There are many stories of green blades rising this month, so we wanted to share a few more with you! Read about what is happening with composting at St. Andrew's Lutheran in Grand Rapids, exploring regenerative agriculture with the Care of Creation Work Group in the St. Paul Area Synod, and eyewitness participation at the Treaty People Gathering. All of these stories will keep unfolding, so we hope to share the next chapters with you too!

And tell us about the stories you are part of and hearing too by emailing them to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org
More Stories for the Healing of Creation
St Paul Area Synod Care of Creation Work Group Explores Regenerative Agriculture
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Friends, I usually write a monthly reflection on Creation in the Bible. But this month I bring you greetings and questions from the St. Paul Area Synod’s Care of Creation Workgroup. Several years ago our mostly urban group began thinking about the many ways that we were ourselves contributing to an increase of the carbon load in our environment through our own travel habits and the like. We became very interested in how we might support those in Minnesota and beyond who are working to reduce our carbon imprint through their work with the soil. We were soon overwhelmed by the many complications and implications of this important work. And so began a conversation with many folks throughout the state which we hope will lead to a helpful church-centered state-wide conference on this topic. To further our work we are having an actual face-to-face outdoor barbecue on Tuesday, June 15 to sort out what questions we would wish to address in such a conference. So below is a preliminary list of questions. And we ask you, dear readers, to help us by letting us know if you think there are other pressing questions we should address. 

Read more about the initiative and questions here.
St. Andrews Composting Initiative

St. Andrews Lutheran Church of Grand Rapids, MN has had an active EcoFaith Advocate team for some time, and has been meeting throughout the last year preparing for new projects. On May 30, the day after International Composting Day, the congregational compost bin was dedicated at the Sunday worship service. Long in the planning, it is exciting to see a visible stride forward in our congregational commitment to care for creation, and we were thankful to carpenter Chuck Stenson and to Thrivent, as an Action Team card funded the cost of materials.

Read more about the initiative here.
Treaty People Gathering Reflection
Last weekend, I (Erica) attended the Treaty People Gathering in Minnesota. Read more about my experience here.
Lutherans restoring Creation
Connections Call
Save the Date: Next Connections Call!
Wednesday, June 23rd 
8pm EST/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT/4pm AK
Focus: Western Science, Indigenous Knowledge, and Christian Faith: 
How Can Various Ways of Knowing Find Common Ground?

We will hear from Johanna Bernu, a scientist (who happens to be in 8th grade) and Descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota. She will share her experiences of conducting research on the disinfectant properties of water lilies using Ojibwe knowledge alongside euro-centric scientific processes. We will also reflect on the intersection of faith and science as expressed by fellow Lutheran from the The Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy in Montana, Loni Taylor. Listen in to her perspective in this piece (click) from our friends at the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology

This topic could be discussed non-stop for weeks, but we will hear from a couple perspectives to start the gears turning and share resources to explore more and keep the conversation going in other circles. We are looking to add resources to this collection and urge you to explore them and thoughtfully integrate the act of repudiating the doctrine of discovery in your Creation Care efforts. 

ZOOM DETAILS for 6/23:
OR CALL IN:
Meeting ID: 894 1788 0388 --- Passcode: CONNECT
Dial by your location
    +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Don't forget to take action TODAY to lift up what thousands are standing for in Minnesota right now for our collective future.  Visit this site (click) to send your message here with leaders and share the information also found on Stop Line 3 (the LN3 Film helps put it all in perspective). 

The EcoFaith Network of Northeastern MN is a growing network of ELCA Lutheran congregations and their members in northeastern Minnesota with a mission to live out God's call to be stewards of the earth for the sake of the whole creation. Through social media, seminars, resources on current environmental justice issues, project micro-grants and active inter-and intra- congregational conversations, the EcoFaith Network encourages grassroots creation care actions among the Synod’s 133 congregations and leadership within their communities.