“This is why I came to A Rocha!” exclaimed one of the participants in the first instalment of the A Rocha Earthkeeping Institute.  This past fall, about twenty eager “earthkeepers” gathered at A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre for a weekend focused on watershed stewardship.  The goal of the weekend was to explore what it would mean to take our places seriously as the setting for Christian discipleship. Ecologically speaking, place is most meaningfully defined by watersheds. Thus, the jam-packed schedule included a tour of the Little Campbell River Watershed, highlighted by visits with our conservation partners at the local hatchery and estuary.  This exploration of place was integrated with biblical reflection on how a scriptural understanding of identity, redemption and a vision for life, consistently insists that where we are matters deeply to God.

The Institute wonderfully captured a microcosm of A Rocha’s “what, why and who” – intelligent, committed action in a particular corner of God’s world combined with a thoughtful articulation of how our action is part of God’s story, all within a context of intentional, welcoming hospitality.  If such an experience sounds intriguing to you, our next instalment of our Earthkeeping Institute will explore the theme of food and faith.

We would love to see you at the next weekend Earthkeeping Institute: Friday – Monday July 6th – July 9th.