The Science, Theology and Politics of Climate Change and Care of Creation

Sunday Morning Adult Education Forum 9:10 – 10:15 a.m

Program Faculty

Louis Iverson, PhD, Biology, Fulbright – Hayes Scholar,University of York,England. Current Research on Climate Change Impact, USDA

Skip Cornett, BA, MA Political Science, M.Div. LutheranSchool of Theology atChicago

Lana Lowary, BS Zoology, OSU, Biology Teacher,Olentangy High School

February Adult Education Forum Calendar

Today – Theology of Creation, Dominion and Care of  Creation – Skip Cornett

February 19th – Religious Education and Care of Creation – Lana Lowary

February 26th – What to Do – Education for Advocacy – Joint Faculty

The book to be studied will be Christians and a Land Called Holy: How We Can Foster Justice, Peace and Hope.The book’s authors are Charles P. Lutz and Robert O. Smith.

Participants will choose sections or chapters of the book to present to the group. The goal is to read the chapter or section and identify 3 – 5 important or interesting ideas from that section of the book. Participants will present their findings briefly and others will join into the discussion. Additional discussion can take place through the e-mail connection too. Participants are also welcome to offer their chapter highlights in pairs. Pastor Skip, who has expertise in this area, will supplement and expand on information as needed.

To register for this book study group, complete the form and return it to St. Mark’s with payment enclosed. Payment covers the cost of the book and the evening hospitality. We will mail the book to you or you can arrange to pick it up at the church office.

The book to be studied will be Christians and a Land Called Holy: How We Can Foster Justice, Peace and Hope. The book’s authors are Charles P. Lutz and Robert O. Smith.

Participants will choose sections or chapters of the book to present to the group. The goal is to read the chapter or section and identify 3 – 5 important or interesting ideas from that section of the book. Participants will present their findings briefly and others will join into the discussion. Additional discussion can take place through the e-mail connection too. Participants are also welcome to offer their chapter highlights in pairs. Pastor Skip, who has expertise in this area, will supplement and expand on information as needed.

To register for this book study group, complete the form and return it to St. Mark’s with payment enclosed. Payment covers the cost of the book and the evening hospitality. We will mail the book to you or you can arrange to pick it up at the church office.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is privileged to have three people with expertise in different areas around the question of climate change and our responsibility as people of faith to get involved in the stewardship and care of creation.

Louis Iverson, PhD from the University of North Dakota who also studied at the University of York in England as a Fulbright Hayes Scholar. Louis has studied the date on the impact of climate change for the US Dept of Agriculture for many years.

Lana Lowrary, a teacher at Olentangy High School is a specialist in zoology and education. She is well qualified to lead us in a discussion of the role of religious education in the stewardship and care of creation.

Pastor Skip Cornett has worked for many years on the theology of creation, and the role of the church as an advocate for the environmental stewardship.

Join us on Sunday mornings in February at 9:10 a.m. for a series of challenging presentations and discussion on the topic of environmental stewardship and the care of creation.

February Adult Education Calendar

Feb. 5 – Climate Change? Environmental Crisis? Looking at the Data – Louis Iverson

Feb. 12 – Theology of Creation, Dominion and Care of Creation – Skip Cornett

Feb. 19 – Religious Education and Care of Creation – Lana Lowary

Feb. 26 – What to Do – Education for Advocacy – Joint Faculty

Rev. Dr. Childs is Senior Research Professor and Assistant to the President for Special Projects and was previously the Joseph A. Sittler Professor of Theology and Ethics at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Bexley.

Joseph Sittler was born in Upper Sandusky in 1904, the son of a Lutheran pastor.  A graduate of Wittenberg College and the Hamma Divinity School, he began his career as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Cleveland, OH.  For most of his life, however, he was a Professor of Theology at the Chicago Lutheran Seminary in Maywood, IL.  then at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He ended his nearly 58-year career as theologian with fifteen years at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) as the Distinguished Professor in Residence.

Joe Sittler was a preacher to the intellectual community without peer. In his prime, he was said to have been the single most sought after university and college preacher in America. He gave the Beecher Lectures at Yale (The Ecology of Faith, 1961), and the Noble Lectures at Harvard, both devoted to preaching. In the late 1950′s, he was featured in a Life magazine article as one of America’s “Ten Most Influential Theologians. Many of his preaching themes are included in his later books, Grace Notes and Other Fragments (1981), and Gravity and Grace (1986).”

Such an assessment cannot begin to capture the true humanity of Joe Sittler. He delighted in Polish sausage, beer and conversation at Jimmy’s, a favorite establishment close to the University of Chicago and LSTC. He saw theological significance in the most ordinary activities of average folk in everyday life. He relished encounters with all sorts of people and never conveyed any hint of condescension. He had a marvelous sense of humor and could be astonishingly frank without ever offending.

