Voices for Creation
November 13 & 20
Christian voices will resound in our worship services as the Bethel Choir premieres Suite Prayers for Our Earth, a new composition by our Minister of Liturgical Worship Zach Busch and Minneapolis songwriter Bret Hesla. Their text is the beautiful “Prayer for Our Earth” that concludes the groundbreaking 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis. It’s a compelling call for all Christians to join in rescuing all creation ‒ our damaged environment and “the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in [God’s] eyes.” Pr. Mike’s sermon and the liturgy will echo and amplify these themes and help us respond from our hearts.
November 20 lifts up the wisdom of Native American voices with their deep understanding of the unity of land, people, and Spirit. A member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and ELCA Lutheran pastor, Joann Conroy, travels to join Bethel on November 20 as guest preacher. Pastor Joann was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota during a time of great unrest and transition nationally in reservation communities. Her grandmother gave her a Sioux name, Winyan Wakan, meaning Holy Woman, when she was only 13 years old, years before she followed a call to pastoral ministry. She earned a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and is active in numerous faith-based organizations that seek to build bridges and connections within the faith and beyond. Pastor Joann believes that her people have much wisdom to share with the wider church for sustainable environmental practices and a spiritually based stewardship for our planet.
Eric and Brenna Cussen Anglada will join us for the November 20 forum to share their experience engaging Indigenous wisdom to learn new relationships to the land. Eric and Brenna are co-founders of St. Isidore Catholic Worker Farm near Cuba City, Wisconsin.
Both Sundays will feature a 10:30 forum, a light lunch, and an informal after-lunch discussion.
Suite Prayers for Our Earth
Left: Jesus & the Children II Right: Guatemalan Good Shepherd
But wait ‒ there’s more! Throughout November and December, Bethel’s Fine Arts Committee will display the striking and unique artwork of the late Father John Giuliani. His award-winning iconographic paintings, which have been exhibited around the world, interpret major figures from the Bible as Native Americans.
Join in a Bethel first as the Music Department, Caring for Creation, our social-justice group ACTJAM (A Call to Justice and Mercy), and our Fine Arts Committee collaborate on these events.
Connect eyes, ears, mind, heart, and soul to understand our past and commit to our future.
