Created and Creating

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.
 We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,     who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.
We trust in God. 
We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.
    Thanks be to God.

As we awaited our departure for Iceland three years ago we wondered if our plans would be changed because of circumstances beyond the control of the tourism industry in that marvelous country. A volcano with an unpronounceable name was stirring and the media quickly turned it into a big news story, even though seismic experts in Iceland were sure that there wasn't much chance of an eruption. They were correct and we enjoyed a wonderful vacation. We're planning another trip to volcanic islands in the Atlantic, the Azores, and we trust that they will remain dormant as well, at least until we have come and gone!



Azores Geopark

We've been watching during the past couple of weeks as the heaven-on-earth of a Hawaiian island has become hell-on-earth for those who live near the Kilauea volcano. Lava has erupted through fissures and flowing toward the sea, taking out everything in its path including homes. Others have been forced to leave without any idea of when or if they will be able to return. We have learned new words such as "laze" and "vog" used to describe the lava haze and volcanic fog created when the molten rock meets the sea and creates clouds of toxic gas which can actually rain down particles of glass.

It shouldn't surprise us that there is a traditional belief that this volcano is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Here is a description:

Pele is a goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence, a daughter of Haumea and Kane Milohai. Early Hawaiians respected and honored Pele, and made offerings to please her or calm her wrath. Every time an eruption occurs, the local people think that it is a way of Pele giving a gift. The lava that flows out of the eruption forms new land, so the people leave offerings such as fruit, flowers, and fish to thank her for her generosity.

In other words, Kilauea is recognized as a mixed blessing. As a Christian I don't have much more than curiosity about a fire goddess, but I am fascinated by the reality of the ongoing work of creation, which never ceases. Tectonic plates shift, eruptions occur, new land is created. When another volcano, Krakatau, erupted in the 1880's all life was wiped out on the relatively remote Pacific island, yet within a few years plants and creatures began to recolonize it.



Krakatoa painting 1883

Our New Creed of the United Church (above) speaks of a God who has "created and is creating" and we are both humbled and astonished as humans by the work of the Creator. We can pray for those who have been displace by Kilauea, and for their safety. We can also thank God for the dynamic planet of which we are a small part.

Thoughts?