Earth Day 2009: First of 12,000 trees blessed by northern Michigan Bishops, faith leaders,

High definition - the EarthKeepers have gone to high definition video, it took almost an hour and a half to upload this video. It's OK but youtube is still working on its high def. abilities. We are hoping to improve our video quality over the next few months. I've been shooting high def. video for EarthKeepers for three years but we recently got our first high def. editor.
Marquette, MI - The bishops and leaders from northern Michigan's largest faith communities planted the first of 12,000 trees during an Earth Day ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior.
Standing on a hillside surrounded by huge pine trees two bishops and several other faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce tree and took turns putting shovels full of dirt into the hole.
The Earth Day 2009 blessing of the trees ceremony was held on Presque Isle in Marquette.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander Sample said all humans "are called to be steward's of God's creation and no matter what faith tradition we come from that responsibility lies with us."
The EarthKeeper movement is "focused on how the faith communities can work together to preserve this great gift that we have here in the Upper Peninsula and its lakes, streams and forests, said Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes.
UMC Marquette District Supt. Grant R. Lobb said "planting a tree is a gift for the next generation and the generation beyond that."
The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Jewish, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church (UMC), Unitarian Universalist (UU), Baha'i, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team. Throughout the Great Lakes states, people and groups "are replicating the work that the EarthKeepers have done here," said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director.
"This is very much a marvelous moment in the life of our work together as faith communities," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeepers
co-founder.
The next day April 23, several faith leaders spoke about the project and protecting the environment to students at Northern Michigan University in the final of numerous "Sacred Planet" events on campus sponsored by the NMU EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team.
On May 3, the 12,000 12-to-16-inch White Spruce and Red pine seedlings will be planted in all corners of the U.P. including at 100 churches and temples. The trees were purchased or donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses, said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director.
Some groups and individuals have donated money to help the tree project including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, Michigan.
From 2005-2007, over 15,000 U.P. residents turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at U.P. collection sites. Some of the items were properly disposed but most was recycled including computers, cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, oil-based paint and vehicle
batteries. Last year the EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being reduced.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Earth Keeper
• EarthKeeper
• EarthKeepers
• Trees
• forest
• leaves
• oxygen
• carbon dioxide
• co2
• Earth Keeper Initiative
• Cedar Tree Institute
• faith community
• religion
• Christian
• Catholic
• Episcopal
• Lutheran
• Presbyterian
• United Methodist Church
• Unitarian Universalist
• Baha'i
• Jewish
• Quakers
• Zen Buddhist

[n2motocross]

@ZaagkiiTV WOW!..... just because God required the shedding animals blood for a temporary covering for sin, and commanded a few Hebrew kings to slay enemies....

... I don't think defining God as " extremely bloodthirsty."

you may want to rephrase that.

[ZaagkiiTV]

@n2motocross

Your description of our views is inaccurate.

I believe in sin like monstrous people of the world who kill for no reason, rapists, evil dictators, evil corporations who pollute God's planet for greed like Rio Tinto, Kennecott Minerals and many others.

Don't believe God spends most time in rage and wrath - yet do not violate the commandments.

There is nothing lukewarm about those I work with.

I don't see an extreme bloodthirsty old testament view - apparently you do.

Luv ya anyway!

[n2motocross]

@YOOPERNEWSMAN you read into what you wanted to percieve.

You reject the TRUTH of the word of God. The Bible.

You think God is a sweet, kindly old grandfather tip-toeing in the clouds that doesn't care about sin.

You are Laodicean. Neither warm, nor cold but lukewarm having a FORM of spirituality devoid of godly judgment.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@n2motocross

Read your profile - and it indicates you are one of those angry people who goes thru life trying to make everything about "me" with no desire to help others or protect the planet.

"Sounds" like a sad life.

Pray our Creator softens your heart and that you find a reason to care for others who are not members of your family.

As American Indians say - we are all relatives.

Humbling thanking the Creator for everything.

Wish you a happy and blessed day.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@n2motocross

Isaiah 24:4-6. The earth dries up and withers, the world languished and

withers, the exalted of the earth languish. The earth lies under its inhabitants;

for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the

everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must

bear their guilt.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@n2motocross

Ezekiel 34:17-18. As for you, my flock... Is it not enough for you to feed on

good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is

it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with

your feet?

Jer. 2:7. I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But

you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@n2motocross

Ezekiel 34:2-4. Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of

themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds,

clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you did

not take care of the flock! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the

sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched

for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

[YOOPERNEWSMAN]

@n2motocross

Not sure why you would presume to argue that God doesn't want use to be good stewards of creation - don't bother to argue shoe-worn "dominion"

Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.

Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the

redemption of the land.

Ezekiel 34:10. 0 shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the

sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable

for my flock.

[n2motocross]

@ZaagkiiTV

NO WHERE in the Bible does God state or require that we "serve God's creation"

We are to serve God alone!

[ZaagkiiTV]

@n2motocross

Sounds like you dislike lots of people and things

.

Wondering where your venom comes from by quip "wolves in sheep's clothing."

These faith leaders know that we have a responsibility - outlined in bible - to be servants of God's creation and kingdom.

They may have slightly different teachings but same love for planet.

They also have the same God, Creator, Allah - whatever name a religion/people choose for their divine power - for there is only one Creator.

Bless you my friend