@ronrienstra
Professor of Preaching&Worship Arts, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI | E7 | Worship Words | Church at Church| he/him | fave class: liturgical shenanigans | amateur musician (guitar, string bass) | backyard re-wilder | leaning into eco-theology
If you were investing in the future would you like to spend a billion or more dollars a day on a war for oil or would you like to spend that money to rapidly reduce your dependence on oil?
Now we get to see both of those approaches in real time.
NEW Earthkeepers ep out today: Forrest talks with Ben Lowe (Exec Director of A Rocha USA, our partner organization) and James Amadon (our Exec Director) to discuss current environmental challenges and the role of faith communities in addressing these issues.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd9S...
One of my sons wrote a really good piece on what it’s like living in the Twin Cities right now:
thepostcalvin.com/the-weather-...
Some harder things in here, but important. All topped off with two videos that will make you laugh.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
Today's newsletter. As always, I try to balance the grim stuff with glimmers of goodness. Book-eating-fungi jazz? How can you resist?
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
Father Pete does it again--thanks for this challenging "half time speech" for people of faith and conscience in America.
fatherpetethewildernesspriest.substack.com/p/its-halfti...
You can expect to hear more about solar permitting in the new year, but we'll get started here. Also, enjoy the scavenger hunt opportunity in this one--find the cute video of releasing beavers buried in one of the articles I cite!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
Here’s the latest on my time at COP30 last month:
open.substack.com/pub/refugian...
Christ the King Sunday. Went to see the statue “Cristo Redentor” - his arms stretched wide in an expensive gesture, not of domination, but of peace.
May all those who wield power follow his example.
A quick update from COP30 and CCOP:
wciu-8920028.hs-sites.com/day-8-of-cop...
Some hopeful news and some good videos in this one, plus: puffins!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
Inviting you to my Substack page because I've been neglectful about posting recent podcast episodes and newsletters. It's all here! Hawaiian refugia, the mighty diocese of San Francisco, and so much more. Maybe start here?
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...
This is such a good one. If you attend a regular congregation and wish your church could do more about climate, listen to the marvelous Linda Racine and get inspired!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...
What if we used our church grounds to feed our human and non-human neighbors? For those near Nashville, TN, you can explore this question with faith leaders and gardening experts at a gathering hosted by the Food & Faith Collective on 11/15!
Register here: nashvillewpc.church/faith-food-2...
People gardening in a churchyard.
Thanks to our first year of Churches of Restoration who generously shared their experiences in restoring right relationship with the earth with our Year 2 Churches of Restoration in our first national webinar.
We can't wait to see what projects our Year 2 churches launch! 💒🌱
This is a lovely one, an interview this week with the gentle and courageous Father Pete Nunnally of Water and Wilderness church.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...
We've been really enjoying this season of the Refugia Podcast, hosted by our friend @debrakrienstra.bsky.social - each week, she interviews a different guest and explores the idea of refugia from a variety of perspectives.
If you're interested, you can find it here! refugianewsletter.substack.com
Refugia Newsletter AND Refugia Podcast! My latest newsletter has exclusive video of PUFFINS! And the podcast so far in Season 4 features terrific guests: Heber Brown III, Douglas Day Kaufman, David Celesky, and Judy Hinck. More to come!
refugianewsletter.substack.com
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
Such a great conversation with the inspiring Heber Brown!
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...
Sun Day! This week's newsletter is a celebration of the clean energy transition that is happening, right now, despite... all the things.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
Welcome to our West Michigan Churches of Restoration Cohort! 🌿⛪ During our kick-off, creation caretakers new and experienced affirmed each other's work and inspired one another to pursue new projects.
We are honored to support these leaders in nurturing God's ecosystems in the upcoming year! 💚🕊️
At our annual A Rocha USA team retreat, we discussed the conservation work we enact in Texas and Florida, and we strategized for projects like our Churches of Restoration program and our new Tree Planting Initiative. 🌳⛪
We are excited to bring greater flourishing to God's creation this year! 🌎
A reflection from one member of our 2024/25 Churches of Restoration program:
"It has helped me feel less alone, more seen and supported, less crazy for thinking we as the church should make creation care a priority."
We are excited for the many years of community and creation care to come! ⛪🌱
On our blog, you can read about St. Bartholomew's Episcopal, a 2024/25 Nashville Church of Restoration that has done amazing work to remove invasive plants and restore habitat on their property, seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in healing their ecosystem! 🌱🕊️
Read more: arocha.us/churches-of-...
Need a boost of sunshine and mental vitamin D? Check out this week's newsletter.
refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...
Alongside September’s prayer requests, we also take time to share these thanksgivings. We’re grateful for the many ways we’ve seen God’s blessings, through the work of A Rocha USA, the care of colleagues around the world, and the beauty of creation itself.