Joe Sittler’s father was the pastor at St. Mark’s 1914 – 1917.  The famous theologian, Joseph A. Sittler is a Son of this congregation.

Dale & Cory Barringer In Honor Of:

Murna Barringer

And

In Memory Of:

Lois Fischer & Boyd Barringer

Betsy Becker In Memory Of:

And Family Howard & Ivy Dunn

John Becker In Memory Of:

Ruth & Howard Becker

Becky Brickner In Memory Of:

Mary & Robert Lower

Dan & Joyce Clark In Loving Memory Of:

And Family Our Parents & Grandparents,

Ollie & Dever Bishop Clark

And

In Memory Of:

Our Loving Son, Brother, & Father, Carey Clark

Burl & Ruth Coffee In Memory Of:

John & Mary Hagar

And

John & Nora Coffee

Kay Cotter In Celebration Of:

The Birth of Kariya Cotter

Phyllis Croll In Memory Of:

My Loving Husband, Bill

Betty V. Decker In Memory Of:

My Husband, Daughter, Grandson, Parents, Brother, & Nephew

Diann Graham In Memory Of:

Cecil & Mary Gruber

Marilyn Green In Honor Of:

My Great Grandson, Colton Righter

Emmy Hack In Memory Of:

My Husband, John Hack

Deborah Leffler In Memory Of:

Larry Eaglin

And

In Memory Of:

Erna Pagels

Georgia Leffler In Memory Of:

Eugene Leffler

Lana Lowary In Honor Of:

The Anniversary Of My Daughter,

Becca & Nate

Christel Mattern In Memory Of:

Bob Mattern

Members of St. Mark’s In Honor Of:

Our Interim Pastor,

Rev. Skip Cornett

John Monesmith In Memory Of:

Adele Monesmith

And

Rose Monesmith

Ron Rea In Memory Of:

Carl & Milly Rea

Carole Reed In Honor Of:

All in Service to Our Country

And

In Celebration Of:

The Birth of our Lord & Savior

Betty J. Scheeder In Memory Of:

Don Scheeder & Nancy Scheeder

Les & Betty Schinke In Memory Of:

Ervin & Erna Pagels

Mary Lou Schultz In Celebration Of:

The Birth of Christ

Howard & Fran Shearer In Celebration Of:

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Our Lord & Savior

Mary Kay Sheets In Honor Of:

Jesus

And

Our Children & Grandchildren

In Memory Of:

Keith Sheets

Barb A. Stimmel In Memory Of:

My Husband, Robert C. Stimmel

And

Nancy Arnold

Keith & Reanna Terry In Honor Of:

Our Grandchildren,

Kaitlin & Michael Terry

In Memory Of:

Our Parents:

Hanly & Mildred Terry

Sandy Terry In Honor Of:

St. Mark’s Congregation

In Memory Of:

My Aunts, Grace Zimmerman

And

Ina Russell

In Celebration Of: Jesus’ Birth

Brian & Linda Tustian In Memory Of:

Our Mothers,

Evelyn Tustian & Ruth West

Pastor Cornett will present three weeks of program in the Adult Sunday School, beginning on Sunday, January 8th and continuing through the 22nd. The classes will offer a brief history of Jewish – Christian relations, the history of the establishment of the state of Israel, and in the third session, he will focus on the church in the Middle East and our ministry peacemaking and reconciliation in the Holy Land.

• January 8th – Next Year in Jerusalem – A Brief History of Jewish – Christian Relations and the Beginning of Zionism
• January 15th – The Creation of Israel: From the Balfour Declaration to the 1948 War for Israeli Independence
• January 22nd – Getting to Two States: The ’67 War, the Beginning of Occupation and the Church’s Ministry of Peacemaking and Reconciliation

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is very involved in working for peace and reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians in a variety of ways. For more information about the work of the ELCA and other denominations you can follow these links to learn more.

ELCA Peace Not Walls is “A special ELCA campaign calling for efforts toward a viable, contiguous Palestinian state; a secure Israeli state at peace with its Arab neighbors; and a shared Jerusalem with equal access and rights for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.” Find them here.

Churches for Middle East Peace – CMEP “CMEP is a coalition of 24 national Church denominations and organizations in Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. Each of these denominations and organizations is represented on the CMEP Board of Directors, which sets CMEP’s mission, positions and policy. Decisions are made consensus of this group.” The ELCA is one of the supportive denominations. Find them here.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land – ELCJHL is the historic Palestinian Lutheran Church that is present in the West Bank Palestinian territory, Jerusalem, and Amman, Jordan. Find them here.

If you are able spare some time on a Sunday of your choosing, please contact Deborah Leffler in the church office at 740-362-6771 or officestmarks@frontier.com.