Circling Toward Food Justice

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. Animal suggestion this week: fish.

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: “Where did you see abundance—so much or many of something—this week?”

Reading: John 21:1-19 (For text reading and Question 1, allow 15 minutes)

Question 1: This story tells of Jesus lingering on earth and continuing to perform miracles. He visits Galilee and increases the disciples’ catch, then again participates in a shared meal with his followers. When God created the earth, this included the living things of the sea. The fish of the story were created as living beings, but their sheer numbers meant plenty of fish to feed, nourish, and provide for the people. Have you ever been fishing or fished for your livelihood? How does Jesus’ miracle show how vital this nourishing cycle of life is?

• 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)

In the Book of Genesis, we learn that God filled the seas with so many living things that their numbers were uncountable! However, since 1970, freshwater fish populations have dropped 76%-94% due to human activity and pollution, including plastics and microplastics. Plastic waste is multiplying so quickly that by 2050, our oceans will have more plastic than fish.

While the scale of the problem is daunting, conservation efforts and faithful action can, do, and will make a difference. The story of a young earth champion from the UN Environment Programme relates the efforts of Lefteris Arapakis, a fifth-generation Greek fisherman.

Arapakis knew he had to do something. When he went out with his nets, instead of bringing in the plentiful fishes known to Jesus and the apostles, his nets were full of waste—especially single-use plastics. Arapakis gathered a team and launched an all-out effort to clean things up. The team removes twelve tons of plastic from the ocean every month through these efforts.

Question 2: In the Bible reading, Jesus provides a catch so big it strains the net.

The fish are good—clean and fresh. Jesus enjoys the grilled fish with the disciples on the beach. As they eat, Jesus tells Peter, “Feed my sheep.” With so much to say in these new days of Resurrection, Jesus chooses this as one of the most important. God’s world at creation ensured every creature (every person, every flock, and every school of fish) could thrive and be fed. In reflecting on this, consider what faithful action for the new creation might look like in the face of the challenge of plastics and waste?

• 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 round. As the leader, listen in to one or two groups.

Pathway to the New Creation: (10 minutes) These are days of celebration as we rejoice in the resurrection and life of Jesus. Jesus calls us to believe! In our belief, what is impossible becomes real. In thinking of our oceans, what does restoration look like? What is the path to a new life in our seas?

Closing prayer: (5 minutes)

Multiplying God, you came to earth to remind us of your great love. You called us to step away from sin. You brought death to its knees so that your people would know life! And at your victory, all creation cried out! Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the seas burst out singing! We join them in their song, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" Amen. (Revelation 5:13)

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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