About Journey Through Creation
We have been awarded a Calvin Vital Worship Grant funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. The grant is a prestigious honor that allows 40 congregations to pursue a year focused on worship leading to “revitalization that increases their ability to reach out to the world with the good news of the gospel.”
Our theme focuses on enlivening our church’s worship through the arts and environmental awareness by rediscovering the wonder, joy and commitment of being stewards of God’s creation.
We will be creating three informational webinars, followed by three inspirational You Tube worship services. Webinars and worship will explore and celebrate God’s Creation through science and the arts. As theological guide, Cliff Aerie will host each webinar and worship service. Each will host an ecological guide and artist interpreter to help explore and interpret humanity’s role as caretakers of God’s Creation.
At the conclusion of the grant year we hope to produce an Earth Walk Festival and jazz vesper service to celebrate our learnings in person. The Oîkos Ensemble will provide the musical thread throughout the year.
Members of our planning and implementation team include Jan Barnes, Chris von Weise, Diane McLean, Debbie Tolstoi, John Paci, Phil Shoulberg, Ian Didriksen, Elston McCowen, Leon Burke III, Dave Denoon, and Cliff Aerie as project director. Each member is involved in the planning, design and implementation of our year-long program.
Rev. Cliff Aerie
Ministry of Imagination, Creativity and the Arts (MICA)
First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, UCC
For more information about Journey Through Creation, the artist and ecologists, the first webinar and resources,
click on the links below.
This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship,
Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.