Environmental Stewardship Commission

Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

Upcoming Activities:

Next Meeting

We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.

Special Project
for 2006:

Mary Brown
Environmental Center
in Ely, MN
Details now available.

Creation Season Materials

Resolutions:

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Reflections:

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Feast Day Lectionary

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Boundary Waters

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Environmental Events:

outside Minnesota

in Minnesota

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Events at General Convention 2003

Links to Similar Websites

Special Project for 2005:

Reflections on an Ecumenical Season of Creation

Creation Season 2006 (Year B):
October 1 through November 5, 2006
Week 2 – October 8 – Proper 22
Food Production & Planting

Lessons:

Episcopal Lectionary	RCL Semi-Continuous Track	RCL Gospel Theme Track
Genesis 2: 18-24	Job 1:1; 2: 1-10	Genesis 2: 18-24
Psalm 8 or 128	Psalm 26	Psalm 8
Hebrews 2:(1-8) 9-18	Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12	Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-9	Mark 10: 2-16	Mark 10: 2-16

NOTE: links are to environmental reflections written on the reading

Options using the Resolution on Spirituality of Food Production:

Children's
Education
Ideas

Adult
Education
Ideas

Other
Relevant
Scripture

Jesus spoke often of seeds, planting and growing cycles. The Parable of the Sower is one of his most important. It has many levels of questions and meanings.

As fall harvest is occurring, humans take and store much of the planted food. Yet nature is actually planting in the fall. So this is a good time to recall the natural along with farm and gardening plants that are gathered for winter eating and spring planting

So many seeds are produced and/or planted now. The migrating birds eat them as they fly south. Geese and ducks are easy to spot. Nuts and berries are hidden by the small rodents, and squirrels and mice. In the north bears and other animals gain weight for hibernating times. The winds, birds and animals do lots of planting which insures seeds ready to sprout for next year. Farmers save seeds to prepare for the next year's crop. So it is good to consider the seeds as we gather them.

Read the article Seed Planting by Margaret W. Thomas
The Children's ideas are especially designed to touch/feel/see seeds and learn how they grow

Children's Education Ideas

Plant bean, alfalfa, and radish sprouts
in order to see just how seeds do sprout and grow. You may use some of the soil gathered from the previous week and watch the seed progress.
Discuss any planting of farming or gardening the children did with their families.
Show and tell something you may have raised from seeds.
Try planting some of the above seeds with just water and a plastic bag if you know or can learn about seed sprouting edible sprouts.
These may be sent home or begun as a part of community meals. Find the clean seeds at whole food stores.
Tell or read the story of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13: 1-23,
Mark 4: 1-20 or Luke 8:4-15.
Learn song Inch by inch (Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow...)
Seed art (collage)
A collective or individual collage could be made using seeds from local, out door sources. Do not buy and waste real food. Seed art). Lovely thing may be made from dried seed pods such as milk weed, acorns, pine cones, burrs etc. Discuss who eats or stores the seeds. Children will have many examples and can share seeds.
A Native American story about corn and the balance of sustainability between humans and seeds is "The Coming of Corn" in Keepers of the Earth
ISBN 1-5559-1027-0 p.137

Adult Education Ideas

Seed Planting by the Rev Margaret W. ThomasThomas (read the essay to folks and discuss)
What comes to mind when you see real seeds, harvested, corn or other crops local to your area
Why is seed planting - both actual and metaphorical so important for children, Christians, and Communities to share?
Why does the author stress the need for actual seed planting and growing experiences for children
Scientist / philosopher E.O. Williams on Science Friday on National Public Radio on September 8 discussed how he felt that we were raising children and people to live in a "feed lot" existence with out real experiences of nature. How would you respond?
How are people who garden or farm and organic farmers and gardeners the same and different?
How can we increase our knowledge and support for locally grown foods?
There is a mystery in the relative size and shape of dry, dead small
seeds compared to the lively plants, How do you relate that mystery to the mystery of faith - especially with yourself?
Commitment for the Future:
Plant and raise some form of edible food in your own yard or at a friend's/ Encourage or share the experience with a child.
If you don't plant seeds, there is no future
Jesus not only told stories, he also planted seeds in people
We need to look at the dynamic of supporting farmers, esp organic farmers, and by doing so, we are also planting seeds.

Other Relevant Scripture

Parable of the Seed	Mark 4:26-29
Parable of the Sower	Matthew 13:1-23 Mark 4:1-20 Luke 8:4-15
Parable of the Mustard Seed	Matthew 13:31-32 Mark 4:30-32 Luke 13:18-19
"He who supplies seed to the sower…"	2 Corinthians 9:10

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MEESC
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This page last updated 2006-09-26.