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During their week at Circlewood, the group explored the connections we are highlighting in these short reflections - the relationships between:

Earth care & soul care 🌲⁠
Humanity & the community of creation 🗺️⁠
Social & environmental concerns ♻️⁠

This photo captures two students creating common ground as they do some trail work in the Circlewood forest. They were part of a group of 25 young people in Circlewood's Ecological Discipleship Immersion for Youth program (EDIFY).

In English, we could say humans from humus—the dark, incredibly fertile layer of soil that helps trees and plants grow. We are, quite literally, part of the earth.

We create common ground when we embrace our place within the community of creation!

The place to begin this process is the very earth under our feet. In Genesis, when God creates the first human, the Hebrew word is “adam,” which is closely related to the word for earth/land/soil, “adamah.” Adam from adamah.

We will share more about our specific plans for 2026 in the coming weeks!

The good news is that you will be joining many people already integrating earth care and soul care into their lives and communities!⁠
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In the coming year, it is our hope that Circlewood will continue to bring earth care and soul care together in creative ways.

🥾Spending time outside. There is growing evidence of the psychological, physical, and spiritual benefits of getting off our technology, stepping out of our buildings, and immersing ourselves in the world around us.⁠

🌲Learning about the bioregion and particular ecosystems where you live.⁠
💚Finding something within your region that needs care, and researching ways you could contribute. If you are a person of faith, add this to your times of prayer.⁠

This actually aligns well with most religious accounts of the world, and presents a tremendous opportunity for creating common ground, bringing together science and faith to spark new thinking, thoughtful reform, and a hopeful path forward.⁠
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You can help make this happen!

If you want to receive all previous "creating common ground" emails, leave us a note when you sign up and we'll send you those too!⁠

We will explore ways to bring together:⁠
Earth care & soul care 🌲⁠
Humanity & the community of creation 🗺️⁠
Social & environmental concerns ♻️⁠
⁠
If you want to get this info right to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter by visiting our website, circlewood.online.

Over the course of six months, they will be exploring the Journey of Ecological Discipleship, with the goal of deepening participant experiences in the various trips that they lead.

We're deeply grateful for this opportunity to partner!