Earth Keepers

High Definition: EarthKeepers first high def video: Earth Day 2009 & The interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Tree Project: Faith leaders bless and plant the first of 12,000 trees across the Upper PeninsulaThe Earth Day 2009 interfaith EarthKeeper Tree Project "Blessing of the Trees" ceremony was held next to the pavilion at Presque Isle, a popular Marquette, Michigan nature area - that is surrounded on three sides by Lake Superior. Faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce - the first of 12,000 trees to be planted across the Upper Peninsula on May 9 at over 100 churches and temples. (Photo by Greg Peterson)On Earth Day 2009 near the shores of Lake Superior, northern Michigan bishops and other faith leaders explain the connection between religion and protecting the environment to Marquette reporters including from two TV stations - WBUP/WBKP TV 5&10 and WLUC TV-6 - and two newspapers - the Mining Journal in Marquette and the U.P. Catholic. (Photo by Greg Peterson)(Marquette, Michigan) - Despite a major snowstorm a day earlier, bishops and leaders from northern Michigan's largest faith communities planted the first of 12,000 trees during an Earth Day ceremony on the shores of Lake Superior.Standing on a hillside surrounded by huge pine trees two bishops and several other faith leaders blessed a three-foot native species white spruce tree and took turns putting shovels full of dirt into the hole.With a cold wind blowing and icy waves of Lake Superior crashing in the background, the Earth Day 2009 late afternoon blessing of the trees ceremony was held on Presque Isle - that is surrounded on three sides by the largest freshwater lake on the planet.The storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow in parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, however several weeks of mild weather ensured the ground was not frozen.Anticipating the cold April weather, organizers earlier decided to plant the rest of the trees on Sunday, May 3 when the weather is more appropriate for planting the 12,000 12-to-16-inch seedlings at numerous locations across northern Michigan including 100 churches and temples.Superior Watershed Project Executive Director Carl Lindquist explains how his nonprofit organization has handled some of the technical aspects of the many EarthKeeper projects since 2004. The EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder, Lindquist said EarthKeeping ideas are spreading to other communities. (Photo by Greg Peterson) The concept of "EarthKeeping goes beyond the Upper Peninsula" because throughout the Great Lakes states "we're having a ripple effect" as people and groups "are replicating the work that the EarthKeepers have done here," said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "They are patterning their events after some of the successful programs we have had here."Leaders from northern Michigan's largest faith communities gathered in the Presque Isle Pavilion to speak to those gathered for the Earth Day 2009 event.EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder Rev. Jon Magnuson, the NMU Lutheran Campus Ministry pastor, talks about the effectiveness of faith communities to turn out volunteers for environment projects (Photo by Greg Peterson) "This is very much a marvelous moment in the life of our work together as faith communities," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder."This is another step in our interfaith work," Magnuson said. "We have found an expression of our faith in very, very hands-on work like this the EarthKeeping Tree Project."The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddist, Quakers) with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the NMU EK Student Team.Meanwhile, the next day Thurs., April 23, several EarthKeeper faith leaders spoke about the project and protecting the environment to students at Northern Michigan University.It was the final of numerous "Sacred Planet" events on campus sponsored by the NMU EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team.NMU EK leaders Ben Sheelk, speaking above, and Sarah Swanson joined faith leaders for the Earth Day tree blessing, coordinated the Sacred Planet series, and the entire team will help plant the 12,000 trees.Singing, drums and guitar music were a big part of the final Sacred Planet lecture series at NMU.Those speaking at NMU were Dr. Michael Grossman of Jewish Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming; Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, head priest of the Zen Buddhist temple Lake Superior Zendo; Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, the project faith community communications coordinator; and Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Marquette. (Above photos by Greg Peterson)The faith leaders spoke to members of the Marquette media inside the Presque isle Pavilion just prior to the tree blessing ceremony.All humans "are called to be steward's of God's creation - and no matter what faith tradition we come from that responsibility lies with us human creatures," said Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample.Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample speaks to reporters prior to the tree blessing on Earth Day 2009. (Photo by Greg Peterson)"Those of us endowed with intelligence and with the ability to choose good and avoid evil," said Bishop Sample, who oversees 94 U.P. parishes and missions with 61,000 members.Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample, pictured center in front of the tree, holds a blue bible he used during the blessing of the trees on Earth Day 2009. (Photo by Greg Peterson)Holding an open bible, Bishop Sample said the book of Revelations "speaks of the life-giving power of water and how the tree draws its life from the water."Bishop Sample said he grew up in the desert southwest and "didn't see a lot of water" or the "beauty of the forests and trees."Sample said "I truly thought I had entered paradise" when he moved with his family to the Upper Peninsula at the age of 17.Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of Marquette speaks to the media, above, on Earth Day 2009 and a short time later leads a blessing outside, below, for the first of 12,000 trees that the interfaith EarthKeepers will plant across northern Michigan on May 3. (Photos by Greg Peterson)"This whole movement has focused on how the faith communities can work together to preserve this great gift that we have here in the Upper Peninsula - this great watershed and it's wonderful combination of lakes and streams - and forests everywhere," said Northern Great Lakes Synod Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes."Trees cover the earth and trees are part of healing the earth," said Skrenes, the head of 94 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members.The Earth Keeper's ten faith communities have "various ways of doing things and looking at life" but "come together for this important task," said United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb.United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent Grant R. Lobb told the media that the EarthKeeper Tree Project will be planting thousands of gifts for the next generation. (Photos by Greg Peterson) "We are glad to be part of EarthKeepers," said Lobb, whose district has 8,372 parishioners and 60 northern Michigan congregations."Planting a tree is a gift for the next generation and the generation beyond that," Lobb said. "We are going to be giving thousands of gifts for the generations to come."Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, the EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair, is pictured above talking about the environment and the Zen Buddhist faith.The head priest for the Lake Superior Zendo temple in Marquette, Lehmberg is pictured below adding soil to the base of the tree, and blessing the tree with folded hands. (Photos by Greg Peterson) The head priest for Lake Superior Zendo, a Marquette Zen Buddhist Temple, said "the trees - in effect - will be planting us.""We consider ourselfs very fortunate to be participating with EarthKeepers - if we are going to accomplish anything we (all faiths) need to come together," said Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair.Baha'is believe that "nature is to be respected and protected as a divine trust for which we all answerable," said Dr. Rodney H. Clarken, chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Marquette."How great it is to be in this beautiful community of Marquette in these very beautiful surroundings" and "celebrate together with our friends, colleagues and our co-religionists in our various faiths traditions" while "saving and celebrating of God's creation," Clarken said.There are about 40 Bah