Weekly Celebrations, Actions and Meditations
 To Promote Earth Stewardship

Week 1:  March 23-29:  “Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:3, NIV).

 Focus on God’s creation of light.  Spend time this week enjoying the sun, the star at the center of the solar system. Sunlight is Earth's primary source of energy. The Sun's current age is thought to be about 4.57 billion years. Marvel at the light of night, the moon, earth’s only natural satellite and the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system. The Moon is in synchronous rotation, meaning that it keeps nearly the same face turned towards the Earth at all times.

 Enjoy nature art that uses light and dark images to portray the magnificence of God’s creation!  Give thanks that we have such convenient lighting in our homes and offices.             

Celebration Look up at the sky at least once each day. Enjoy interesting cloud patterns. Point out a beautiful cloud formation to a friend. Enjoy the waxing and waning of the moon. Have dinner by candlelight.   Photo: Sunset at sea
	Look at the contrasts in Ansel Adams photographs and feel the soothing light in Thomas Kincaid’s artwork.  Experience total darkness in a cave, then walk out into the sunlight, close your eyes, and turn your face to the sun. Catch the Cherry blossom festival.     Photo: Lunar Eclipse

Actions

• Replace at least one incandescent light bulb with a more energy efficient type.
• Switch off lights as you leave each room.
• To encourage children to switch off lights, tape a big yellow paper hand pointing down over the light switch.
• Donate to a charity for blindness research, and/or one that promotes the arts.
• Ask about the type of lights in your workplace and start an effort to update with energy efficient lights.
• Light becomes energy. Make a solar cooker from an umbrella or cardboard box. http://solarcooking.org/plans/
• Explore solar power for your home, perhaps hot water.

Meditation

Darkness covered the earth when Christ died.  Switch off all the lights, and sit in darkness for a while.  Meditate in, and on, the darkness.  “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 3:22-23).  Then switch on the light or walk out into the light and give thanks!

Week 2: Water

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