Senior Pastor Emeritus, Martha Rowlett

Snow is falling in Asheville today. Normal average snowfall when I moved here was about 13 inches. As I write, we are nearing the end of February. Two inches are forecast for today, and we have not had snow that covered the ground for more than 24 hours all winter. History records blizzards and heavy snow here as late as April, but that experience was decades ago. This is now. I am taking a Lifetime Learning class entitled CLIMATE CHAOS. We are studying shocking global weather history with pictures of shrinking polar ice caps and slowing ocean currents and new heat records every year. No longer are people anticipating more decades of time to deal with what is happening to our global home before it is “too late,” whatever that may mean. The faith questions for such a time as this are colossal. Scientists are overwhelmingly convinced that fossil fuel gases in the atmosphere is the problem. The problem can be traced historically to the industrial revolution, and primarily human use of fossil fuels. Well-meaning people disagree on this. Last week’s class was titled, “Let’s Hope It Is a Hoax.” My retirement community this week is putting solar panels on the roofs of two buildings. I think with pleasure of Rolling Hills Church so happily powering the facilities for its ministry with energy from the sun.