On July 23, at 12:33 pm, 180 energetic teenagers from across Northeastern Minnesota (plus their adult leaders!) piled off of four charter buses and clambered into the somewhat cramped fellowship hall of Rivers Edge Church in Carlton, Minnesota.

Thankfully, we were there, and we were prepared for them! 

Mary Jo Mettler, Pastor John Stiles, Rachel Wyffels, Russ Schultz, and I had the chance to work with these excited young disciples and to teach them a bit about caring for creation by planting milkweed near their homes or church buildings. Mary Jo led a lively discussion about Monarchs and Milkweed, then Rachel told us about Ecofaith and the importance of creation care.

By the end of the hour, each disciple got to decorate and fill a toilet paper roll with soil, plant milkweed seeds in them, and put them in empty yogurt cups for safekeeping. Some youth made plans to plant them together at their church buildings while others thought of taking them home. Regardless of where they plant them, though, milkweed seeds will get the chance to grow in new yards and gardens across our synod, and young disciples will get the chance to grow seeds of creation care in their lives and congregations. Thanks be to God!