Welcome to Peace.
To participate in Sunday’s service at 10:30am, follow this LINK.
A PDF Worship Guide is available here: Creation 1A TREES 2020 6.14.20 livestream bulletin
From June 14-28 we’re exploring the connection between forest ecology, human ecology, and our Christian faith during a Season of Creation: TREES
Ancestors of modern trees began appearing on Earth about 385 million years ago. Over the millennia complex relationships have evolved within and between various tree species, their root systems, the microscopic fungal and bacterial network that inhabits the humus at their feet—as well with the creatures, great and small, with whom they have slowly built alliances through time. Across millions of generations, trees have contributed significantly to the process by which Earth became a habitable planet—a role they continue to play today.
Research into forest ecology in recent decades has made some startling discoveries: that trees living in community (we call them forests) communicate with one another, tend their young, share resources, respond to the needs of weakened members, enrich the livability of the places where they reside, sequester carbon, provide the oxygen we breathe, time the dispersal of their seed-progeny to maximize distribution, budget their strength and energy economically, and have well developed methods for healing themselves and fending off invaders.[1]
For thousands of years human cultures around the world have recognized the sacred nature of trees and have employed them as symbols of the Divine. In the Scriptures, the Tree of Life is a metaphor for the mysterious, primordial Garden from which humankind emerged (Genesis 1-2) and toward which God’s mission of wholeness and healing is leading us (Revelation 22). The Tree of the Cross is the axis through which Earth and Heaven, God and Humankind, are reunited through the outpoured love of the Creator in and through Jesus, whose incarnation opens our eyes once more to the sacred nature of Earth which, like a Mother, nurtures and sustains all living things.
During these three weeks we’re paying attention to the trees we encounter each day—around our homes, in your neighborhoods and parks—and we invite you to join us! Let’s learn together more of what trees and forests have to teach us about living in community and enhancing the livability of the places where we live. Let’s get outside and use the Tree Walking Guides provided by the City of Seattle Park Department (available on the Peace website) to view specific species of trees “in person’ in West Seattle parks and neighborhoods; let’s humbly open ourselves to what we might learn.
Our PASS THE HAT MINISTRY this month is Earth Ministry. A video highlighting Earth Ministry’s role as a “moral compass” is included in the 6/14 Live Stream.
In WEEK TWO we’ll be joined by Lynda Mapes, author of Witness Tree: Seasons of Change with a Century Old Oak. Pastor Kindem and Marcia O had a fascinating ZOOM conversation with Lynda that will be part of our service. Copies of her book, Witness Tree, are available at West Seattle’s PAPER BOAT BOOKSELLERS. Get your copy while they last!
Then, in WEEK THREE, look for a special performance of The Tree, an original song composed by Dana Lyons arranged and produced by Bronwyn Edwards for virtual choir. In addition, Kjerstyn Lindgren, niece of Kevin and Nicole Klinemeier and graduate of Evergreen State University, will lead an adult forum on tips for moving toward a zero-waste lifestyle.
We hope you’ll join us!
[1] See Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees. (Vancouver BC: Greystone Books, 2016)
What does this mean?