Dear Pollinators,
To a cynic, Earth Day can be the equivalent of a revival Sunday on which everyone catches religion for a day only to return to their previous ways come Monday morning. Rather than being a day of short-lived enthusiasm, however, Earth Day can also be a launching pad for sustained commitments. For some congregations, that might mean forming a Green Team to strategize for future programs. For others, it might mean developing a plan for becoming a Creation Justice Church. For still others, it might mean plugging into a sustained advocacy program such as one recently launched by Interfaith Power & Light. Whatever the case may be, here are four ideas for activities your church can do near Earth Day to lay the foundations for further action:
1) Focus Your Worship! The United Church of Christ has partnered with Creation Justice Ministries to produce thematic worship resources and educational materials for Earth Sunday. This year's theme is "A New Heaven and a New Earth: Health, Environmental Racism, and Eco-Justice."
2) Watch an Inspiring Documentary! Find suggested movies, practical tips for screenings, and an upcoming special event with the filmmaker of "Kiss the Ground" through this online resource page.
3) Launch a Book Group! Use Earth Sunday as an opportunity to launch a book group to read Cathedral on Fire!: A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis. Each chapter includes discussion questions along with suggested actions that have been tested and proven.
4) Make a Call for Action! Since the 1980s and 90s, members of the United Church of Christ have been leading voices in calling upon Congress to enact legislation that would bring about environmental justice. Let's make this happen in 2021 by calling upon our elected officials to enact the Environmental Justice for All Act.
May you catch the Spirit on Earth Day and beyond!
With gratitude for your ministry,
Next Webinar—What's Fair?: The U.S. and Responsibility for the Climate Crisis
Historically, the United States has released more global warming pollution than any other country, and it remains the world's second highest emitter. With its immense wealth and power, what are the moral obligations of the U.S. in confronting the climate crisis? In short, what's fair? Three leaders in the effort to address this question will present in this webinar. Even if you can't make the webinar’s scheduled time on Wednesday, April 14th, at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording of it. Sign-up now!
UCC Church Wins National Award
First Plymouth Congregational Church UCC in Englewood, Colorado, received one of Interfaith Power & Light's five annual awards. The church won the Cool Congregation Award for prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainability. Learn more about the inspiring example of this congregation in an article by Connie Larkman.
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Registration is open for the virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference held from April 18th to the 21st. EAD is an annual gathering for Christian advocates for justice to learn, worship, and meet with members of congress to press for action. This year's theme is "Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored." Keynote presentations related to the environment will be given by the NAACP's Jacqueline Patterson, environmental activist Mariama White-Hammond, and the US Climate Action Network's Keya Chatterjee. Register today!
UCC and People’s Justice Council Finalists for National Climate Award
As finalists for the American Climate Leadership Awards, the UCC and the People's Justice Council jointly received a monetary award. EcoAmerica will name the winner and runner-up on April 27th at the American Climate Leadership Summit. Read more about the award in this article by Hans Holznagel.
Ecumenical News: Bishops Declare Climate Emergency
The bishops of the Episcopal Dioceses of Massachusetts issued a delcaration of climate emergency that states, "We recognize that accelerating global warming and mass extinctions are destroying God’s creation, threatening to make our planet uninhabitable. We likewise recognize that the climate crisis affects low-income communities and communities of color first and hardest. We confess that we, and our churches, have not yet responded with adequate seriousness or urgency." Read more!
Free Tickets for the American Climate Leadership Summit
Along with Eco-America, the United Church of Christ is co-hosting this year’s American Climate Leadership Summit from April 27th to the 29th. Speakers will include the White House's National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, EPA Secretary Michael Regan, youth activist Jamie Margolin, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and more. As a co-host, the UCC has 25 free tickets to give away. Email Brooks Berndt to request a ticket.