Stewardship: Our Sacred Call to Care for Creation

Today, we gathered to reflect on our sacred calling to care for God’s creation, drawing from Genesis 1:26-30, where humanity is entrusted with the stewardship of the earth. This responsibility is not about domination, but about loving, nurturing, and protecting the world as God does. I shared the story of Basil Camu, a man transformed from a tree-cutter to a passionate conservationist, to illustrate how our understanding and actions can change when we truly grasp the interconnectedness and wonder of creation. Trees, for example, are not just resources but vital participants in the earth’s life, cooling our environment and sustaining the water cycle.

My own journey from indifference to advocacy for creation care was shaped by learning, training, and a growing awareness of the crisis facing our world. The decline in wildlife, the extinction of species, and the groaning of the earth through natural disasters and environmental degradation are not just scientific facts—they are spiritual wake-up calls. Scripture reminds us that the earth mourns and groans, and we see this in the news: hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and even the violence that marks our communities. Yet, even in the midst of these sobering realities, there is hope.

Our hope is rooted in God’s ongoing love for creation, as celebrated in Psalm 104, and in the call to join God in the work of restoration. The United Methodist Church, along with many others, is responding with commitments to net zero emissions and practical steps for individuals and communities. Each of us can make a difference—whether by changing habits, creating wildlife habitats in our own yards, or simply being more mindful of our consumption. Caring for creation is an act of discipleship, a way to live out our faith through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

As we came to the Lord’s Table, we were reminded that God’s grace sustains us and calls us into deeper relationship—not only with God but with all that God has made. We are invited to go forth in peace, carrying the hope of creation in our hearts and hands, and to serve as faithful stewards in gratitude for God’s faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Stewardship is a Divine Mandate, Not Ownership God’s command in Genesis to “have dominion” over the earth is not a license for exploitation, but a call to responsible, loving stewardship. We are invited to care for the land, water, air, and all living things as God cares for them, reflecting God’s image through our actions. This reframes our relationship with creation from one of control to one of service and reverence. [20:05]
• 2. Transformation Begins with Awareness and Repentance Personal and communal transformation starts when we honestly assess our past indifference or harm toward creation. Remembering the abundance of wildlife in our childhoods and recognizing its decline can awaken us to the urgent need for change. Repentance is not just feeling sorry, but turning toward new habits and advocacy for the flourishing of all creation. [24:42]
• 3. The Groaning of Creation is Both a Warning and an Invitation Natural disasters, species extinction, and environmental crises are not just random events—they are signs of a world out of balance, echoing the biblical language of a creation that mourns and groans. These realities call us to lament, but also to hope and action, trusting that God’s love persists and invites us to participate in healing. [28:43]
• 4. Hope is Found in Faithful Action, Not Passive Optimism Hope for creation is not wishful thinking, but a commitment to concrete steps—individually and collectively—to restore and protect the earth. Whether it’s reducing waste, planting trees, or supporting church initiatives for climate justice, every act matters. Our faith compels us to be agents of reconciliation between God, humanity, and the natural world. [33:29]
• 5. Communion Deepens Our Connection to God and Creation Coming to the Lord’s Table reminds us that God’s grace is for all creation, and that our spiritual life is inseparable from the well-being of the world around us. As we receive the bread and cup, we are empowered to go forth as Christ’s body, serving and loving creation as an act of worship and gratitude. [41:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [12:44] - Introduction and Call to Worship
• [14:18] - Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:26-30
• [16:40] - The Story of Basil Camu and the Importance of Trees
• [20:05] - My Journey to Creation Care Advocacy
• [24:42] - Remembering Creation’s Abundance and Its Decline
• [26:09] - The Crisis of Extinction and Environmental Loss
• [28:43] - The Groaning of Creation: Disasters and Violence
• [30:54] - Hope for Creation Rooted in Faith
• [31:58] - God’s Ongoing Care in Psalm 104
• [33:29] - United Methodist Commitment and Our Pledge
• [35:44] - Practical Steps: Habitats and Everyday Actions
• [38:44] - Sharing Resources and Community Engagement
• [41:03] - Holy Communion: Deepening Our Commitment
• [43:46] - Sending Forth and Benediction
• [63:38] - Closing and Final Thanks

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-30 (ESV) — Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1:26-30, what specific responsibilities did God give to humanity regarding the earth and its creatures?
2. In the sermon, what transformation did Basil Camu experience regarding his view of trees and creation? [16:40]
3. What examples did the preacher give of the earth “groaning” or “mourning” in our world today? [28:43]
4. How does the preacher describe the difference between “dominion” and “domination” over creation? [20:05]

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean to be made in God’s image in the context of caring for creation? How might this shape our attitude toward the environment? (Genesis 1:26-27)
2. The sermon mentions that “dominion” is not a license for exploitation but a call to stewardship. How does this understanding challenge or affirm your previous beliefs about humanity’s role in creation? [20:05]
3. The preacher shared memories of abundant wildlife in childhood and noted their decline. What spiritual or emotional impact might this loss have on individuals and communities? [24:42]
4. The sermon connects environmental crises with spiritual “wake-up calls.” How might natural disasters and species extinction be understood as both warnings and invitations from God? [28:43]

Application Questions

1. The preacher described her own journey from indifference to advocacy for creation care. Where do you see yourself on that journey, and what has shaped your attitude toward the environment? [20:05]
2. Think about your daily habits—are there specific ways you might be contributing to environmental harm or healing? What is one small change you could make this week to care for creation? [35:44]
3. The United Methodist Church has committed to net zero emissions and encourages practical steps for individuals. What is one action you or your family could take to reduce your environmental impact? [33:29]
4. The sermon suggested creating wildlife habitats in our own yards. Is this something you would consider? What might be some challenges or joys in doing so? [35:44]
5. The preacher mentioned that caring for creation is an act of discipleship, lived out through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Which of these areas do you feel most called to grow in as it relates to creation care? [33:29]
6. When you hear about natural disasters or environmental crises in the news, do you feel overwhelmed, hopeful, or something else? How can your faith help you respond in a way that brings hope and healing? [28:43]
7. During communion, we are reminded of our connection to God and all creation. How might this spiritual practice inspire you to live differently in your relationship with the earth and its creatures? [41:03]