TRY THIS Thinking outside the box by providing a box
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Looking for creative ideas for your congregation to lift up God’s glorious creation this Earth Day (April 22)? Consider the Bible study Caring for Creation from Creative Communications for the Parish (
creativecommunications.com).
Author Trevor Sutton notes: “[We are] offline to the wonders of God’s creation. We know more about Twitter than the birds twittering about on the tree limbs in our backyard.”
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Telford, Pa., provides its families with wooden boxes that hold all they need to worship at home.
“Should a family not be able to get to church on a Sunday morning because of sickness, bad weather, scheduled sporting event or another extracurricular activity, they have all the ingredients to worship at home,” said Marian Henry, director of Christian education.
The “Home church worship” box includes a Spark Story Bible or Spark Bible (NRSV), a shell, a cross, a candle and a worship pamphlet.
In January, families assembled their home church boxes using pieces cut by a retired woodshop teacher. The boxes weren’t quite finished the next week when a blizzard caused church to be can- celed, but they knew they were on to a good thing.
Once the boxes were in homes and ready for use, a mom told Henry one Sunday that her daughter who was at home with pink eye couldn’t wait for the family to return so they could have home church.
For more information contact
dce@stpaulstelford.org.
This four-week study can help refocus and renew our connection to creation. Each session includes Bible readings, prayers, questions and discussion starters.
Need more ideas? Check out the following: •
lutheransrestoringcreation.org •
creationjustice.org •
elca.org/resources (under “Caring for Creation”)
Elizabeth Caywood Caywood is director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod resource center and coordinator of ELCA resource centers. She will be a regular contributor to this page.
FILM REVIEW
Zootopia This spunky 3-D animated film stars a bunny
with big dreams. While still in school, Judy Hopps displays empathy and kindness when she springs into action against a bully. She surprises her parents by announcing she wants to go to the city and become a cop. There, despite graduating at the top of her class, she is assigned to handing out parking tickets. Her big break comes when she works on a case of missing mammals.
The residents of Zootopia have transcended the divisive roles of predator and prey. These animals act like humans, and it’s easy to see that Judy is given short shrift because she is female. But none of that really matters since she believes in herself. We enjoyed seeing how Judy’s optimism propels her through every situation. We also admire her idealism. She steadfastly believes that different groups can and must live together in peace—a good message for our times (Walt Disney, PG—some thematic elements, rude humor and action).
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat The Brussats publish the website
SpiritualityandPractice.com. See
LivingLutheran.org for book reviews.
LIVINGLUTHERAN.ORG 45
©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52