As the Prairie Centre for Christian Education's Doug Monsoma writes: Everyone, in his imagination, can go to the most beautiful places on earth. Perhaps it is a mountaintop with a forever view, or a long, white-sand beach. Maybe it is the spray and the thunderous roar of a waterfall or the quiet, gentle sway of a seemingly endless golden field of wheat. These places can help us to have a Garden of Eden experience. The Garden must have been an incredible place, not only because of the tangible presence of God, but because of its beauty. The writer of Genesis says “And God saw everything that he had made, and it was very good” (1:31). It seems almost unbelievable that God calls us to be stewards, caretakers or gardeners of all of creation. (Gen 1:28) God created the world and he gives us the opportunity to ‘manage’ it on his behalf? Amazing! Incredible! Daunting!
Our Grade 6 students share the creation story
Amazing? Yes! Incredible? Yes! Easy? No! Caretaking can so easily succumb to exploiting. Stewardship can so often turn into self-centred greed. Our sin has made it difficult for us to clearly see the role and tasks gardeners and stewards must play. Loud voices from our culture shout out, “stuff equals happiness” and we see people wearing T-shirts with the mantra, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins!”
Grade 1 shares a sacrifice of praise on the orff instruments
We and our students need to reclaim the world/universe and relearn how to treat all things contained in it (natural resources, environment, water, trees, farm land) with respect. By doing this we respect the One who gave us this job!
In our global economy, this earth-keeping is not only about stewarding the environment, it is about the challenge of living lives that balance our wants and needs with those of other people, people living in other areas of the world and those still to come. This is a counter-cultural message that students must grapple with in our Christian schools.
Today in our chapel, we welcomed Pastor Art VanSlagaren. He shared his thoughts with us about the parable of workers from Matthew 20. He encouraged us to think of big and little ways that we can care and keep God's creation.
Today in our chapel, we welcomed Pastor Art VanSlagaren. He shared his thoughts with us about the parable of workers from Matthew 20. He encouraged us to think of big and little ways that we can care and keep God's creation.
Grade 1 led us again through the Butterfly Song. We then watched a really awesome video of some pretty amazing things that God has created. We can't help but be amazed at all the things God has created! And they are good!
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