Creation Care 2024

In 2024, as a part of good stewardship, All Saints began a creation care emphasis. Several activities were planned to highlight the environment with weekly suggestions for things we can do to protect creation, provided by Lutherans Restoring Creation.  

In February, we took part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, an international event to count birds sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. According to Cornell Labs, “These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.” Our members used the Merlin bird ID app for bird identification and the eBird app to submit their checklists. This year the Great Backyard Bird Count found 7,920 species, in 210 countries and subregions. There were 384,416 eBird checklists, 313,874 Merlin Bird IDs submitted with an estimated 642,003 global participants. Our contribution to the event was to submit 19 checklists with 341 birds accounting for 20 different species in Jackson and Cass counties. 

During Lent, All Saints used a Lenten calendar highlighting creation awareness. Each week focused on a different aspect of creation, such as pollution, water conservation or endangered species. Additionally, each week highlighted potential donations for our God’s Global Barnyard fund drive that might apply to each weekly topic. We collected $520 for God’s Global Barnyard to purchase a cow and honeybees for the program. 

Seeds were provided to the congregation for growing giant sunflowers. (The birds like them.) We were also able to watch baby black-capped chickadees through a video camera in a nest box, hatch, grow and fledge from the nest. 

May was designated a low-mow month at the church. Less mowing of the church grounds allows lawn flowers to bloom, providing food for native bees emerging from hibernation when other flowers are scarce.

In July, caterpillars shared our worship space and developed into Monarch butterflies. Pastor Sarah provided a sermon series regarding creation. Photos of the caterpillars and butterflies were shared on our Facebook page. A butterfly garden was created on the church grounds, which was designated a Certified Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch. The Monarchs were released into the new garden space and the church made a field trip to Powell Gardens during the Butterfly Festival. 

In September, our garden was discovered by Monarch butterflies heading south on the migratory pathway and many caterpillars were found. Two Monarch butterflies developed and headed south. To help with the monarch migration, milkweed seeds were provided to church members to plant in their own gardens for next year’s migration. In addition to the trip to Powell Gardens, a field trip to the zoo was organized. Members learned about Elephants, Sea Lions and were able to tour the new Sobela Aquarium.

In November, we hosted a showing of Hot Times In the Heartland, a video produced by Prairie Hollow Productions that focused on how climate change affects us here in the Midwest. 

An Advent calendar was provided to worshippers that emphasized ecosystems found in Missouri.