EARTHKEEPING
NEWS
A NEWSLETTER
OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY
Volume Twelve, Number One
Spring 2003
Hennepin Avenue UMC
Saturday, November 23, 2002, was the last day of our NACCE Board meeting at the shore-front retreat house in Circle Pines, Minnesota. Coming from the "sunny South shore" of Long Island, I was surprised to see the lake already covered with a thin layer of ice. The four remaining board members planned the weekend activities. Reverend Finley Schaef suggested that we attend Sunday worship at the Hennepin Avenue UMC in St. Paul, which had been recommended to him by one of his former parishioners from Park Slope UMC. The next day, our "pilgrim" band journeyed into Minneapolis MN to the Hennepin Avenue UMC. As we entered the sanctuary, Rev. Finley asked for the location of the Sacred Journey worship, and we were told it was in the second floor art gallery. As we were early for the service, we had time to peruse the many paintings in the large gallery. Within a few minutes, some people arrived and began to arrange chairs in large circles around a table that was being prepared as an altar. Shortly thereafter, about 75 people arrived and the service started. The Pastor, a young woman, led the hymn singing accompanied by a piano and guitar. The Sacred Journey Worship was a Creation and Earth centered service, and the "sermon" was a report about the workings of the church's Dignity Center, a mission for the homeless of St. Paul. Prayers, praise, and songs for the Creation and the Earth ended the service.
Our little band of "pilgrims" was amazed and in awe of what we had seen and heard. We had spent the last three days struggling to find ways to get the message of praise and reverence for the Creation into the "religious realm," and meanwhile it was being done here every Sunday as one of the three services at this church! Surely God led us to this place to give us courage to continue in our faith journey. But the story isn't over . . . as we were leaving the sanctuary the head usher asked if we were first-time visitors, and when we said we were, he informed us that first-time visitors are invited as guests to the church's brunch buffet. We gladly accepted the invitation and went to the basement dining hall to be treated to a grand brunch buffet. We left Hennepin Avenue UMC with our souls and bodies satisfied. God does work in mysterious ways!
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