Creation Care, October 2025

St. B's parishioners Nathan Fields (purple shirt), Philip Reasor (green shirt) and Jim Pichert (hidden by tree branches) worked with members of Plant for a Change this summer on the acreage cleared during Weed Wrangle last March. Ground that once held invasive species is being prepped to become a seedbed of local flowers.

In the spring, Morgan Wills led a class on the theology of creation, culminating in a visit from author/theologian Loren Wilkinson.

Access the videos here and slides/handouts here.

Work on the Weed Wrangle demonstration plot continues (this article talks about Weed Wrangle at St. B’s). Plant for a Change and St. B’s volunteers (pictured: Bill Swiggart, Tom Mahan, David Edwards) have covered the area with mulch and with plastic sheeting on top to "solarize" the ground—basically, to bake away the roots of the invasives. Next up: installing soaker hoses and planting plugs of native plants. We'd love your help! Contact Jim Pichert.

The CC ministry will have a table at the conference titled “Earth Care at Your House of Worship” on November 1. The conference is run by Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light, which is a network of faith communities offering a spiritual response to climate change. If interested in joining, contact Gretchen.

Waste management: Staff the bussing station at upcoming events. Here is the sign-up sheet.

Sat, Oct 4: Mike Noel funeral reception
Sun, Oct 5: Newcomer’s lunch
Thurs, Oct 9: Donna Easter funeral reception
Sat, Oct 11: Herb Society Forum
Fri, Oct 24: Preschool Family Fall Ball
Sat, Oct 25: Beloved Community Training
Sun, Oct 26: Trunk or Treat

Tend the Weed Wrangle plot - Contact Jim Pichert.

Parishioner Nathan Fields and his team run Plant for a Change, a native plant business co-managed and co-owned by people with and without disabilities. Their seed packets are available in the St. B’s bookstore!

Christians around the world celebrate something called the Season of Creation every fall. This year it runs from September 1 through October 4, and the theme is “Peace with creation.” St. B’s hopes to officially participate next year!

If you don’t compost at home, or do but have more than what your bin can hold, you can bring your compost to St. B's! Place it directly in the bin that’s against the external wall of parish hall near the bell. This is the list of everything that can be composted through St. B’s.

Metro’s "Nash Trash" newsletter (sign up here) gives tips on recycling, composting, and all things zero waste; practical resources for low-waste living; and updates about recycling collection and drop-off sites.

Scripture

The focal passage for the 2025 Season of Creation:

“For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks; until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

– Isaiah 32:14-18, NRVUE

Prayer

Guiding prayer for the 2025 Season of Creation:

“Creator of all, we praise you for the gift of life and for the faith that unites us in care for our common home. We confess how estranged we have become—from one another, from your Creation, and from our truest selves. We acknowledge that our greed and destructive impulses have fractured our relationships with you, with others, and with the Earth. Fertile fields have become barren, forests lie desolate, oceans and rivers are polluted. Thriving communities have become places of suffering, and the earth cries out. Beloved Christ, who spoke ‘Shalom’ to frightened hearts, stir us to compassionate action. Inspire us to work for the end of conflict, and for the full restoration of broken relationships—with you, with the ecumenical community, with the human family, and with all Creation. Prince of Peace, through your wounds, teach us to stand in solidarity with the woundedness of others, of creation, and of the world. Through your resurrection, make us people of hope—with a vision of swords turned into ploughshares and tears transformed into joy. May we come together as one family, to labor for your peace—a shalom where all your people may dwell in safety, and rest in quiet places. Amen.”

Contact the Creation Care Committee Chair Gretchen Abernathy (creationcare@stbs.net); and the Rev. Ed Smith, Associate Rector (esmith@stbs.net).

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH