Whether it’s caulking drafty windows, replacing the old furnace, getting rid of the incandescent lighting, or installing low-flush toilets, your congregation sends an important message when it takes steps to be more environmentally friendly, says this article from Insights Into Religion. What can your church do? (Photo by Sun Dazed, used by Creative Commons license.)
The climate crisis is an unprecedented emergency. Humanity is careening towards the deaths of billions of people, millions of species, and the collapse of organized civilization. How we react to the climate crisis will shape centuries and millennia to come. Given the stakes, and the extremely short timetable, it is imperative that we strive to maximize the efficacy of our actions. We need to enter “emergency mode.” Faith-based organizations can help. (Photo: Takver, Creative Commons)
With the effects of climate growing more severe all the time, some churches are ridding their investment portofolios of fossil fuel stocks. This study guide looks at two Gospel parables and what they may say about divestment. From the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. (Photo: Trocaire, Creative Commons)
Congregations do more than save money and energy when they put solar electric panels on their roofs, retrofit their buildings with new heating systems and lights. They also send a message that as Christians they are concerned about climate change, fossil-fuel consumption and minimizing their environmental footprint. And they show by example that everyone can take steps to help solve these big global problems.(Photo: Michael Coghlan, Creative Commons)
“Eco-Reformation” is the term embraced by Lutheran theologians who foreground the crisis facing God’s creation and suggest that 2017’s 500th anniversary of the Reformation be a time when Christians across the globe take up the cause of saving God’s creation from destruction by climate change, pollution and unsustainable consumption of resources. This entire issue of Currents explores the issue of Eco-Reformation and calls God’s people to action, (Photo: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Blessed Earth offers a great list of resources for lessons, activities, and books to teach children about creation care. You’re sure to find something useful! (Photo: d-olwen-dee, creative commons)
This spring while scheduling your Earth Day observance, plan to educate your church on how our decisions impact the one and only planet that God gave us to live on — and how we can care for creation! “Every Creature Singing” gives you a detailed 13-session lesson plan, as well as a teacher’s guide. Each lesson has Scripture, readings, discussion questions that focus on your neighborhood, and other resources. (Photo: George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Creative Commons)
Pope Francis issued a letter and released a video for Lent this past week touching on issues of creation care. We can learn from the Pope’s message strategy. Creation care is universal and involves everyone because it impacts everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. (Photo: Semilla Luz, Creative Commons)
Here’s a helpful tool from the folks at blessedearth.org–a worksheet for daily, monthly, and yearly covenant activities for better stewardship. Permission is given to reprint for your use in the congregation. (Photo: IFPL, Creative Commons)
Let’s face it: Our Western habits of consumption are a big cause of the environmental crisis facing our planet. What can we do? Here are five practices that, if everybody did them, would make a big difference. Start today! From Relevant Magazine.
