Six New Things – Week of April 18, 2022
Easter + Earth Day = Creationtide: when New Life emerges through healing nature, dismantling racism, refreshing perspectives, renewed theology, soothing anxieties, and empowering young leaders.
ONE
Environmentalist Bill McKibben and artist Stevie Lewis celebrate “the power of human cooperation and the beauty of life on Earth” in, We Are Better Together; extend the hope and inspiration to middle-grade readers with the nonfiction Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight for Our Future (both Macmillan).
Find more creation care resources here and Earth Day worship resources here.
TWO
Tear down stagnating “guilt, overwhelmingness, anger, and denial” with Straight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity (WJK) – one step along the way of Deconstructing Racism: A Path Toward Lasting Change (Fortress).
Take further steps through our Anti-Racism: Mindfulness & Healing lib guide; expand to systemic healing with help from our Restorative Justice lib guide.
THREE
Take a fresh look at familiar stories and ageless questions with the graphic novel, Let There Be Light: The Real Story of Her Creation (Penguin), a retelling of Genesis in contemporary settings.
FOUR
Expand that renewed biblical examination with UnClobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality (WJK).
Further reexamine Relationships & Identity through our lib guide.
FIVE
The wounds of war are many and varied – and wide-spread. The Association of United Church Educators (UCC) compiled a wonderful list of Resources for Parents to assist care-givers in soothing children’s anxieties about Ukraine and other wars.
SIX
The Augsburg Youth Theology Institute (Augsburg University) is an annual summer program for high school students (9th-12th; from across the country) focused on theological reflection and place-based vocational discernment. Curiosity is engaged in the public square through daily reflection with a theologian, community-based learning, small group relationship building, and worship. The nomination period is open now!
