Last evening was the first gathering of the new Ecological Christianity circle at our church, Kitchissippi United in Ottawa.  There were 11 of us and still more people wanted to be there and are supporting our goals.  There is hope in our circle, in the very act of finding each other, sharing our concerns and passions and our determination to learn and change and act.  I sense the transformative power of God buoying us up and leading us on. I see people who have laboured for years on environmental issues, relieved to be surrounded by a new circle of support that is rooted in a shared faith.  I see others who have always sensed God's presence in all of Creation, seeing the possibility that the church will widen its embrace to include their "river, garden and forest church".  I see people whose eyes and hearts have been newly-opened, hungry for more learning.  And I see others who have struggled with ways to live more lightly on the earth, looking to the circle for support to change habits.   We are being transformed from a collection of individuals to a circle of community, engaged in the sacred work of caring for and celebrating Creation.

Thank you for your powerful words about the transformative power of God, and how you and those with you are reflecting and living in it.