Hosted by Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) at Lutheridge, the Multiply! gathering in April brought Lutherans together from all across this church for renewal, connection, and deeper relationships with God, neighbor, and the Earth. NC Synod Deacon Brittany Perry shares how the retreat created space for eco-grief, joy, and growth alongside others committed to creation care and eco-justice.

Attending the Multiply! gathering held at Lutheridge was equal parts connection, learning, and rest. Together, we held space for collective eco-grief—where we were able to name things like data centers, mining and illegal pipelines, natural disasters, and other specific challenges that lay heavy on our hearts. But even though we had so much to lament about the current state of the world, we chose to rejoice in one another; in the work we are doing collectively and individually as Lutherans from around the country, dedicated to eco-justice and creation care. The little joys in every recycled brick of Styrofoam from Oklahoma and small Wild Church plants in Texas and Virginia are cause for great celebration.

As you can imagine, at a retreat led by Lutherans Restoring Creation, we used a lot of plant metaphors during our small group discussions. So I was asked the question, “Where are you planted?” To tell you the truth, I don’t feel deeply rooted in any one place right now. I am a young sapling at the nursery, ready to be taken home and planted. During a time of personal transition, it has often felt disheartening not to feel rooted. However, throughout this retreat, I was reminded that we are all growing at our own rates. It’s not about having the deepest roots or the tallest branches, but doing the work that you can wherever you are right now. Because the world needs me and it needs you—willow and oak trees both absorb toxins out of the soil, but cannot grow in the same area. So do not compare your growth to others’. We are being tended by our Creator, who knows exactly what we need and where our gifts can best be put to use.

The connections for this event were strong—an ELCA partner agency, LRC, as host; one of our synod’s camping ministries, Lutheridge, served as the sacred space; Amy Phillips, LDRC Western NC Response Coordinator, joined as a partipant; gifted lay members of Morning Star, Matthews, Amelia Osborne and Tom Eure, offered a green burial workshop and shared their musical talents; and other NC Lutherans attended along with Deacon Brittany. We are rooted together, we are stronger together, and though we all grow at our own rates, we are tended with care by our Creator. Thanks be to God for the ministry connections we share!