by The Rev. Canon Pam Hyde
What do you think of when you think of the Thanksgiving holiday? Turkey? Family? Maybe football games or Black Friday shopping?
Thanksgiving is first and foremost a day of offering thanks for the bounty given to us by God. Our Book of Common Prayer contains a Litany of Thanksgiving on page 836 that begins,
Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so
freely bestowed upon us.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and
sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
So perhaps this year, along with food and family — and perhaps instead of frenzied shopping on Black Friday — consider incorporating a way to give thanks for God’s gift of the beauty and wonder of creation into your Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some ideas to get you started….
Go Outside and Enjoy Arizona’s Natural Beauty
Talk a walk…a hike…a bike ride, and pay attention to the world and the creatures around you. Plan your own outdoor excursion, or join one of these:
- Friday, Nov. 25th (Wickenburg) — Post-Thanksgiving Nature Hike at the Hassayampa River Preserve.
- Saturday, November 26th (Phoenix) — Guided Bird Outing, Rio Salado Audubon Center.
- Saturday, November 26th (Cave Creek) — Nature Hike at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.
Lend a Helping Hand to Clean Up or Restore the Earth
Join a community event and make your corner of the natural world a better place. Consider one of these, find one in your local community, or grab some friends and do it on your own:
- Wednesday, Nov. 23rd (Tucson) — Sonoran Desert Weedwackers organized Buffelgrass and Fountain grass control at Tucson Mountain Park.
- Friday, Nov. 25th (Phoenix) — 5th annual Green Friday Lower Salt River Cleanup at Coon Bluff.
- Saturday, November 26th (Phoenix) — Green Saturday Cleanup at Esteban Park.
- Saturday, November 26th (Tucson) — Invasive species removal from Tanque Verde Creek.
Traveling Over the Holiday? Purchase Some Carbon Offsets
Whether you travel by plane or car, you’ll be emitting greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. By purchasing carbon offsets, you fund an activity that compensates for the emissions you produce. Here are some places to purchase them:
- Sustainable Travel International: Flight, car, and boat carbon offset purchases support forestry, clean and efficient energy, blue carbon (carbon sequestration), and community-based carbon offset projects.
- Terrapass: Flight carbon offset purchases support farm power, landfill gas capture, clean energy from wind power, and abandoned coal mine methane capture carbon offset projects.
Many airlines also offer ways to purchase carbon offsets, including Southwest, American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and others.
Learn more about supporting Creation Care Ministry.
