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And the Leaves of the Tree are for the Healing of the Nations - Revelation 22:2
Comes Join Us for the Presbyterian Men
Fellowship & Conference
July 20-22, 2012 - Register for the 2012 Conference: Click here
Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA
The Earth Is The Lord’s! Proclaiming the love Jesus has for us, the Conference this year will focus on how richly we have been blessed. We’ll take a caring look at this world God has made and given to us.
Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. But, we are beginning to see that we “threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care” (from our Presbyterian Brief Statement of Faith, Book of Confessions, 10.3).
Jesus calls us to live in a manner which is respectful of God’s creation, to use our resources wisely. Through his teachings, we learn that we are also to care for our neighbors -- “the least of these” among us (Matthew 25:40). We will learn that we are connected to each other around the world, and that the way we live our lives: how we eat, what we wear, the energy we use; all has the potential to affect other people, near and far away.
We’ll begin with a survey of pertinent verses from throughout the Bible. We are consistently given authority and instructed to take care of what we have been given. But being good stewards of Creation can help us to fulfill another Biblical mandate: to do justice, especially in caring for the needs of the poor (Micah 6).
On this foundation, we will discuss ‘living green’, and how we might modify our own approach to life as God intends. We’ll spend some time investigating the value of personal attention to this matter, and how we can more fully enjoy the resources God has provided for our use. We’ll be looking not only into what we can be doing as individuals, but also how we can make a difference by working together. Are you a member of an Earth Care Congregation?(what’s that? click here ) We need to understand the impact that our actions have on others, here at home and around the world.
Saturday afternoon will be set aside for free-time activities to enjoy , which may include golfing, hiking, visiting a local farm, watching a theme-related movie or even just taking a nap!
From learning about ‘green’ lifestyles and community efforts, we will move on to look for governance which will provide stewardship for this planet; how to look for and develop leaders who will support an appropriate approach toward using our resources in an effective and conservative manner.
The Conference will wrap up with a panel discussion to review the speakers’ messages and to explore the various factors presented, to address your specific questions, and to share ways in which we can help our home congregations to effectively develop greener lifestyles.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Earth Care is honoring and respecting the Lord, and also loving our neighbor.
Revelation 22:2 “And the Leaves of the Tree . . . ” brings us full circle back to the Tree of Knowledge introduced in Genesis, in Eden. Here, though, the context is related to those who have been saved; i.e., who believe in Jesus; and represents a vision toward which we can strive, here on Earth.
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