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Planting Seeds: Spend time in prayer, meditation, or contemplation and explore the Sacred Texts from your spiritual tradition

Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:

• Offer space for guided meditations or prayer circles
• Help members of your faith community explore prayer practices or meditations/reflections they can continue at home
• Hold space for group reflections on scripture or spiritual practices
• Add meditation or time for silent contemplation during worship
• Create sacred space in the building and/or on the land near your congregation
• Coordinate “field-trips” to sacred places in or around your community

General Information Related to this Strategy:

• Interfaith prayers for Creation
• Prayers for our environment (predominately Christian)
• Soul Care Project: Prayers and meditations
• Centering prayer guidelines
• Practicing Lectio Divina individually or in groups
• United Methodist Church: Prayers and Meditations

Nurturing Growth: Engage a regular prayer or meditation practice centered around Creation

Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:

• Pray the Creation Psalms
• Host a Creation Prayer Stations event (similar to the Stations of the Cross in Christian communities, but focused on stewardship of Creation)
• Offer prayers for Creation during worship or in small-group settings
• Offer meditations with Creation imagery

General Information Related to this Strategy:

• Interfaith prayers for Creation
• Prayers for our environment (predominately Christian)
• Creation prayer stations
• Eco-spirituality resources
• Meditations from CCA leaders
• Books of Creation-centered prayer:
  • Praying with The Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace, by John Phillip Newell
  • Earth Prayers edited by Elizabeth Roberts & Elisa Amidon

Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:

• First Baptist Church, Asheville, NC
  • Contact Brenda Denton: Bbelle2001@gmail.com

Deepening Roots: Practice radical Sabbath and provide opportunities for meditation, prayer, and reflection in outdoor spaces

Suggested Practices and Examples for Implementation:

• Offer events around reunions with nature
• Host or participate in contemplative hikes
• Offer guided prayer times in an outdoor labyrinth, or create a labyrinth on the property (consider using pollinator friendly plants in the design)
• Offer a sunrise service or worship in an outdoor space
• Host or participate in Creation / Earth Day vigils
• Engage with other congregations through shared meditation or prayer practices outdoors

General Information Related to this Strategy:

• Interfaith prayers for Creation
• Prayers for our environment (predominately Christian)
• Building Labyrinths
• Creation prayer stations
• Meditations from CCA leaders
• Sabbath Living
• Books of Creation-centered prayer:
  • Praying with The Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace, by John Phillip Newell
  • Earth Prayers edited by Elizabeth Roberts & Elisa Amidon

Available Resources in Western North Carolina:

• Attend a service in a public space, such as the annual Easter sunrise service

Local Faith Communities Currently Utilizing this Strategy:

• First Baptist Church, Asheville, NC
  • Contact Brenda Denton: Bbelle2001@gmail.com
• Haywood Street Congregation, Asheville, NC

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