Things You Can Do To Prepare For This Track
We want you to come to NYC understanding why it is important for each and every Christian to do his or her part to care for the environment - God's creation. We want to ask you to do the following exercises and activities at home to prepare for your NYC experience. Please take this seriously so that we can maximize learning in the short time that we will have together.
Read The Background Information On Creation Care
Click on the button to the left that says "Creation Care Background Info" to read a synopsis of why we should care about creation.
Start Your Journal Now
Purchase a bound composition notebook that you will use as your journal (not one with a spiral bound edge - available for $1-$3 at Staples or Office Max). In this journal, you will make notes about some of the preparation steps given below. You can also use it to write general reflections about God and the earth as you spend time in creation. You will bring the journal to NYC and use it during the three days we spend together at Forest Park.
What The Bible Has To Say About Caring For God's Creation
The Bible has much to say about why we need to take care of the earth. Sometimes it speaks very directly about our relationship to the rest of creation. At other times, we must learn to apply the general truths from the scriptures to our modern day situation. In this case, we must learn to apply these truths to our understanding of why we must take better care of the earth in this age where we have done to much to damage and destroy the environment.
Please click here to take you to a Bible study that you can work on before you come to NYC that will help you look at some of the , or to think about how certain scriptures might apply to our responsibility as caretakers of the earth. Write the answers to each question in your journal and bring it to NYC with you.
Read Your Local Newspaper
To become acquainted with environmental concerns, keep an eye out in your local or regional newspaper for (1) environmental concerns facing your community, and (2) projects that groups are undertaking in your area to protect the environment. Also, keep track of environmental issues facing our country and the world, and anything that is being done about them. Make a list in your journal (or cut out the articles and paste them in your journal).
Calculate Your Ecological Footprint
One way you can realize just how much impact you and your family have on the environment is to take the Ecological Footprint Quiz. Please do this before coming to NYC and be prepared to tell us the magnitude of your impact and what you are going to do to reduce your footprint.
Spend Some Time Alone In Nature
Find your own, special place where you can be alone and enjoy God's creation - a flower garden, a forest trail, a quiet stream, a mountaintop. Spend at least 1 hour there each week. While you are there, pray that God would show you how to be a good caretaker of his world. Also, spend some time getting to know your special place. Here are some ideas (should be recorded in your journal):
- Jesus said that if we remain silent, that even the rocks would cry out!!! Find a rock from your special place, and imagine what it is crying out. Write what you think the rock is saying to you (or to humanity in general) in your journal.
- Write a story about a person who destroys the earth, and about another person that is a caretaker of the earth.
- Find something in
nature that you are willing to defend,
and think about what you would say to defend it before
humanity.
Learn About The Park Where We Will Be Having Our Track
Look up the following links to learn about Forest Park, including the Kennedy Forest and Savanna and the St. Louis Zoo. See if you can figure out what types of plants and animals you might see while we are outdoors during the track. Also, see what efforts are being made to restore and beautify creation in the park by various groups.
City of
Saint Louis - Forest Park
Forest Park Forever
Flora Conservancy
St. Louis Zoo
Kennedy Woods Prairie-Savanna
Kennedy Woods Savanna Photo Database
Forest Park Forever
Flora Conservancy
St. Louis Zoo
Kennedy Woods Prairie-Savanna
Kennedy Woods Savanna Photo Database