Earth Day 2024
Acting Stated Clerk Bronwen Boswell urges Presbyterians to take steps to alter the course of climate change
On Earth Day 2024, the Rev. Bronwen Boswell, Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has issued a statement about the ways the PC(USA) stands united with over 35 other denominations in acknowledging climate change as a profound moral and ethical issue demanding urgent attention and action.
“May our actions be guided by principles of love, compassion, and justice as we seek to fulfill our calling to be faithful stewards of God's gift of Creation,” Boswell writes.
Read the full statement here.
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Things to do for Earth Day | |
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The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22,1970, in the United States. Then, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. Wisconsin Senator (D) Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day to put the environment onto the national agenda. Since 1970, when 20 million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, Earth Day is celebrated around the world. In 2009, it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as an international day.
Every day is Earth Day on Indigenous lands! It is no coincidence that when the World Wildlife Fund listed the top 200 areas with the highest and most threatened biodiversity, 95% were in Indigenous territories. It is estimated that Indigenous territories contain 80% of the earth’s biodiversity and Indigenous lands also hold unquantified megatons of sequestered carbon as 11% of the planet’s forests are under Indigenous guardianship and stewarded through their ancestral knowledge. Indigenous Peoples continue to call for a shift in mainstream consciousness and to honor and deepen the relationship we hold with Mother Earth. Support Indigenous-led solutions. Today and every day!
Learn more.
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Cultural Survival
www.cs.org
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Matthew 25 Being Connected
May:
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Matthew 25 Continued Conversations: Vital Congregations: Join ministry leaders for support, explore the 7 Marks of Vital Congregations, and share questions, ideas, challenges and resources. Register here! Wednesdays, May 1, 15 and 29; 3–4:30 p.m. EDT.
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Imagining a Future Beyond Systemic Poverty and Structural Racism: Special guest Nicole Mitchell Gantt, American jazz flautist, educator and author of “The Mandorla Letters: For the Hopeful,” will join the Zoomversation that seeks to catalyze solutions-focused imagination, attitudes, planning and action. Register here! Wednesday, May 1, 7 p.m. EDT.
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Matthew 25 Continued Conversations: Eradicating Systemic Poverty: Join ministry leaders for support and to share ideas, dreams, challenges and resources. Register here! Thursdays, May 2, 9, 23 and 30; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT.
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Overbrook Housing Crisis Symposium: Join us for a three-day dive into the housing crisis in America with leadership from around the country. We will discuss the parameters of the housing crisis and the root causes, learn which coalition models show promise and how to build them, share resources to get your congregation or community to be active and effective, and hear how active engagement transforms a congregation/community. May 15–17. Click here for more information and to register. First-time users will create an account — you won’t be charged until you check out with a credit card.
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Peace Cannot Be Achieved Through War and Weapons: Korean Women Struggle Against U.S. Military Bases on the Korean Peninsula: A panel of Korean women will speak about the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula. Register here! Thursday, May 23, 8 p.m. EDT.
June:
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Matthew 25 Continued Conversations: Vital Congregations: Join ministry leaders for support, explore the 7 Marks of Vital Congregations, and share ideas, challenges and resources. Register here! Wednesdays, June 12 and 26, 3–4:30 p.m. EDT.
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Matthew 25 Continued Conversations: Eradicating Systemic Poverty: Join ministry leaders for support and to share ideas, dreams, challenges and resources. Register here! Thursdays, June 6, 13 and 20, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EDT.
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Matthew 25 Continued Conversations: Intersectional Priorities: Join ministry leaders to explore your questions and needs around the intersectional priorities of climate change, gender justice and heteropatriarchy, and militarism. Register here! Tuesday, June 18, 3–4:30 p.m. EDT.
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Special Offerings
Pentecost Sunday is May 19. Join us in receiving and celebrating the Pentecost Offering, which supports children at risk, ministries with children and youth, including the Youth Triennium, and the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program. Let’s join together to ensure that our younger siblings in Christ begin life with a solid foundation of faith.
Online resources include minutes for mission, worship resources, children’s curriculum with activities, a PowerPoint presentation and social media/newsletter images. There is also a short video titled “I Am Coming to You” for use as a minute for mission in worship and other gatherings. Posters, minutes for mission, bulletin inserts and offering envelopes are available in English, Spanish and Korean.
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Presbyterian Women
in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies builds community and affirms women’s calls to leadership and spiritual growth.
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GA Commissioner Training May 16
Synod Meetings
April 28 - 30, Mt. Olivet Conference & Retreat Center
October 6-7, virtual
Synod School, July 21-26
Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA
The Academy
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Presbyteries and churches share your news with the Synod! | |
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Keeping In Touch is a monthly publication of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
To subscribe email: office@lakesandprairies.org
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