Dear Brothers and Sisters,
ALLELUJAH! CHRIST IS RISEN!
Psalm 148 is one of the most glorious and poetic of the Psalms of Praise. Instead of focusing on individual things for which we praise God, it is giving the voice of praise to all sorts of beings. And not just what we like to call “living creatures”. In addition to wild beasts and cattle, birds and fruit trees, and, of course, all the people of God, the earth and the cosmos gives praise to God. The sun, moon, stars, oceans, mountains and, of course my favorite sea monsters, give praise to God. Even the wind and weather give praise to God.
The psalmist rejects the idea that only humans can interact with their Creator. So it makes me wonder about how we can ignore the needs of the earth and ALL its creatures and simply make decisions based on our own convenience. How can we despise and abuse another bit of God’s handiwork? We begin to see the repercussions of that attitude as the seas rise, plants and animals go extinct, and the very earth under our feet starts complaining that we are carelessly pulling water out of it without concern. The U.S. Geologic Survey wrote: “Fracking intentionally causes small earthquakes (magnitudes smaller than 1) to enhance permeability, but it has also been linked to larger earthquakes. The largest earthquake known to be induced by hydraulic fracturing in the United States was a M4 earthquake in Texas.”
I wonder how God feels about us wantonly destroying Creation, which we ourselves are also part of? More voices of praise being silenced as we also destroy ourselves.
How do we help as Episcopalians? The Episcopal Church’s Covenant for the Care of Creation is a commitment to practice loving formation, liberating advocacy and life-giving conversation as individuals, congregations, ministries and dioceses. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creation-care/
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUJAH! Mo. Laura+
Notice of another way to praise the Lord—through music!
Next Saturday (May 21) at 2:30pm is the last time Greg Funfgeld will conduct Bach’s monumental Mass in B minor with the Bach Choir and Festival Orchestra. For in-person tickets, go to https://bach.org/. Location: Robert Packer Chapel, Lehigh Univ. That concert will also be the first time the Choir, in which our organist Dodd Lamberton sings baritone, live-streams a B minor Mass. Live-stream tickets are $20; online purchase here:
https://bach.org/event/mass-in-b-minor-live-streamed-virtual-concert/
Purchasers can view it ‘live’ on their computers Sat. May 21, 2:30 – 5:30pm; and can watch it up to five more times before June 21. Live-stream purchasers will also receive a digital copy of the concert program.
Mo. Laura+
UPCOMING
June 4, 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM St. Margaret’s Annual Community Yard Sale (view/download flyer)