From Caring for Creation During this Season of Creation consider the forests. As acres of forests burn in the U.S. West and are deforested in the Amazon, those who dwell among forests cry out. Forests serve as the Earth’s lungs, purify water, prevent flooding, reduce air pollution, harbor some two-thirds of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, provide life-saving medicines, and create a space of beauty for spiritual renewal. Families that live in and around forests in developing countries derive, on average, more than one-fifth of their incomes from forest products. Many human cultures bind their spiritual traditions to nature, especially forests. And, recent research reveals that forests generate the rainfall that maintains agricultural productivity in landscapes thousands of miles from the forest edge. Mahatma Gandhi said:

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”

He also said:

“The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

How can we have an influence on forests?

1. Lessen your need for paper.
2. Reduce emissions to increase opportunities to exercise outdoors and protect human communities from increased levels of air pollution that can lead to illnesses like asthma and lung disease, which are making already vulnerable communities more susceptible to COVID-19.
3. Protect existing trees; reforest responsibly.
4. Vote as a Faith Climate Justice Voter.

This Week in Worship It is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and we will celebrate worship in our homes via Facebook Live and YouTube. We will have Sunday School before and fellowship after worship on Zoom conference. The links for Sunday are below. We will post the recording of our worship service on our website.

We continue our series God’s Story. Our Story, One Story. If you would like to follow along with the Book of Confessions it is available here. Rev. Camille preaching on the statement of faith written by a St. Andrews Sunday School class in 2018. Our hymns will be Let Us Build a House and The Church’s One Foundation. Our scripture passages are Micah 6:1-8 and 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23. For a copy of Sunday’s bulletin, click here.

From Caring for Creation September 1 through October 1 is known as the Season of Creation. During this Season of Creation, think about plastic, especially microplastics. Defined as plastic pieces less than 5 mm in size, designed not to break down, microplastics are ubiquitous across the marine environment. Microplastics come from the break down of larger plastic litter, clothing, personal care products etc. Eaten by marine animals microplastics cause physical damage and poisoning and end up consumed by humans. What can we do? Besides talking about the problem and pushing government and businesses to action, consider the plastic diet as described in https://www.plastichealthcoalition.org/plastic-diet/

Save the Date We will hold our annual barbecue a little differently this year. It will be a drive-through event on Sunday, September 27. Stay tuned for more details!

 As we remodel the rooms at St. Andrews School, we have the opportunity to pick up needed furnishings from Rock Springs Presbyterian. We are looking for 4-5 people for a few hours to help move some furniture from Rock Springs Presbyterian to St. Andrews School. Masks are required and transportation is by your own vehicle. There are a few heavy things to move, but help is also needed moving things that are not heavy. Please contact Lonnette Bruce to volunteer to help, 770-934-1461.

September 1 through October 1 is known as the Season of Creation. During this month you are encouraged to reflect on the church’s call to care for all Creation and all people living in it. Start your reflection by considering your water footprint, learn how your lifestyle impacts the rest of the world and how you can make a positive difference. www.watercalculator.org

Youth

September 13   Youth Kickoff with Kickball!

Socially Distanced Kickball Game – Youth v. Parents/Staff  6:30 pm Sanctuary Parking Lot.

September 20   Mystery Bag Cooking Challenge

6:30 pm on Zoom! Youth will pick up their Mystery Bags on Wednesday or later, record their process and share with the group on Sunday evening

September 27   Nailed It or Nope

6:30 pm on Zoom! Youth will get instructions with a picture of something to create. Record the process and final product to share with the group on Sunday evening.

Youth and parents- please check your email for more details.

Join us in Worship for our annual Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing. We will be singing many standards and old favorites of our faith including: How Firm a Foundation, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less and many more.

Help Us With Congregational Singing

Every week our director David Lukens post the hymns we will sing with instructions of how to record and make your voice part of our choir.  It’s really easy and it doesn’t matter if you are a great or mediocre singer – just someone who wants to make a joyful noise. Just sing with your other family to help us worship together during the pandemic.

Choir Website

Wednesday Lunch and Learn Click this link to join us on Zoom for Lunch and Learn on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The password is 014584. If dialing in, call 301-715-8592, enter the Meeting ID: 960 5542 9353 and Password: 014584. We will be studying Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 and Colossians 2:1-7.