Grief, anxiety, hope, love, pain, despair, awe—many emotions are used to describe our relationship with all of Creation. What is your personal, physical, and spiritual relationship with God’s Creation?

How does this relationship affect how you follow Christ? This Lenten devotional invites us to deepen our love for Creation and take action or fast for a climate in crisis. Includes a study guide.

Alydia Smith is a worship leader, educator, caregiver, mother, and Jesus-follower who works at the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada, supporting worship and faith formation ministries. She is a tuba player who holds a Bachelor in Music from Western University, a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology, and a Doctorate in Worship from Drew University, under the mentorship of Donald Hilliard and Leonard Sweet. Alydia loves learning and crafting and is always looking for new opportunities to grow and create.

 

 

Alydia Smith's profile page

Eric Anderson has served as Pastor of Church of the Holy Cross United Church of Christ in Hilo, Hawai’i, since the spring of 2016. His story “Protecting the Tree” was written for a worship service there in the summer of 2023, and like many of his stories, refers to native creatures of Hawai’i Island. He shares his stories along with poetry and music at OrdainedGeek.com. A singer/songwriter, he performs one of his songs each Wednesday via livestream. Ordained in 1988, he has served churches in Maine and Connecticut and spent 17 years on the staff of the Connecticut Conference UCC in communications and technology. His two adult children live in New England.

 

Eric Anderson's profile page

Cláudio Carvalhaes is originally from Brazil. Ordained with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, he is now a pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is currently Professor of Worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His personal website is claudiocarvalhaes.com.

Cláudio Carvalhaes' profile page

The Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies (she/hers) is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, USA. She loves faith deeply and is committed to finding ways to continue to bring the gospel into the world, past this generation and into those to follow. Chris attended Smith College for her undergrad work and Andover Newton for both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, focusing on queering proclamation. Chris is a queer femme, an urban beekeeper, and a creative networker of communities. She is passionate about justice and Jesus, and has organized alongside Showing Up for Racial Justice in Northeast Ohio, and with Preterm, an independent abortion clinic in Ohio. Chris currently lives in New England, USA.

Chris S. Davies' profile page

The Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington is an ecotheologian and ordained minister in The United Church of Canada. Working at the intersection of ecology and theology for 20 years, she is a writer, preacher, and teacher who inspires people of faith to transform their lives and actions in response to the climate emergency. She holds a Ph.D. in Theology from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, where she lives on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin First Nation. Her newsletter, Faith. Climate Crisis. Action., is found on Substack: jessicahetherington.substack.com. You can learn more about the Rev. Jessica at jessicahetherington.ca.

 

Jessica Hetherington's profile page

David Kuku is currently a high school senior. He involves himself in both his church community by teaching Sunday school and through his greater community with music.

David Kuku's profile page

Laura Kowalyk is a digital communications professional and a member of the Climate Team at the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada. She is a wife, a mother of two active children, and a lover of nature, gardening, antiques, and finding ways to revive and renew items that are often overlooked or forgotten.

Laura Kowalyk's profile page

The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne was elected Moderator of the United Church of Canada in July 2022, the first Indigenous woman in that position. Born in Alert Bay, BC, and a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, she has a history degree from University of Victoria and both Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Vancouver School of Theology (VST). In 2016, she earned her PhD from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Before her election as moderator, Dr. Lansdowne directed the First United Church Community Ministry Society in Vancouver. In 2025 she will take up the position of position of Assistant Professor of United Church Studies at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto.

Carmen Lansdowne's profile page

Carolyn Pogue is the author of 14 books of fiction and non-fiction and also writes poetry and drama. Her writing appears in periodicals such as Canadian Living, Synchronicity, The United Church Observer and Peace Magazine. She is a freelance writer and workshop presenter for all ages. Pogue regularly offers workshops at YouthWrite, a Rocky Mountain camp for teen writers, at the University of Alberta Extension Department and the Alexandra Writers Centre in Calgary, and has served several times as Peace-Writer-in-Residence in Alberta schools. She has judged children's literature for competitions hosted by The Writers' Union of Canada and The Writers' Guild of Alberta. Pogue grew up on a small farm in the village of Vandorf, Ontario. She has also lived in Toronto, Montreal, Yellowknife and Edmonton. She loves travelling and has visited India, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, El Salvador, Cuba, Guatemala, England, Wales, Europe, USA and all but one territory in Canada. She lives in Calgary, Alberta. Visit her website at www.carolynpogue.ca

Carolyn Pogue's profile page

The Rev. Murray Pruden is Nehiyaw, Cree First Nations, from the Goodfish Lake and Saddle Lake First Nations. He grew up in the rural community of Smoky Lake. He studied theatre at the University of Alberta and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge. He completed his Master of Divinity at the Vancouver School of Theology and studies at the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Manitoba. Murray has used his talents and spiritual gifts to take dramatic works on theological topics, workshop presentations on storytelling, ecumenical representation on Indigenous theology, and sermon reflections to various communities of faith across Canada. He is the current Executive Minister for Indigenous Ministries and Justice for The United Church of Canada.

Murray Pruden's profile page

James Ravenscroft is currently serving in ministry at St. James United Church in St. John’s, NL. He has ministered in congregations across Canada, including in Indigenous communities, where his deep love for Creation was affirmed. Discovering the Forest Church movement while attending the Greenbelt Festival in the UK, James co-leads Wild Light Spiritual Oasis in Metro St. John’s, NL. He is an active member of the Wild Church Network.

James Ravenscroft's profile page

Robin Roach is currently in her first year of university at the University of Guelph studying Nutritional Sciences. She has attended Grace United Church in Brampton since she was two years old. Since then she has been involved in many things within her church community, including teaching Sunday school, helping to plan and host fundraising events, and serving on multiple committees, including the minister search committee in 2023. In her free time she enjoys playing and coaching softball.

Robin Roach's profile page

Jackson Rukundo is driven by a deep passion for the environment and a strong belief in the power of collective action. From a young age, he has been actively involved in environmental and social justice initiatives such as planting trees, tending to gardens, volunteering at local food banks, and collaborating with fellow young activists to organize awareness campaigns, participate in community clean-ups, and engage with local policymakers. Jackson is a former Youth Forum Intern with the General Council of The United Church of Canada, where he focused on food security and environmental issues.

Jackson Rukundo's profile page

Thea Sheridan-Jonah is a student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia. She serves on the General Council Executive and Pacific Mountain Regional Council. Thea tries to root everything she does in justice; some of her passions include climate justice, harm reduction, and decolonization.

Thea Sheridan-Jonah's profile page

Donna Sinclair travelled widely internationally and throughout Canada for 27 years as an award-winning journalist with The United Church Observer (renamed Broadview in 2019). Now retired, she continues to write occasionally for various publications. Over the last decade, she and her husband, Jim, have devoted much of their time to caring for their grandchildren and the world they inhabit. Her most recent book is Activist Alphabet (Wood Lake Publishing).

Donna Sinclair's profile page

Maren C. Tirabassi is a United Church of Christ pastor who’s served churches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine for 43 years. Maren is co-author of the just-released cozy mystery novel, Death in the Woods, second in “The Rev and Rye Mystery series,” as well as author of 22 more theologically serious books mostly published by The Pilgrim Press. She is a former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the recipient of the 2023 “Excellence in Humanities Award” by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Maren C. Tirabassi's profile page

The Rev. Michelle L. Torigian is the senior pastor at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville, Illinois, and blogs at michelletorigian.com. Her passions include creating art through painting and woodburning as well as writing prayers and liturgies.

Michelle L. Torigian's profile page