8/8/2019 February 2009 Blessed Earth Newsletter
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BLESSED EARTH
Grateful for the past, excited for the future
S e r v i n g G o d , S a v i n g t h e P l a n e tFEBRUARY 2009
NEWSLETTER || WWW.BLESSEDEARTH.ORG || VOL. 1, NO. 1
Goodnews!Thankstogenerousdonorslikeyou,wereceivedthe$70,000challengegrantfundsinJanuary.Thismoneyallowsustodesignawebsite,makealm,andhireacommunicationsdirector.Ourhopeistobeginsharingthemessagewithmany,manymorepeoplethanwecanevervisitinperson.
OnSunday,Matthewsharedthe
creationcaremessageatalargeBaptistchurchinSugarLand,TX.Hismessagewassowellreceived,theyvealreadywrit-tentoinviteusback!ThenSundaynightMatthewhadaterrictimeonaradiopro-gramcalledShowofFaith.Wevebeentoldthatitsthemostlistened-totalkshowinHouston--andnowweknowwhy.Thepremisesoundssomethinglikeaclichbarjoke--apriest,arabbi,andapastor....yougettheidea.Peoplecallinwiththeirfaithquestions(inthiscase,aboutcreationcare)andthethreehostsandtheirguesthavefunresponding--learning,laughing,and
sharingfromthreefaithtraditions.
ThegrandnaleonMondaywasafour-hourworkshopwithpastors.Hmm-mm....maybeitsagoodthingthatournewDirectorofCommunications,WillSears,istakingovermyschedulingduties--hemaybebetteratgivingMatthewachancetobreathebetweenevents.
ThebestpartofMatthewstrip?AbigbanneratMercyStreetChurchstayingThisaintyourmothersChurch.Cleanupyourowntrash.Worstpart?Thetwelve-lanehighwaysanddomeofsmogthathangsoverthecity.Themosthopeful
part?Toseepeoplesattitudeandbehav-
Creation Care Scripture Green Tip of the Month
PO BOX 227 || WILMORE, KY 40390 || [email protected]
Let them thank the LORD forhis steadfast love, for his
wonder-
ful works to humankind.
Psalm 107:15
People stay inside more in the winter. Insteadof watching so
much TV, spend more quiettime in Gods Word and in loving
conversa-tion with friends and family.
iorchange180degreeswhenforthersttimetheylinklovingGodwithcaringforhiscreation.Myfavoritepart:GettingMatthewhomeatmidnightMondaynight,justbeforetheicestormhitKentucky!
Seewhyweneedtouselmandmediatosharethemessage?Wesimplycannotgettoalltheplacesthatwantustospeakatliveevents.Ournextbigprojectisa12-lmcreationcareserieswiththeguyswhomadetheNoomalmsforRobBell.Wehavehalfthefundspromised,buttheyneedtobematched.Wearelooking
(praying!)foragenerousdonor,church,
orfoundationthatwantstopartneronthisexcitingintegratedmediaprojectandreacmillionswiththecreationcaremessage.Pleaseemailmeifyouwanttolearnmoreabouttheproject.
Witheveryblessing,
Nancy Sleeth
ProgramDirector
Contact Nancy at [email protected]
Nancy Sleeth
8/8/2019 February 2009 Blessed Earth Newsletter
2/3BLESSED EARTH || SERVING GOD, SAVING THE PLANET ||
WWW.BLESSEDEARTH.ORG
Letters from you...By Carolyn Reilly
Ourfamilyhasnotalwaysbeengreen.Somepeoplewhoknowusnowaresurprisedtohearthiswhenitcomesup.Ourfamilysstoryofmovingtowardgreenerlivinghasbeenafaith-lledlearningpro-
cess.
IguessyoucouldsaywewereatypicalAmericanfamily:husbandandwifewiththreekids,decentincomeandlivingbeyondourmeans.WewererecyclingandthoughtweweredoingourpartincaringforGodsCreation,butthetruthis,wewerenotbeinggoodstewardsofallthatHehadgivenus,includingourworld.OvertimeandthroughdifferentexperienceswesetouttosavemoneyandfoundthatwelearnedalongthewaytobethoughtfulcaretakersofGodshandiwork,thisplanetwecallhome.
Moreandmorewehavecometo
therealizationthatthepathtolivinggreenbeginsinourheartandourmind.Truly,itisachoice.Weconsidereverypurchasethatwemake,nowthinkingthroughthesortofimprintwewillleave;whetherfromthewasteaproducthas,toenergyittakestorecyclesomething.
Someofthemostbasicchoicesatthegrocerystoreareitemsthatareover-packaged.Ihavecometoapointwhere
Icannotevenbuygumbecauseofthepackagingandwastethatithas.IinsteadchoosetobuymintsthatareNOTindividu-allywrappedinatin(thatcanberecycled).Wehavealsostoppedbuyingpapertowelsasthemessesweusedthemforcouldbecleanedjustaswellwithakitchentowel.
