Rev. Nick Babladelis will be guest preaching on Earth Day at the 9:00 and 10:30 AM worship services. Following the 10:30 AM service, join us in the South Parlor for an Earth Day Lunch and Learn led by Rev. Babladelis on theology and ecology.
Zoom Details:
Passcode: 329460
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About the Lunch & Learn
Hope in Action: Responding to the Urgency of Climate Change as Christians
While the science of climate change is real, urgent, and compelling, it can also feel overwhelming, and translating this into personal decisions and actions can often leave us feeling powerless or hopeless. It is perhaps fitting, then, that the lectionary reading following Earth Day comes from the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35) and recounts Jesus’ journey to the town of Emmaus. In Luke’s account, Jesus walked beside some similarly overwhelmed, confused, and even scared followers offering a new interpretation and a word of hope. In celebration of Earth Day this year, this Lunch and Learn will engage hope and offer a simplified view of what is happening in our climate, what the causes are, and how we can cut through the noise and distractions to take action in small—or even big—ways as stewards of God’s creation. What does the science indicate are the pathways forward? What solutions does it support? How can we sort through the noise and business to respond as Christians? Join this Earth Day Lunch and Learn program to wrestle with these questions and others as we consider the challenges and opportunities of Christian environmental stewardship. Where could an attitude of environmental stewardship lead you to action in your life and the lives of those around you?
About Rev. Nick Babladelis
Nick Babladelis is the Director of Environmental Stewardship at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. There he coordinates a variety of sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives including reporting for the school’s carbon footprint, environmental education programming in and out of the classroom, climate action planning, and more. Not a stranger to Chicagoland, Nick grew up down the road in Naperville. He went on to study Chemistry at Wake Forest University and later to receive a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. At Princeton he focused on the intersection of religion and science. His interests kept him close to the land and sustainable food systems as Princeton launched it’s ‘Farminary’ initiative which focuses on sustainable agriculture and spiritual formation. Nick has worked with and for numerous congregations in youth, college, and adult ministries and has preached regularly as part of his current school’s chapel program. Thinking theologically about our environment led him to co-found The EcoTheo Review in 2015. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, Nick is an active gardener, outdoor enthusiast, cook, and general DIYer. He does his best to care well for his chickens and bees, though often feels that his shitake logs are more responsive. He is grateful for all the support and joy he receives from his partner and their two young children.