Celebrating World Fisheries Day: Honoring the Life of Our Oceans

World Fisheries Day is celebrated annually on November 21 and is designed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems and the sustainable management of fisheries.  Millions of people depend on healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems to provide food for their survival and livelihood.  It is equally important that fish populations are protected from overfishing and allowed to thrive.  As we celebrate the protection and thriving of fisheries, we can also give thanks and feel gratitude for this amazing planet and all the life that it supports. 
 
As we recognize and feel the interconnectedness between people and all living things, such as the world’s fisheries, we expand the Body of Christ to encompass all of the natural world, not just humans.  We see how each ecosystem, when it is working in balance, sustains life and supports neighboring ecosystems.  It is humbling to slow down enough to think how amazing this planet is and how the Earth provides everything we need to survive and thrive.  And not just for humanity but for all of life from the microscopic organisms to the Blue Whales.  The Earth is truly amazing and life giving.

Harbor Christian Church has established a program called Living Coast Ministry (formerly Blue Theology) that focuses on the interconnection between the natural marine world and the divine.  Our Living Coast Theologians enjoy a week-long summer residential program at Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach, California.  Harbor is located just across the street from the Upper Newport Back Bay.  Being located in coastal Southern California gives us access to many wild places that most people never have the opportunity to experience.  Living Coast Ministry at Harbor supports participants in visiting these natural wonders while helping to develop an ecological spirituality.
 
What do we mean by ecological spirituality? Throughout the week, each group enjoys hands-on experiences that deeply connect them to the surrounding ocean and shoreline ecology. Each evening participants are led in discussions, sacred experiences and activities that support them in crafting their unique ecological lens on spirituality. In other words, Living Coast Ministry brings together real world experience and the sacred, allowing participants to ask new questions of their faith and to open to more expansive experiences of the divine. ​
 
We love the opportunity to host youth groups and their chaperones from all over the country.  To date we have hosted groups from Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, Kentucky as well as local groups from Southern California. Our Living Coast Ministry team would love to hear from and potentially host you and your group. 
 
Click here for more information on Living Coast Ministry in Newport Beach.​

Ryan Cullumber
Associate Pastor
Harbor Christian Church

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