Ourquesttowardgreenerlivingeventuallybroughtustocompostingandbeginningagarden.Thisefforthelpedussaveonthegarbagewewereaccumulat-ing,andgrowingourownherbswasahugemoneysaverforgreatcooking!Anotherwaywehavemovedtowardgreenerlivingisbypurchasinguseditemsasopposedtonew.Fromfurnituretoclothing,toysanddcor,therearemanywaystosavemoneybygoinggreen.
Thispastfall,weheardaboutanewBibleonNationalPublicRadiocalledTheGreenBible.ImentionedthatIwould
beinterestedinhavingthisand,loandbe-hold,IreceivedacopyChristmasmorning.AfterreadingtheIntroductionbyDr.JMat-thewSleeth,Ihadtoshareitwiththeentirefamily(andseveralfriends,too!).WeweresomovedbyhistestimonyandwillingnesstosurrenderanextravagantlifetocareforCreation.Dr.Sleethspassionandzealignitedustolookfurtherintohowcanwegreatermakeanimpact,notonlyinourown
family,butinourcommunity,ourchurch,andourcountry.
GodhasstirredinourfamilyadesiretohelpshareDr.SleethstimelymesagetothoseinourChurchasIthinkthatweChristianshavebeenbehindthetimesinacknowledgingthatGodcallsustoactio
incaringfortheEarth.AsChristianswesethatmovingtowardsgreenlivingisimpor-tantforseveralreasons.First,wedohaveaplanetthatisinneedofrevivalandcareSadly,wearelearningtheconsequencesofpastgenerationslackofstewardshipofGodsCreation.Second,wearerespon-sibleforteachingthenextgenerationhowtobewisecaregiversforcreation.Third,andmostimportantly,weshouldactivelyobeyGodandhonorthecraftsmanshipofHishands(Psalm19:1).Butwillwe?LetusrisetothecallGodhasgivenusandbelievethatwewillseethegoodnessof
theLORDinthelandoftheliving(Psalm27:13).n
Carolyn Reilly and her husband, Ian, make
their home in Gainesville, FL, and enjoy thjoys of parenthood
with their three children
(and another one on the way!). To write a
letter to Blessed Earth, please contact
[email protected].
MEDIA&SPEAKING EVENTSPrayer & PraiseFeb 8
Lexington, KYDr. Matthew Sleeth
Centenary United MethodistChurch
Morning Services(8:30/9:45/12:30)
& Lunch(12:30) at The Foundry
Feb 16-20
Houghton, NYDr. Matthew SleethHoughton College
Feb 28
Lexington, KYDr. Matthew Sleeth
Hunter Presbyterian ChurchChristian-Muslim Dialogue
(10am-12pm)
Feb 28
Lexington, KYDr. Matthew Sleeth
Southland Christian ChurchEvening Service
(5:30pm)
Mar 1
Lexington, KYDr. Matthew Sleeth
Southland Christian ChurchMorning
Services(8:30/10:00/11:30)Evening Service
(6:08pm)
n Protection and safety for our daughter Emmaand our sons
girlfriend, Val. Emma and Val arein India for four months with the
Dean Founda-tion, providing palliative care for people withterminal
diseases.
nA smooth transition for Will Sears, our newCommunications
Director. What a nd! Wealready feel blessed!
nA generous donor (quickly!) to match ourpromised $240,000 funds
so we can produce
the 12-lm creation care series--slated to beused by thousands of
church groups in thecoming year.
n Safety in Matthews travels, and open heartsand minds to
receive the creation care message.
nHumble hearts, bold spirits, and clear mindsas we partner with
you to care for Gods beauti-ful, sustaining creation.
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Web: www.BLESSEDEARTH.orgE-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: www.twitter.com/blessedearth
Blessed EarthPO Box 227
Wilmore, KY 40390
Meet our Director of Communications!Blessed Earth News
JoiningBlessedEarthisourrstdirectorofcommunication,WillSears,aDecember2008graduatefromAsburyCollege.Hisdegreeincommunicationisbackedbymorethantwoyearsexperienceinmediarela-tions,eventplanning,publicationeditinganddesign,projectmanagementandadministra-tion.
WehavewatchedWillspassionforcreationcaregrowoverthelastfewmonths,andhisdesiretobeastewardofwhatGodhasgivenhimandallofusmovedhimtojoinourteam.Fromanewwebsitetovideostostrategytopromotionsofeverykind,Willisalreadyonthemove!WewelcomehimwithopenarmsandcouldntbemoreexcitedtoseehowGodwillusehimtoexpandBlessedEarthinthemonthsahead.
Blessed Earth is an educational nonprot that inspires and equips
faith communities tobecome better stewards of the earth. Trough
outreach to churches, campuses and media
we build bridges that promote measurable environmental changeand
meaningful spiritual growth.
OUR MISSION
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