November 2022 tip – Thankful for God’s Creation

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Environmental Stewardship Team would like to use this month’s tip to share our gratitude, thanking God for the blessings he has bestowed upon us that sustain life and bring joy.

  • We thank God for clean water.
    • Worldwide, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water.
    • More than half of the global population does not have access to safe sanitation.
    • Three billion people do not have access to handwashing facilities with soap. (unicef.org)

People living in rural areas, urban slums, disaster-prone areas, and low-income countries are the most vulnerable and the most affected. In the midst of recent droughts, we pray that governments, corporations, and individuals would value and conserve this life-sustaining asset.

  • We thank God for clean air.

Air pollution, in all forms, is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number that has increased over the past two decades. (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm)

Again, urban slums and low-income countries are the most vulnerable and the most affected.  It’s not just respiratory diseases either, but increases in cancers and heart disease are noted from air pollution as well.  We pray that governments, corporations, and individuals would value and preserve this life-sustaining asset.

  • We thank God for food.

According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. (feedingamerica.org) We pray that governments, farmers, and individuals would recognize the value of healthy food to our communities and protect the soils and biomes that create healthy foods.

  • We thank God for shelter.

More than 500,000 in the US, and almost 8,000 in Minnesota are homeless on any given night.  We pray for mental health issues and any systems of injustice that may lead to the blight of hunger and homelessness in our world.

  • We thank God for peace.

We know from the turmoil around the world, that peace can be elusive.  Peace is not just the absence of war, but the continuous process of communicating and negotiating needs among countries, communities, factions, and individuals. We pray for political leaders and all individuals to have the strength and courage to work with others, allowing for compromise, such that all may find a way to live in safety, without fear.

  • We thank God for faith.

In the face of the pain and grief of this world, in the face of death of friends and loved ones, we lean on our faith to help us through, knowing that God has each one of us gently cradled in his all-powerful and loving hands.