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Granby church sponsors series of presentations about the environment

Stephanie Miller
Sky-Hi Daily News

The St. John’s Episcopal Church in Granby is providing a unique program to the community this month that goes beyond its usual Sunday service.

As part of its adult education program, the church is offering a series of presentations focusing on the environment. Spencer Carr, the church’s rector for just over six years, organized the program in hopes of raising more awareness.

“There’s a growing sense that as Christians, we have obligations to take care of the environment in which we live, that we don’t always recognize,” Carr said. “We believe very strongly that the Christian’s understanding of creation and of God’s relationship to the world of which He created creates special obligations to us.”



The Bible, Carr pointed out, has numerous quotations to indicate the ancient Hebrew people understood they were supposed to take care of the land. The Genesis creation story, for instance, emphasizes that humanity is to be a steward of creation; the Noah’s Ark story has “clear implications for the preservation of species.”

“There is a growing understanding that this is an important issue for Christians,” Carr said.



The church has had two presentations so far. The most recent one took place Sunday, with Dr. Timothy Killeen, director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Killeen is a national figure who Carr considers to be “at the very top” in terms of his connections in the scientific and political community.

Killeen spoke of global warming and his interaction with other governments, such as China’s.

“I can’t believe he was generous enough to spend time in a small church in the mountains,” Carr said. “Everyone there was blown away by (his presentation).”

But along with creating a deeper dedication to the environment through the church, Carr hopes the presentations also help to close a gap between some of the church’s members . It brings together very diverse kinds of Christians, he said.

“Conservative Christians and liberal Christians are discovering that they have a commitment in dealing with poverty and environmental issues. This helps bridge what I take are very unfortunate differences in the Christian community,” Carr said. “These are issues that can unite us, even if we disagree about other things.”

Presentations information

The next presentation at the church takes place Sunday, Feb. 24, and will feature Rob Taylor of Mountain Parks Electric. Taylor will talk about what one can do locally and personally to protect the environment and make a difference. The presentation is called, “Acting Locally.”

The fourth presentation takes place March 2 and features Sam Owens, a man who participated in a mission trip in Haiti. Owens will talk about his experiences living in a Third World country and that country’s dealings with the environment. The presentation is called “A Third World Environment in crisis: The Case of Haiti.”

The fifth and final presentation takes place March 9 and features Brad Orr of the U.S. Forest Service. Orr will talk about bringing the local and global community together, and the forest environment in Grand County. The presentation is called “Global Meets Local: Climate Change and our Forests.”

All presentations take place at 10:30 a.m. after the Sunday service at 9 a.m. in the parish hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Fourth Street and Garnet Street. Everyone is welcome to attend.

” To reach Stephanie Miller, call (970) 887-3334, ext. 19601 or e-mail smiller@grandcountynews.com.


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