121. Urban Earthkeepers: Greening the Church and the Neighborhood

Earthkeepers: A Circlewood Podcast on Creation Care and Spirituality

Earthkeepers podcast is committed to helping communities think creatively and boldly about ways they might care for the places where they live. In this episode, Forrest chats with three people—Rachel, Logan, and Celize—about the ways in which Rainier Avenue Church, an urban faith community in Seattle, is trying to actively integrate earth care and faith practice. Among other things, these folks have been seeking to learn and grow in their understanding of earthkeeping through a multi-week group discussion. Notably, all of their themed sessions are oriented both around readings, but also on episodes of this podcast. We love that idea, of course, and appreciate the creative, community building experimentation that it represents. Here then are Rachel, Logan, and Celize discussing how they have been promoting creation care thinking and action in their urban Seattle neighborhood.
Rainier Avenue Church
Rachel's Creation Care Discussion Group Curriculum
Takeaways

• Community living fosters deeper connections and support.
• Eco-theology bridges the gap between faith and environmental care.
• Oral storytelling enhances understanding of scripture.
• Sustainability is a journey that evolves over time.
• Gardening connects individuals to their heritage and community.
• Church communities can be catalysts for environmental awareness.
• Diverse experiences enrich discussions on earth care.
• Scripture reveals a strong connection to creation care.
• Healthy soil is fundamental to human health.
• Community engagement is essential for fostering relationships.
• The use of different lenses impacts our understanding of scripture.
• Creation care is often overlooked in church discussions.
• The gospel should encompass restoration of all creation, not just souls.
• Awareness of environmental degradation can lead to a sense of hopelessness.
• Churches need to take ownership of their impact on the environment.
• Social justice and environmental justice are interconnected.
• Community engagement is essential for meaningful impact.
• Love of place fosters deeper connections within communities.
• Younger generations seek tangible connections between faith and real-world issues.
• Hope exists in grassroots movements and indigenous teachings.
  Keywords:
  community, eco-theology, environmental justice, earth care, communal living, sustainability, social justice, gardening, faith, scripture, creation care, environmental justice, church responsibility, social justice, community engagement, faith praxis, ecological theology, hope, interconnection, love of place
  

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