A worship service led by the youth was one of the central moments of an Earth Day celebration organized by the Salvadoran Lutheran Church. Photo: ILS Youth
‘Living Altars’ event strengthens links between faith and action to care for our common home
(LWI) - Living out the Lutheran faith through caring for creation. That focus on eco-theology was at the heart of an event organized by the National Youth Council of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (ILS) to mark this year’s World Earth Day.
Under the theme “Living Altars,” the gathering brought together young people and church leaders from 14 local communities. It provided a space for reflection and action to strengthen the connection between faith and care for our “common home,” in line with initiatives promoted by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Latin American and Caribbean Climate Justice Forum.
Pastor Laura Saravia, an LWF Council adviser, highlighted the leading role of youth in this process: “Our church’s Northern Synod Council is responsible for coordinating and developing activities with all the youth of our four synod councils. At this gathering, more than 34 young people, together with pastoral leaders, came together to work on the theme of living altars as a concrete expression of our faith in action.”
Pastor Laura Saravia leads the “Living Altars” activity as part of the church’s Earth Day celebration. Photo: ILS Youth
Khatherine Reina, a member of the ILS Youth Council, symbolically presents the first palm tree to Rev. Roxana Gavidia. Photo: ILS Youth
Participants from the different communities receive palm trees and planters as part of the Earth Day activities. Photo: ILS Youth
The day featured two key moments: a celebratory service led by the youth, which incorporated symbols such as earth, water, and palm branches, evoking Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. These palm branches, blessed during the liturgy, were then given to the congregations as a sign of commitment.
In the second part, the group moved to an ecological park in the community, where the natural environment played an important backdrop to learning activities, games, and reflection. Participants explored the concept of “living altars” as a form of witness that promotes reducing plastic use, caring for the environment, and creating more harmonious spaces in churches.
“We serve a living God, and therefore we also need living altars,” said Saravia, highlighting the spiritual and practical significance of this initiative, which began to take shape in 2022 following the first meeting of the Climate Justice Forum held in El Salvador.
Without a doubt, it was an experience that strengthened our mission and our work in community
Adriana Alvarado, ILS National Youth Coordinator
The 19 April event was also supported by the synod’s Stewardship of Creation program, which helped strengthen the work led by young people. National Youth Coordinator Adriana Alvarado was involved in the event’s preparation. “It was very meaningful to see young people sharing, listening, and learning together, creating spaces for awareness, unity, and commitment to the care of creation. Without a doubt, it was an experience that strengthened our mission and our work in community,” she said.
Other participants shared their impressions. Khaterine Reina said the theme had led her “to reflect on how I myself decide what kind of soil I want to be in my life. I experienced this through love, hope, and fellowship.”
Katherine Marcela Quijada Hernández from the Apostles of Christ Lutheran Church, noted, “What was most special was how we all connected with a common purpose: to care for our home, planet Earth.”
The ILS reaffirmed its commitment to continue promoting this type of initiative, with the hope that more churches will join in and that the experience may inspire other communities in the region to live out their faith through active care for creation.
