Creation Care Network E-news

Message from Margaret...

Dear friends,

During these weeks of Epiphany, we’ve been seeking to make God manifest. On January 20, with over a thousand other people, I took to the streets of Northampton to join the Women’s March and to lift up our hope for a more just, Earth-honoring, and inclusive society. I wrote a blog post about the day’s unexpected events, “ All of us or none of us .”

Looking ahead – have you begun to wonder how you will mark the forty days of Lent? I invite you to participate in the Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast from Ash Wednesday, February 14, through Easter Sunday, April 1. Initiated by the United Church of Christ and endorsed by many other faith groups, the Carbon Fast now reaches thousands of people in every state in the U.S. and at least 12 other countries. Each daily email suggests a carbon-reducing activity that becomes a spiritual practice. Day by day, we grow more intentional in caring for God’s creation. For more information, including how to sign up and how to involve your whole congregation, visit here .

Rev. Margaret with the Rev. Marisa Brown Ludwig at the Women's March

Here’s another possibility for Lent: you can join the ecumenical Lenten Fast for Creation 2018 , a joint project initiated by the Anglican Communion Environmental Network and the Global Catholic Climate Movement. They have produced “resources to help us reflect on the great lament of creation and those who share it, and to pray with people around the world.”

Meanwhile, I’d like to share a short video about the pioneering eco-ministry of my friend Rabbi Ellen Bernstein. Rabbi Ellen founded Shomrei Adamah, the first national Jewish environmental organization, and she now works with students at Hampshire College. Her video is entitled “ Tu B’Shvat Matters: Celebrating Trees and All of Nature: an inter-spiritual feast . ” This seder takes place annually at Hampshire College and is a new version of her original seder, which was held 30 years ago in Philadelphia and became the catalyst for Shomrei Adamah. I found the video thought-provoking, for it addresses important topics, such as how to envision Earth as sacred, how to draw fresh meaning from ancient religious traditions, and how to honor the inherent connection of matter and spirit.

What’s more – it connects prayer and action, reverence and resistance. I wonder how we Christians can re-interpret and transform our own rituals in ways that clearly honor Earth.

Did you know that pipeline projects often desecrate and even destroy sites that are sacred to Native Americans? This is one of the many ways that climate justice intersects with racial justice, economic justice, and the rights of indigenous people. Right now we have a precious opportunity to stand with the Narragansett Tribe as it seeks to bring its case to U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and to protect its ceremonial stones in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, from being desecrated by a gas pipeline.

To learn more and to help raise funds for legal fees, please visit Indigenous Ceremonial Stone Landscape Protection . If you prefer to send a check, please make it out to “Creative Thought and Action,” write “CSL'” in the memo line, and mail it to Rene Theberge, 250 Shutesbury Rd., Amherst, MA 01002. All funds collected from this campaign exclusively support the protection of the ceremonial stone landscape. Thank you!

Finally, I want to share two indications that the interfaith climate movement in Massachusetts may be growing deeper, wider, bolder, and stronger.

First, the Archdiocese of Boston is about to convene a meeting of faith leaders and scientists to explore how we can work together to find solutions for the climate crisis. I am thrilled that this meeting is taking place and I look forward to contributing whatever I can.

Second, a group of faith leaders from different religious traditions is making plans for a meaningful, prayerful, public witness to address climate change that will be held in Boston and will probably include peaceful civil disobedience. We are calling the event “Exodus from Fossil Fuels,” and it will take place on Monday in Holy Week, shortly before Passover. SAVE THE DATE: March 26.

Perhaps you will feel called by the Holy Spirit to join us. I will share details in the next monthly newsletter. Stay tuned!

Blessings,

(The Rev. Dr.) Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

Missioner for Creation Care

Opportunities for engagement

PRAY + ACT + ADVOCATE

Lenten Fast for Creation

Lent is a time of reflection, a time when we are called to focus awareness on our relationship with God, God's people, and God's Earth. The Lenten season gives us a precious opportunity to examine our lifestyles and to take steps to live more gently on the Earth.

