Despite setbacks caused by the pandemic, forty Honors scholars and volunteers, along with Dr. L. Monique Pittman, director of the J.N. Andrews Honors Program and professor of English, put on the tenth annual Honors Church last Sabbath on Nov. 14th. The service, held in the seminary chapel and streamed online, emphasized the Christian’s responsibility to the Earth through the theme “Hurt Not the Earth.” The program included three parts: Stewards of God’s Creation, the High Cost of Failure, and Restoring the Fellowship of God’s Creation.
Because of the limitations brought by COVID-19, many students feared that Honors Church would not happen this year, so they were overjoyed to be able to both participate and attend. Isabella Tessalee (junior, biochemistry) said, “Especially now, the moments are few and far between that we get to experience worshiping the Lord in one accord with fellow believers. Being able to participate in praising the Lord together with others filled my heart with joy.” Ms. Tessalee added that the topic “Hurt Not the Earth was particularly pertinent for today. She said, “Reminding ourselves of the beauty of God’s creation and the land that we are meant to be taking care of keeps us accountable. Meditating on God’s workmanship also gives us peace and hope in times of distress and turmoil.”
The program focused on fellowship despite distance through pre-recorded videos by participants. Several people joined the online stream as well. Joining the Honors community online, Hannah Gallant (graduate student, English), who graduated from Andrews in the spring semester of 2020, said, “It was truly a pleasure to worship with the Honors family from afar. The topic of caring for God’s creation could not be more timely. I was touched and blessed by the readings and reflections. The whole service was a lovely reminder of what it means to be a good human in our actions and involvement in the natural world around us, a world that we all too often take advantage of and harm.” This sentiment was echoed by Eric Inae (junior, computer science) who attended the service in person and said, “I most enjoyed the opportunity to worship together with my Honors family! It was a great blessing to be able to hear from my friends and peers as they read and sang.”
Mr. Inae also reflected on his take-away from the service, saying, “I think it is especially important to remember God’s Creation. This earth was given by God for humanity to inhibit, and it is unfortunately not being taken care of. Given the current world circumstance, it may be hard to remember this fact, but it is vitally important to look toward a brighter future and work to make that future a reality.” Honors church, for many, became a reminder that, in Mr. Inae’s words, “Nature is beautiful, and it is a shame that more people don’t appreciate it more.”
The two reflection segments were led by speakers Dr. James Hayward, Dr. Shandelle M. Henson, and Dr. Oystein LaBianca. Dr. Hayward and Dr. Henson appealed to steward the Earth the way that God commanded Adam and Eve, while Dr. LaBianca presented “Sabbathing” as an alternative way of living. In his presentation, “Sabbathing” is an acceptance of God’s call to rest while also extending that same rest to the most vulnerable–including the animals, ecosystems, and marginalized communities.
Originally published on November 17, 2020.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.