500 trees, 500 faces for the Reformation anniversary

25 November 2015

LWF/OCS

A child at Casa Abierta in Carpio, San José, plants one of the first trees to mark ILCO's observance of the 500th anniversrary of the Reformation. Photo: Geraldina Álvarez

An opportunity to learn about the Lutheran Costa Rican Church

(LWI) - The Lutheran Costa Rican Church (ILCO) is showing its commitment to the care for creation by planting 500 trees to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.

The initiative dubbed “Creation is not for sale” is linked to The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) sub-theme of the Reformation anniversary, and ILCO’s own effort called WittenbergFest.

The Costa Rican church’s Reformation anniversary efforts are centered on three key questions: Who are we? What do we do? What do we believe? This focus allows church members to learn more about the church including the priesthood of all believers and pay tribute to the role of women in the Reformation.

Under WittenbergFest, ILCO is offering its members a variety of opportunities to get involved in its diaconal ministry with youth, women or children, as well as music, ecumenical action or intercultural activities, says Rev. Geraldine Alvarez, vice-president of ILCO.

On 22 October 22, children from the Casa Abierta “El Carpio” planted the first 10 trees in the city’s Carpio neighborhood, and the church members affirmed their commitment to care for the trees. “The idea is that each tree is planted by a different person so that in 2017 we will have 500 faces connected to the 500 years,” Alvarez adds.

In addition, a commemorative postal stamp was launched during the 498th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, held this year on 31 October, Reformation Day.

For ILCO and its 1,400 members, the cross remains a sign of the infinite love of God. “Even in situations where love, compassion and solidarity seem crazy, there’s the cross of Christ showing a God of grace, kindness and tenderness,” Alvarez says of the LWF member church.

The LWF and its member churches are marking the Reformation anniversary and the Twelfth Assembly in 2017 under the theme “Liberated by Gods’ Grace” and three sub themes focusing on the understanding that salvation, creation and human being are “not for sale.”

(From the LWF Latin American and Caribbean Communications Network)