“Because the core of the earth is solid, the layer of molten metal outside the core flows around the core. This flow of molten metal results in lines of magnetic force running from north to south. These lines of magnetic force help butterflies migrate to Mexico and salmon return to their own spawning grounds … and maybe just for our delight - also result in the northern lights when conditions are right. Thanks be to God that creation continues to follow its original instructions and praise be to the Creator for so wonderfully making the earth so it sustains life and delights its resident creatures.”

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, Michael Ott started Waterloo CRC’s education series on the Earth’s Systems with the theme “Wonderfully Made”. I was the worship leader that morning. I usually start the service with a nature-focused paraphrase of Psalm 90, but after the morning session, I quickly rewrote my gathering words to include the above paragraph.

In that first of 3 pre-service education sessions, the more than 20 people gathered were wowed by this and other examples of how creation is integrated, complex and resilient. The aim of this series was to provide a baseline of scientific understanding so that people could interpret news and reports and advocate in an informed way. The aim of this first session was learning that results in a sense of awe which in turn results in praise to the Creator. 

The second week’s theme was “Out of Balance”. The conversation focused on how misunderstanding, neglect and abuse have resulted in humans living in a finite earth system yet extracting resources and producing waste as if the earth had limitless capacity for both, collectively creating more waste than the earth can process and using resources at a rate faster than the earth can replace. The Potsdam Institute identified 9 critical earth systems boundaries. In 2025, 7 of the 9 boundaries had been breached. 

We used the Triple Planetary Crisis framework to think about the crisis of human-caused rapid climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. We noted that Earth Overshoot Day (the day when our collective consumption of resources exceeds the ability of the earth to replace what we’ve taken) is moving earlier and earlier each year. In 2025, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 24th. The aim of this session was lament and righteous anger.

The third week was entitled Renewal and Reconciliation. Dave Skene, a local Indigenous speaker, joined us to add to the conversation. Dave brought to the conversation the word “sacred” that describes the things the creator has created. We discussed alternatives to the current dominant economic model of extraction, production, use and discard. Alternative economic models such as the Gift Economy and Circular Economy seem better aligned with the design of creation. Donut Economics is one visual framework for thinking about planetary boundaries and “the safe and just space for humanity” and all creation to flourish. The aim of this session was hope and conversation leading to action.  

Feedback we received expressed appreciation for the sense of awe that resulted from “Wonderfully Made”. Feedback also expressed appreciation for an introduction to an Indigenous way of seeing time - as circular and relational rather than linear and always moving away from the past and towards the future.

As a next step, we are planning to create an “evergreen document” that we can update as we learn about local opportunities (inside and outside of the church) for creation-focused action, advocacy and learning. We are wondering about a pollinator garden on the church property as a response to loss of pollinator habitat.

Thanks be to God that creation continues to follow its original instructions. Praise be to the Creator for so wonderfully making the earth so it sustains life and delights its resident creatures. And may we be faithful to the call to be co-workers with God towards the vision of all things flourishing.