An important creation care opportunity is just around the corner, and Arizona Episcopal Churches will lead the way. On October 4 the church honors St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. On that date, and several dates surrounding it, various diocesan communities will celebrate the occasion with a Blessing of the Animals service. …
By Thomas Blum Here in the Phoenix area, we just recently had a record run of thirty-one consecutive days with temperatures above 110°; many days over 115°. There can be little doubt that climate change is rearing its ugly head. One of the many culprits that may come as a surprise to many people is …
By Bill Robinson Lynn is behind the wheel today and her clenched-jaw attention is fixed on the road. The borrow ditches on either side of the narrow, bumpy, asphalt defile known as “Indian Highway 15” are exceptionally deep. She does not have the luxury of sightseeing. That’s my job. That, and trying to serve as …
by David Spence, MD Electric vehicles are flooding the market these days. For those of us who take the threat of climate change seriously as part of our Christian responsibility to be good caretakers of the world that God created, this is a tremendous opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. But there are also zero-emission …
This Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day! Consider setting aside the day to learn about, connect with, or take action to protect or restore God’s creation as we turn our focus toward our fragile island home. Here are some events and activities on or around Earth Day for you to consider participating in — or …
By The Rev. Canon Pam Hyde I was seven years old, living on the suburban/rural fringe east of Cleveland, on June 22, 1969, when the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland caught on fire. I’m sure my parents remarked on it when the news hit the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer the next day, …
by The Rev. Pam Hyde, Canon for Creation Care Did you know that there are twenty-four National Park units in Arizona…and you can get into them all for free on Saturday, April 22nd? That Saturday is the first day of National Park Week across the country this year, and the National Park Service is celebrating …
By Dr. Angel Wang In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve were given charge over Creation as “dominion” or “stewardship”. Could a third, rarely recognized interpretation be “partnership”? Harvard philosopher Christine Korsgaard, in her book Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals, makes the case that humans are not inherently more important than animals and …
By The Rev. Canon Pam Hyde “Is creation care really something that we need to pay attention to in church?” As I talk to people in our churches in the diocese, I’ve heard this question a couple of times. But more often I’ve heard people indirectly question the importance of caring for God’s creation in …
By Bill Robinson When Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, it’s estimated that there were over 4000 varieties of maize, or corn, growing in North America. Many of these varieties looked different from the corn we know today. They were being grown across an immense spectrum of geography and climate. The diversity and …
By The Rev. Canon Pam Hyde The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here …
Investing in energy efficiency at your church can be a win-win both for the church’s bottom line and for the earth. But the problem can sometimes be coming up with the funds to make energy efficiency improvements. Two acts of Congress in the past year have included provisions that can help with that, including establishing …