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