. During the month of June we will explore our covenant with God and creation and the importance for living sustainably as a faithful response.

In an article about learning environmental responsibility from the Old Testament, Ellen F. Davis says, “Being fully human means also understanding our unbreakable bond with the land, the material base of life. One cannot go more than a few chapters in the Old Testament without seeing some vivid reference to land and its importance for humanity, beginning with the image of adam (in Hebrew meaning “man, humankind”) formed from Adamah (“soil”) in Genesis 2:7.”

In worship on Sunday, we will explore in greater detail ancient Israel’s connection with the land and the importance it played in their understanding and faith. Davis also mentioned that living into our humanity means honoring God and those who preceded us by living within the natural limits of the world, caring for the soil, and living wisely on the earth that has been left to us.