St. Paul Pastor Plans High-Rise Sermon

St. Paul Community Church Pastor Rev. Frank Rodgers wants to bring faith and nature closer together with a dash of excitement, so he’s decided to preach 30 feet above ground from a makeshift platform built in a buckeye tree.

The elevated idea ties into the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) Mission 4/1 Earth initiative—a 50-day effort to collectively offer over one million hours of engaged earth care, plant 100,000 trees and send more than 100,000 advocacy letters to promote a greener planet. Rodgers’ small 50-member congregation already tripled its personal goal of 600 hours, 60 trees and 60 advocacy letters, according to the UCC website.

"I want to express thanks to the congregation for participating in Mission 4/1 Earth," Rodgers said. "I also want to send the message of seeing the larger picture.”

Rodgers will make his ascent and preach atop his tree perch on May 26.