John

In the Footsteps of Jesus

In this space the focus is on the life and work of Jesus. When we think about how we can respect the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth, we can turn to Jesus to see what inspiration and dedication to his word we can take with us in trying to find out what God is doing and how we can help. In what ways did Jesus both encounter and talk about the creation? Where was he and what was he doing? In this space you can spend time following in the footsteps of Jesus and thinking about how the Gospels offer us signposts for our own lives.

This space offers a number of passages for you to consider, with some questions for reflection as we try to follow in Jesus' footsteps and imagine his own experiences.

John

The Lilies of the Field

Matthew 6. 25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What do you think we learn about Jesus' view of nature?
Why do you think Jesus directs the disciples to think about God and the creation?
What's the point he is making?

Next: The storm

Navigating the pathways

You have a number of pathways through the various spaces of this house:

Yellow journey

Word and text based. You can interact with what people are saying and discussing about the environment now.

Blue journey

Focussed on bible study, prayer, worship, song and reflective story telling.

Green journey

Engage with pictures, external web and book resources, video clips and various activities, including cooking and eating a meal.

Pink journey

Personal commitments, reflection, and following Jesus more closely. The final pink space is the space for departure where you can consider what you have learned, been surprised by, challenged by and assess how you might have changed.

You can mix and match your journey through the different spaces depending on what you would most like to explore, study or do.

Yellow	Blue	Green	Pink
Welcome Opening challenge to learn more about mission and care for creation with some introductory material to think about.	Scripture passages with questions Genesis 1. 26-31 Romans 8.18-21 Genesis 6.11-21 Also: Earth Abbey resources Jubilee Centre resources	Images Pictures of extinct and endangered animals; conservation issues	Gift-giving and baggage dumping A chance to review what gifts you bring to the topic or what things to leave behind. A chance for confession or saying sorry and to make new commitments
Quote, unquote What people have been saying about climate change and care for the planet. With questions to consider.	Prayers A series of prayers, images and activities for meditation on the words of the fifth mark of mission Also links to other prayer resources	Resources Books and online resources for self study and online research	Diary/blog A chance to review notes or entries you have made and to read others thoughts about the topic
Theology Theologians writing on care for creation: Dave Bookless, The Ecumenical Patriarch and Claire Foster. With questions to consider.	Hymns and other music Suggestions for listening to natural sounds, hymns, psalms, Taizé chants, classical, popular music and new music on the theme of care of creation	Films, Music Films to watch, music tracks and clips with an ecological theme	Footsteps of Jesus Consider the lilies Matthew 6. 25-34 The Storm Matthew 8.23-27 The Fig Tree Mark 11.12-14; 20-21
Conversation and Dialogue Listening to people talking about the environment, including: a group of theologians and scientists talking to ARocha, Jeremy Clarkson and David Shreeve.	Reflections and Story telling Can the earth sustain 7 billion people? What about food security for people? What about health? Reflections from Sharing God's Planet Reflections from Sharing God's Planet	Hospitality A recipe for a meal and suggestions for hospitality, trying new things	Exit: Dispossession Final review of what may have changed in using the resource. A few ideas about what to take away, or how to live differently, or to do more in future, and a chance to leave feedback

Yellow

Blue

Green

Pink

Welcome

Opening challenge to learn more about mission and care for creation with some introductory material to think about.

Scripture passages with questions

Genesis 1. 26-31
Romans 8.18-21
Genesis 6.11-21

Also:

Earth Abbey resources
Jubilee Centre resources

Images

Pictures of extinct and endangered animals; conservation issues

Gift-giving and baggage dumping

A chance to review what gifts you bring to the topic or what things to leave behind. A chance for confession or saying sorry and to make new commitments

Quote, unquote

What people have been saying about climate change and care for the planet. With questions to consider.

Prayers

A series of prayers, images and activities for meditation on the words of the fifth mark of mission
Also links to other prayer resources

Resources

Books and online resources for self study and online research

Diary/blog

A chance to review notes or entries you have made and to read others thoughts about the topic

Theology

Theologians writing on care for creation: Dave Bookless, The Ecumenical Patriarch and Claire Foster. With questions to consider.

Hymns and other music

Suggestions for listening to natural sounds, hymns, psalms, Taizé chants, classical, popular music and new music on the theme of care of creation

Films, Music

Films to watch, music tracks and clips with an ecological theme

Footsteps of Jesus

Consider the lilies Matthew 6. 25-34
The Storm
Matthew 8.23-27
The Fig Tree
Mark 11.12-14; 20-21

Conversation and Dialogue

Listening to people talking about the environment, including: a group of theologians and scientists talking to ARocha, Jeremy Clarkson and David Shreeve.

Reflections and Story telling

Can the earth sustain 7 billion people?
What about food security for people?
What about health?
Reflections from Sharing God's Planet

Reflections from Sharing God's Planet

Hospitality

A recipe for a meal and suggestions for hospitality, trying new things

Exit: Dispossession

Final review of what may have changed in using the resource. A few ideas about what to take away, or how to live differently, or to do more in future, and a chance to leave feedback

Eco House

In the Footsteps of Jesus

The Lilies of the Field

Matthew 6. 25-34

Navigating the pathways