The Diocese of Southern Virginia is committed to developing and maintaining a model of creation care that articulates and implements an action plan advancing our stewardship, not only of Diocesan resources, but of the earth and all its resources.
In a world consumed by busyness and distractions, it's easy to overlook the beauty and fragility of our natural surroundings. We've become disconnected from the rhythms of the Earth, forgetting our interconnectedness with all living things. Our neglect has led to environmental degradation, threatening the very ecosystems that sustain life.
In response to the urgent call to stewardship, our diocese has established the Creation Care Team, a collective endeavor rooted in the Episcopal Church's commitment to caring for God's creation. Under the guidance of Bishop Haynes' creation care initiative, the Diosova Creation Care Team is dedicated to embodying the principles of compassion, stewardship, and environmental responsibility.
Our mission is clear: caring for God's creation. We invite you to join us on our journey of faith-driven stewardship, where we prioritize formation, advocacy, and action. Together, let's make a meaningful difference for our planet and its inhabitants. Your participation matters. Join us today!
DIOSOVA Creation Care Team is testing a project that involves a partnership between the Creation Care Team, Church of the Ascension in Norfolk (who is hosting us), a company called Terra Cycle and hopefully you the people of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
We will be using Terra Cycle Zero-Waste Boxes to collect hard-to-recycle items that would typically end up in landfills. The Creation Care Team has identified eleven categories of hard-to-recycle items that we want you as individuals or your churches to collect and either drop off or send to us. Those items include bottle caps, pens, pencils & markers, oral care waste & packaging, contact lenses & packaging, synthetic corks, water filters, coffee bags, beauty products & packaging, plastic straws, glue sticks & glue bottles and disposable cups & lids. Click the button below to view the complete list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.
How will it work? Find a box and start collecting the listed acceptable items - you can mix them all together in one box. Then either drop off your items in one of the collection bins at Church of the Ascension or the DIOSOVA Office, or you can mail your box mail to: Attn: Creation Care Team, 405 Talbot Hall Road, Norfolk, VA 23505. The Creation Care Team will take it from there to sort the items we receive into the zero-waste-boxes and send them off to Terra Cycle for recycling.
The Creation Care Team will keep track of the volume of items collected and will share the status of the project on the DIOSOVA care creation page and in future editions of Tidings. If our trial project is successful, we will explore the possibility of having other drop-off locations around the diocese. If you have any questions, contact Canon Farlin at lfarlin@diosova.org.
A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes
The 2025 Season of Creation Liturgical Guide is a comprehensive resource for Episcopal parishes to celebrate the Season of Creation (September 1 - October 4) by Christians coming together in prayer and action for Creation.
It includes a variety of liturgical materials such as special prayers, lectionary readings, and hymns, aimed at fostering a deeper connection to environmental stewardship and eco-justice. This guide supports worship and personal prayer, emphasizing the urgency of the climate crisis and the church's role in addressing it.
For more details, you can check the full guide by clicking below.
Additional Resources
Creation Justice Ministries – Creation Justice Ministries represents the creation care and environmental justice policies of major Christian denominations throughout the United States. They work in cooperation with 38 national faith bodies including Protestant denominations and Orthodox communions as well as regional faith groups, and congregants to protect and restore God’s Creation.
Cultivate: Episcopal Food Movement – A growing network of Episcopalians cultivating resilient communities through the growing and sharing of food.
GreenFaith – GreenFaith is an interfaith coalition for the environment that works with houses of worship, religious schools, and people of all faiths to help them become better environmental stewards.
For more information, visit endhunger.org.
"Landscape Stories: Fire and Water as Agents of Ecosystem Change" was given by Melanie Stine, Assistant Professor of Natural Science at Sweet Briar College. Dr. Stine reminds us that “landscapes are always changing, some of these changes are barely noticeable over decades and others change in moments... The rates and intensities of change are often driven by human activity, and therefore, it is imperative for us to learn the stories of landscapes to best manage and protect ecosystems.”
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
Dr. Johnny Finn, Chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University, offered a Zoom presentation on environmental justice and health inequality, including recent research on noise pollution and other dimensions of environmental inequality locally that have significant health impacts on marginalized communities.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
The Creation Care Team hosted a Zoom program on invasive plants and replacements with Alexandra Cantwell, Director of Adult Education at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The program educated participants about how not all greenery is good greenery. This session unpacked the impact of invasive plants on local ecosystems — and what to grow instead. The group explored native alternatives that are just as beautiful, far more beneficial, and often easier to care for.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
The Creation Care Team hosted a Zoom program on sustainable landscaping with Alexandra Cantwell, Director of Adult Education at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The program educated participants about sustainable maintenance techniques and choices with an emphasis on an ecological-minded approach to gardening.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
The Creation Care Team hosted a Zoom program on planning a pollinator garden with Alexandra Cantwell, Director of Adult Education at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
This introductory class helped participants learn who our pollinators are, and how best to support them.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
The Creation Care Team hosted a Zoom program on building backyard bird habitats with Alexandra Cantwell, Director of Adult Education at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The program provided information to support learning how to create a successful habitat that can support a variety of our native bird species. Support for our feathered friends starts at home!
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
The Creation Care Team hosted a Zoom program on composting with Alexandra Cantwell, Director of Adult Education at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
The program provided an introduction to composting and covered how to compost, why we should compost, as well as dispelling common myths and misinformation regarding backyard composting.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
Join author Joel Karsten in this Zoom presentation as he introduces the practical and effective technique of Straw Bale Gardening. Delving into its technical aspects and showcasing real-world successes, Joel offers valuable insights into this approachable method that's changing the way we garden.
Whether you're a novice or seasoned gardener, don't miss out on discovering the simplicity and effectiveness of straw bale gardening.
A recording of this presentation is available. Please contact Canon Lynn Farlin.
Join climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe in her uplifting Zoom presentation, inspired by her book "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World."
Discover a transformative conversation that counters the despair often associated with climate change, offering instead motivation, inspiration, and hope. Through her infectious optimism and practical solutions, Hayhoe empowers us to embrace a positive outlook and take meaningful action toward a sustainable future.
Join Lynette Johnson, Executive Director of the Society of St. Andrew, as she delves into the pressing issue of food waste in her lecture, "Hunger in the Midst of Plenty - Food too Good to Waste."
Covering the journey from farm fields to homes, she discusses causes, impacts, and solutions, emphasizing the potential to feed the hungry and improve nutrition. Lynette engages with attendees, answering questions and discussing the barriers to food rescue and the roles of various stakeholders in this crucial effort.
