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Home Page: www.eco-justice.org     *     E-mail: ministry@eco-justice.org

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Preaching on Genesis 1
Resources for Clergy

The beautiful story of creation through a series of days, Genesis 1:1-2:3, appears in the Lectionary only once, on Trinity Sunday of "Year A." In 2008, that event falls on May 18. Eco-Justice Ministries is delighted to provide these resources for pastors to help them deal with the text in ways that are pastoral and faithful, grounded in current scholarship, and relevant to the Earth's ecological distress.

The beloved story about the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 and 3 also appears only once in the three-year Lectionary cycle. In 2008, that text is read on February 10. These resources are primarily focused on the Genesis 1 text, but the page on two different creation stories provides some background and perspectives that will be helpful for sermons or classes that address the Eden account.

These on-line resources are grounded in a series of workshops that Eco-Justice Ministries offered for Denver-area clergy in April, 2005.

ARE THESE RESOURCES HELPFUL? Please help us evaluate these resources! Very helpful! Quite helpful Somewhat helpful Not helpful at all Offensive What is your denomination? Where do you do your ministry? (City & state) We would like to send you one follow-up email after May 18. Your name and email here will never be used for any other purpose. Name: Email:

Why is it important to pay attention to this text?
Two reasons come together in making a careful study of Genesis 1 important.

1. It is a text that many -- both inside the church and outside -- believe gives free license to humanity to rape and pillage the Earth, and
2. in light of the widespread ecological destruction of the Earth, the mis-representation of this text is not just a theological problem, but an urgent issue for how we try to bring about healing of the Earth.