Sustaining balanced ministry requires respect for all God’s creation. How do we bring the suffering of Creation into the sanctuary of our worship to honor and heal it? Around the world people are trading plastic items such as drinking straws, toothbrushes, cups, bags, and utensils. In some countries, plastics have become a complex problem because local governments don’t have funding for infrastructure such as landfills, garbage collection, or recycling services. Some small communities in Sao Paulo Brazil have turned recycling into employment opportunities for unskilled laborers who organize and staff sorting facilities, apply for microloans and training to develop business models, and share in the humble but honest income generated by resale of clean recyclable materials.
It is easy to become complacent if we never experience the sacrifice of simple conveniences. Take some time this week, individually and as a church, to grow or improve the ecological efforts in your community.