Dear ICA/OE Friends! Happy Earth Day/Week! Thanks for the Earth Day messages, poetry and Laudato Si music that have been posted this morning.  Today I find myself both lamenting Earth's crisis and humanity's continuing complicity in its destruction and also celebrating Earth's beauty and its continually unfolding wonder--caught between bad Judeo/Christian Biblical interpretation/theology that spurred humanity to "dominate" the land and all that is in it through violence and extraction and also a vision that calls humanity to beat swords into plowshares and be midwives of a New Heaven and New Earth. So related to Earth Day, I thought I would share . . . Carleton and I coordinate the Earth Care Team at Second Presbyterian Church, where we attend.   To celebrate Earth Day, in addition to our morning service, we will be hosting an evening outdoor in person campfire s'more Earth Day Vesper Service. -Attached:  a draft of the service, using Native American and Celtic motifs. -Below:      -info about the vesper service with links to two songs that will be used;      -a link to a blog by Carleton written for our presbytery's e-news for Earth Day;      -Lyrics to song:  A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH APRIL 25 EARTH DAY CAMPFIRE/S'MORES IN-PERSON VESPER SERVICE All are invited to Second Presbyterian Church's EARTH DAY VESPER SERVICE, Sunday, April 25, 6:00 PM in the church parking lot, hosted by the Earth Care Team.  We will be gathering around a "campfire", worshiping together, and then enjoying a time of fellowship and making s'mores.  Food and utensils will be provided.  Bring a chair, wear a mask, and practice social distancing.  Parking may be on the street or on the left side of the church parking lot, as you enter the lot.  Come celebrate the gift of God's Creation and our call to care for Earth and all that is in it.  All are invited to wear GREEN! Vesper songs: Let the Earth Breathe:  2.15.21 Let the Earth Breathe.mp4 Now I Walk in Beauty: Now I Walk In Beauty Libana- Fire Within - YouTube Carleton's Earth Day blog.  He coordinates the presbytery's Earth Care Team.  Earth Day 2021 - Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy (glpby.org)                          ANEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH                         Whoknows why the star lights the planet                        Whycreation stretches in vastness                        Whyso small a creature as I am                        Meetsand feels the wonder at hand.                         Whoknows what the wind whispers softly                        Whatthe land recalls from life’s dawning                        Whatlife’s goodness bids us now to choose                        Whatnew thing we’re given to do                         Whoknows where the Earth greets the rainbow                        Wherethe river beckons to go                        Wherethe road will lead us to enter                        Anew way that seeks no return                         Whoknows how the eagle wing soars so                        Howthe mountain moves upon order                        Howthe serpent laughs with the white dove                        Bringingforth new beings filled with love                         Whoknows when the waves kiss the shore line                        Whensand castles shift to the sea                        Whennew footprints christen the strange birth                        Ofa new heaven and new earth.                                                                                     ejhs  Have a great Earth Day/week! Ellie   elliestock@aol.com