St Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment and the inspiration for us to live in harmony with and appreciation of the world. Above all, Francis wants us to share his joyous relationship with the natural world.

Steve van Matre tells the story of St Francis and the church bell. Late one night, Francis suddenly began to ring the church bell in his village. When the awakened townspeople rushed to the tower to see what was wrong, Francis called down to them to look up at the beautiful moon overhead. Shut up in their homes they had been missing one of the earth's supreme treasures!

Here at ErinEarth we plan to have a statue of St Francis. He will be seated on the ground , a young man welcoming visitors to the garden. For more, click here.

For a vision of sustainable living from the spiritual side relevant for primary schools, see On Holy Ground.

 

Peter Russell in his Spirit of Now website provides guides to meditation. People of many faiths and indeed of no faith find benefits to mental and physical health from meditation. As an introduction to meditation, listen to and partake in this three minute meditation from Peter Russell : "A short guided meditation to help you relax into the present moment. At the end there is silence so you may continue on your own."

 

The Sisters of Mercy sponsor Earth Link, a community environment centre in Brisbane. Their web site provides resources to all those who share a concern for the whole earth community. There are information and discussions to deepen your connections with the earth community and the Sacred. Click here for Earth Link.

 

We face pressures to be either for "Science" or for "God" but where can those of us who accept both find intellectual debate and nourishment. Within the Christian churches the term "Evolutionary Christianity" has evolved. The following web site allows you to register and become part of this discussion, or if you prefer, just to read the words of leading thinkers in this area.

 

CONVERSATIONS, is a radio show hosted by Michael Stone, bringing you leading edge thinkers, authors and activists in the areas of Environmental Restoration, Social Justice, Evolutionary Cosmology and Spiritual fulfillment.

Click here for a link to these conversations. You can either listen directly or download them to listen later on your mp3 player.

 

The world we live in has a long history, 13.7 billion years! How can we understand this and how we are the result of it? AND how can we tell this complex story to our children?

Jennifer Morgan has written three books for children on the Epic of Evolution, wonderfully illustrated by Dana Lynne Anderson: Born with a Bang, From Lava to Life and Mammals Who Morph.

These are factual giving the latest information on the origins and evolution of the Universe and Life, brilliantly constructed to convey the information a different levels of complexity.

Follow this link to a conversation between hosts Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd with Jennifer Morgan, who reflects on how creativity emerges from chaos, time and again, in the 13.7 billion year history of the universe — and how this theme provisions individuals and cultures with gratitude for the past and hope for the future.

Flannery, Tim (2008) Now or never: a sustainable future for Australia. Quarterly Essay 31, 1-66. (available for loan from ErinEarth)

Tacey, David (2010) Towards a Creation Spirituality in Australia. EarthSong Journal Autumn 2010, pp. 5-11. Click here to download