PA-IPL blog: September 2011

Yesterday, for our Annual Meeting and conference, PA IPL member University Mennonite Church hosted the worship service. Following the opening hymns, Bethany Spicher Schonberg offered a fantastic children's message that could be used in many contexts and any faith community. On request, she wrote it up for us. I hope many of you will use it!

Footprints on the Earth: Helping Children Understand Environmental Impact

Materials needed: a globe, a giant boot, a tiny toy shoe (the one from Monopoly works great)

Show children the globe. What do you see here? A globe, yes. This is a way for us to imagine the world - the earth - because the real one is too big for us to see! We're sitting on the earth right now, right about here. Show location on the globe. Who made this earth that we're sitting on? Who made the light, the sky and oceans, trees and animals and all the continents that we see on the globe here? God did. And God gave this earth to us to care for and to walk on.

Now, there are two ways that we can walk on this earth. We can walk in big shoes or little shoes. Show two shoes. If I were to step in the mud with this shoe (show giant boot), what sort of footprint would I make? And what if I stepped in the mud with this shoe (show tiny shoe)? If I were trying to walk around this globe here, what shoes would work best? What if I wanted to dance on this globe?

It's the same with the real earth. Whenever we use something on the earth - like water - we're making a footprint. And whenever we throw something away - like a piece of paper - we're making a footprint. We can make big footprints or little footprints. So, here's a test. If I turned on the water and let it run for an hour, is that a big or little footprint? What if I turned on the water just long enough to get a drink? And if I colored on ten pieces of paper and then threw them all away, is that a big or little footprint? What if I colored on one piece, turned it over and used the other side and then recycled the paper?

This week, whenever you use something from the earth or throw something away, think about your footprint on the earth. Is it a big stomping footprint or a little dancing footprint? God gave us the earth to walk on and God can teach us to walk in smaller shoes.

Close with a prayer.

Micah and Bethany Spicher Schonberg
Plowshare Produce
www.plowshareproduce.com

Here at PA IPL we are preparing for our 1-year anniversary. To celebrate, Barb Ballenger has given us permission to share her delightful song lyrics from our big Kickoff weekend in 2010. Please feel free to use them, but, of course, credit where credit is due. Look for her cheers next week...

The Climate is a-Changing

(To the tune of The Times They are a-Changing, By Bob Dylan)

Come gather round people wherever you roam

And admit that the sea levels you have grown.

And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone

If the planet to you is worth saving.

You better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone,

Cause the climate is a-changing.

Come scientists, pragmatists, beautiful minds

And add up the numbers a couple more times

While Congress ignores all the obvious signs

That we can’t win the game we’ve been playing.

Cause the temperature’s rising along with tides

And the climate is a changing

Come all you deniers and stand on the on the shore

Of an island that soon won’t be there anymore

And try to believe it’s a stunt by Al Gore

To make all the wealthy start paying.

Tell me how do things look from the new ocean floor?

Cause the climate is a changing

Come people of prayer and people of faith

Tell me how will you look own God in the face

When asked why we made such a mess of the place?

Did you stand like a prophet a raging,

Or did you step on the gas just to keep up the pace?

While the climate was a -changing?

Come mothers and fathers from throughout the land

Tell me what did you help your kids to understand

About the true cost of the purchase at hand?

Did you teach them the earth is worth saving?

Do they realize things won’t work out like they planned

If the climate keeps a-changing?

Now people of conscience and people of creed

Who cannot ignore how the earth cries with need

And who see what’s connected to all of this greed

It’s time that we began engaging

With people who long to reverse the degree

Of the climate that is changing.

The Cycle Round -- this one is great for a bike-to-worship celebration!

(sung to the tune of "Don't throw your trash in my backyard")

I. Don’t park your car in my driveway, my driveway, my driveway, don’t park your car in my driveway, my driveway’s full.

II. With one bicycle, two bicycles, three bicycles, four bicycles, fives bicycles, six bicycles and one built for two.

III. Idling in traffic jams, traffic jams, traffic jams

Idling in traffic jams won’t get you very far.

The Little Light of Mine

· This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine …

· Don’t need no ‘lectricity, I’m gonna let it shine…

· To shed some light on climate change, I’m gonna

· To build a world we can sustain, I’m gonna …

· Put it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine

· Ain’t no one gonna “poof” it out….

Sowing on the Mountain

(Guy Carawan, George Tucker)

Sowing on the mountain, reaping in the valley