Earth Day, Every Day

At Wartburg Theological Seminary, Earth Day is more than a moment on the calendar. It is a reflection of a deeper calling we strive to live into each day.

As a community formed for leadership in the church and the world, we understand care for creation as an essential part of our shared vocation. It shows up in how we learn, how we gather, and how we tend to the spaces entrusted to us. This work is not about perfection. It is about intention, stewardship, and a willingness to keep growing.

One of the ways we are living into this commitment is through our Sustainability Task Force. This group helps center environmental responsibility in our life together by asking important questions, shaping practices, and encouraging us to think thoughtfully about how our actions impact the wider world. Just as importantly, they remind us that this work can be joyful. From hosting hands-on activities to creating opportunities for connection and learning, the task force brings energy and creativity to caring for creation, making it something our whole community can participate in.

Care for creation also takes us outdoors and into community. On May 1st, we will gather for our Spring Cleanup, a hands-on opportunity to tend to the beauty of our campus and surrounding spaces. It is simple work, but meaningful. When we care for the earth, we are participating in God’s ongoing work of renewal.

This season, we are also planting native species and participating in Mowing to Monarchs. By choosing native plants, we support pollinators, restore habitats, and honor the natural rhythms of this place we call home. It is a small but meaningful way to live more fully into right relationship with creation.

Because formation happens in both word and action, we are sharing wildflower seeds at Synod Assemblies as an invitation to carry this commitment beyond campus. These seeds are a simple reminder that care, when planted and nurtured, can grow into something life-giving for communities near and far.

Earth Day invites reflection, but our call is ongoing. Each day offers another opportunity to practice stewardship, to live with intention, and to remember that creation care is not separate from our faith. It is an expression of it.