A New World

Introduction

In both the book of John and the book of Revelation, the authors share important spiritual truths and experiences with their listeners. Those who wrote and contributed to these books shared powerful insights into a world where complete goodness was possible—and perhaps already accomplished. In the grand scheme of things, there are moments, in small bursts and great feats, when the kingdom of God breaks through.

These moments come at the mountaintops and valleys of our faith, in the deep forests, or in the desert blooms. The holy city kin-dom is made whole when it is filled with living things: turtles, birds, dolphins, and butterflies. As much as these texts speak to Spirit, they are also fully part of our creation and the human story right here on this good Earth.

These authors of our readings during Eastertide share these moments and invite us to believe. They want us to know that death is but a passing place. Resurrection and true life are more powerful than any of us can imagine. In the mountains, in our forests, or at a table among friends, we can trust in God. We can believe into Christ. We can love one another and this good Earth. We can know that God is doing something new. We can believe into the new creation.

This study is designed to accompany the Eastertide worship resource, “Believing Into Christ.” Each week, this study invites you to read the text and explore biblical and ecological themes. You are invited to share your insights with the Bible texts together with stories of the natural world and people of faith within our world. Each week should take about an hour to complete. If you, as a leader, allow a little more time, that will mean deeper exploration and a richer conversation.

Each week includes a reading and links to real-earth stories. Study participants can be encouraged to read more during the week as they continue to reflect following Easter.

Small Groups

Preparation

Gathering Space: Choose a location with reasonable access to the outdoors— a courtyard, a room with the doors open, or a sunny window.

Refreshments: Serve snacks as you are able. Serve snacks sustainably to minimize waste and eliminate plastic. Serve fresh fruit, home-baked cookies, or cheese cubes with crackers. Offer coffee, tea, or juice from a glass jar. Or make juice from frozen concentrate and serve it in a pitcher. Break out the coffee mugs or purchase compostable cups instead of using plastic.

Activity: The World Wildlife Federation offers free origami instructions online for folding paper animals. Provide sheets of square paper for folding during the conversation. Origami paper is thin and can be obtained inexpensively. There may already be some in the Sunday school room. Consider including pink and grey paper for folding, as river dolphins can be pink and grey. Animal suggestion this week: dolphin.

Begin (Time estimate 60 minutes)

Gathering: (5-10 minutes) Break into groups of three or four. Make sure each group has access to square sheets of origami paper and the week’s origami instructions.

Check-in: (5-10 minutes) Have the groups check in together using this prompt: “What are your favorite vegetables or fruits?”

Reading: John 13:31-35; Revelation 21:5 (For text reading and Question 1, allow 15 minutes)

Question 1: In today’s reading, Jesus’ followers remember his words that they should love one another. Humans sometimes have a hard time getting along, let alone loving one another. As we look further, loving one another includes respecting people’s prayers, homelands, and livelihoods. If we truly love one another, we must love the water, the plants, forests, fish, and wildlife we depend on to thrive. The resources we share are a common table for us all. Where are the shared tables with neighbors in your life?

• For the leader: Reading the text and Question 1 out loud will take about three minutes. With the remaining time, ask two or three people in the small group to share their responses to the question with the others in their group. As the leader, listen in to one or two groups.

Story of home: Read out loud. (For this reading and Question 2, allow 15 minutes.)

Dolphins live in freshwater rivers as well as the ocean. In the Amazon River, the Amazon River dolphins are the apex predators, the top predators, and natural fishers of those waters, keeping life in balance and fish populations healthy.

The Amazon, like other places, has been impacted by humans. Overfishing and pollution have endangered the river. The river ecosystems are also experiencing drought and heat due to climate change. The droughts affect millions of people in Brazil, but also wildlife. In 2023, the water in Lake Tefe alone reached 102 degrees, and more than 150 dolphins died.

Fernando Trujillo is an award-winning biologist working in the rivers to protect the dolphins. In 2024, the National Geographic Society named him “Explorer of the Year.” The Catholic organization, Caritas is also working to encourage people of faith to learn about the challenges faced in the Amazon due to climate change and other factors. Church leaders like Fr. Martin Islas call for “biblical-ecological education” so people of faith can better attend to neighbor and creation.

Question 2: In Revelation 21:5, God says, “See I am making all things new.” When so much damage has been done—to people and to the waterways that sustain their lives and the lives of the plants and animals they depend on—what comes to mind when you read that verse? God created the Earth and renewed the creation in Jesus Christ. How might Christian people draw from these teachings for a new moment of action, a time of necessary restoration to “make things new”?

• For the leader: Reading the story and the question out loud will take two to three minutes. With the remaining time, ask two or three people in the small group to share their responses to the question with others in their group. Suggest that they rotate who shares, so that anyone who didn’t get a chance to share for Question 1 has the chance to share this time. As the leader, listen in to one or two groups.

Pathway to the New Creation: (10 minutes) Few of us will ever travel to the Amazon or see a river dolphin. Yet wherever we are in the world, our actions will have a significant impact on people globally. Efforts aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions, such as net zero, are taken to reduce the severity of heatwaves and droughts. What path do you see in your community that will help us learn more about environmental impacts and make things new?

Closing prayer: (5 minutes)

God of love, Lord of life, Creator of all things, teach us about your new creation. Let us be your willing ones. We will heed your call to love one another. By our hands and hearts, may the holy city come! A new heaven and new earth, bursting as it did at the beginning with many living things! For all things living belong to you. Amen.

Origami animals can be taken home or saved for display in the church.

Written by Rev. Richenda Fairhurst works at the intersection of climate, community, and connection. She serves alongside others with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, including as part of the Movement Cafe team. She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Conference and lives in Southern Oregon, where she serves on the board of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, chairing the Creation Justice Committee and Oregon Interfaith Power and Light. Find her on substack at justcreation.org.

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