This Lent, join the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Anglican Communion Environmental Network in 40 days of fasting and action as part of the Lenten Fast for Creation.

For a flyer/leaflet, both for hand to hand sharing and sharing via social media, go here .

You can find a pdf copy of the Lenten Fast for Creation calendar here .

For more information click here, and to r ead the official call, go here .

PRAY + ACT + ADVOCATE

I Love Clean Energy: Mass Power Forward Valentine's Lobby Day

Join Mass Power Forward, Elders Climate Action, 350 Mass for a Better Future, Mass Sierra Club, and Toxics Action Center this Valentine's Day for a day of action at the Boston State House . What a way to show love for clean energy: taking to the streets, engaging our state leadership, and urging Massachusetts to step up and lead in the work of climate action!

Tentative schedule:

9:45 am: Begin gathering
10 - 11:00 am: Speakers on Mass Power Forward, our vision for the coming session, and our legislative priorities
11:00-11:30: Prepare for meetings. MPF leaders available to answer questions.
11:45 STAND IN A GOVERNOR's Office
11:30-3:00 pm: Head over the State House for meetings with state senators and representatives!

To RSVP for the event, go here . Check out the Facebook event page here .

LEARN + ACT

Energy Conservation Workshop for Congregations and Non-Profits

When: Saturday, February 24, 2018, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester, MA 01609

Save money, conserve resources, and preserve communities! This February 24th, join The New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts as they partner with Conservation & Sustainability Interfaith Partnership (CSIP) for a day of learning, networking, fellowship, and planning towards a more environmentally friendly future for our congregations. The event will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Worcester.

Registration fee is $10: you can register at https://tinyurl.com/y7vtbakr or by calling CSIP at 773-577-4109 . Registration includes coffee, donuts & raffle prizes.

You can find the flyer here .

LEARN + ADVOCATE + ACT

In 2015, 21 youth took our federal government to court over its "role in causing climate change and violating their rights to life, liberty, and property, while also failing to protect essential public resources." This landmark case, Juliana v. US, continues to unfold. On December 11, 2017, a three-judge panel heard oral arguments by the youth plaintiffs and by Eric Grant, representing the Trump administration, who argued that the case should be dismissed. The youth and their attorneys are now awaiting the panel decision. You can find more details about the case here .

This February 28, join a webinar featuring Kiran and Rev. Melanie Oommen. Kiran is one of 21 youth plaintiffs in the lawsuit. and Melanie is his mother and a pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eugene, Oregon. They will share about their experiences with the case and the insights they have gained. The call will be co-hosted by Shantha Ready Alonso from Creation Justice Ministries and the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt from the United Church of Christ. A brief legal update will be given by Coreal Riday-White of Our Children's Trust. Register now to join this live event!

The Justice for #EachGeneration campaign is calling for more than a thousand sermons as an act of solidarity, and to help grow support. Youth are especially encouraged to preach. You can pledge to deliver a sermon during the coming months in your community of faith. Youth are especially encouraged to join this effort and raise their powerful voices! Click here for more information and to pledge to deliver a sermon.

LEARN + ADVOCATE

Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering

Climate Action Now hosts a monthly gathering each month for networking, planning, and solidarity. This February the meeting will be happening on the 26th, at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. Newcomers welcome! Come see what's currently happening in the Western Mass climate justice community.

You can take a look at the Facebook event page here .

When: Monday, Feb 26, 7:00 to 9.00 PM

Where: 220 Main St, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

LEARN + ACT + PRAY

Join in with various faith leaders and learn about practical and actionable ways to decrease your congregation's carbon footprint and save money in the meanwhile! On March 10, St. Matthew's United Methodist Church is sponsoring SHOW: a workshop about energy efficiency for c lergy, lay leaders, and building & creation care committee members of congregations across all faiths.

Two attendees per house of worship are encouraged to attend. Workshop fee is $20. Register here in advance.

For more information, visit the church website here .

A tour of St. Matthew’s energy efficiency initiatives will follow.

When: Saturday, March 10, from 8.30am to 12.30pm

Where: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church 435 Central Street, Acton, MA 01720