Green Chalice News
A monthly e-newsletter from Green Chalice, a ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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In This Issue
Green Chalice
is a partnership Creation Care ministry of Disciples Home Missions and the Christian Church in Kentucky. 
Our mission is to connect Christian faith, spiritual practice, and creation consciousness in order to demonstrate the fullness of God's shalom. 
Disciples Home Missions
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Christian Church in Kentucky


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Green Chalice News
December 2014
Black Lives Matter
Rev.Sarah Renfro & daughter Miriam on 12/14
The Light is on racism. The Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of Advent could not come at a better time. Let's join together as followers of Christ to bring Light to the dark places in the world and end the systemic racism that permeates our society. Racism is part of creation injustice. But we can work to end racism and care for creation. We can...
 
1. support tree planting and the development of green space in black neighborhoods.
2. support community gardens in black and low-income neighborhoods. 
3. advocate for Farmer's Markets and supermarkets to be located in black and low-income neighborhoods. 
4. find out where solid and toxic waste is sent from our communities and who lives nearby.
5. advocate for clean and safe air, water and soil for every citizen in our communities. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
Amen
Shopping Ethically
The Shopping Season for this Christmas is almost over but many of us have barely started. But most of us have room for improvement when it comes to where and how we shop. 
1. Support local small businesses, especially the ones that support local artists and craftspeople. 
2. Research the places you already shop by clicking here and find some good shopping options here
3. Make gifts and give of yourself and your time as a gift.*
4. Make donations in honor of your loved one. Here are some of my favorites: Week of Compassion, Tree Planting Project, Heifer International.

*When I was a child and teenager, I loved getting Love Coupons from my parents. I used them very wisely. I remember pulling out "Free Ride" when told they did not want to take me across town to my friend's house. My daughter would like her room painted and redecorated which is mostly a commitment of time. She just might get a Love Coupon! 

Some of the information for this article came from How to Shop Ethically This Christmas 
Words to Ponder

Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Become a GC Ministry!
Many congregations already qualify to be a GC Congregation and simply need to apply.

STEPS: 

1. Have an active Green Team.

2. Sign the Alverna Covenant as a team or as a congregation. 

3. Make at least 3 changes that demonstrate your congregation's commitment to caring for God's creation. 

THEN e-mail the following information :  

1. Congregation name, City, State, address and phone number; 

2. the date the Alverna Covenant was signed;

3. and the changes made by your congregation to walk more gently on God's creation.

New Year's Eco-Resolution
new-year-header.jpg 
Green Faith invites us to take our New Year's Resolution to a new level by making a covenant before God and our faith community. We are more likely to keep our resolutions when we are held accountable. Pick one area to work on or do something in each area. Use the forms provided below or create your own covenant. 

Here are pledge forms:
Green Chalice
Congrats to Cairn Christian Church, Lafayette, CO 
They are a Green Chalice Congregation well on their way to becoming our next Certified Congregation!

Congrats to First Christian Church, Farmville, NC and Providence Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY on becoming a Green Chalice Congregations.

Green Chalice Congregations
Arlington Christian Church, Lexington, KY

Butler Christian Church, Butler, KY

Cairn Christian Church, Lafayette, CO
Central Christian Church, Lexington, KY

Central Christian Church, Marshalltown, IA

Central Woodward Christian Church, Troy, MI

Community Christian Church, Tempe, AZ  

Crestwood Christian Church, Lexington, KY 

Crestwood Christian Church, Lincoln, NE

Desert Dove Christian Church, Tucson, AZ  

Disciples Christian Church, Bartlesville, OK

Disciples Christian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH

Downey Avenue Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN

Edmond Trinity Christian Church, Edmond, OK.

Evergreen Christian Church, Athens, GA  

First Christian Church, Bardstown, KY  

Green Chalice Logo

First Christian Church, Beaumont, TX 

First Christian Church, Bellingham, WA

First Christian Church, Carbondale, IL    

First Christian Church, Danville, KY

First Christian Church, Eugene, OR

First Christian Church, Farmville, NC  

First Christian Church, Frankfort, KY  

First Christian Church, Glasgow, KY  

First Christian Church, Henderson, KY

First Christian Church, Leavenworth, KS

First Christian Church, Lexington, TX

First Christian Church, Little Rock, AR  

First Christian Church, Lynchburg, VA

First Christian Church, Mount Vernon, WA

First Christian Church, Ocala, FL 

First Christian Church, Owensboro, KY

First Christian Church, Paducah, KY 

First Christian Church, Paris, KY

First Christian Church, Pasadena, TX

First Christian Church, Puyallup, WA

First Christian Church, Rockwall, TX

First Christian Church, West Palm Beach, FL  

Florence Christian Church/Harmony Place, KY

Harmony Springs Christian Church, Uniontown, OH

Heights Christian Church, Shaker Heights, OH

Hood River Valley Christian Church, Hood River, OR

Journey of Faith, Ann Arbor, MI  

Lake Washington Christian Church, Kirkland, WA

Lakewood Christian Church, Lakewood, OH   

Lee's Summit Christian Church, MO

Marshall Avenue Christian Church, Mattoon, IL 

Midway Christian Church, Midway, KY

Midway Hills Christian Church, Dallas, TX

Mt. Zion Christian Church, Richmond, KY

Nicholasville Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY 

North Christian Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Northside Christian Church, Knoxville, TN  

Norwalk Christian Church, Norwalk, IA

Providence Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY

Ridglea Christian Church, Ft. Worth, TX

Saint Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, KS
Salvisa Christian Church, Salvisa, KY

Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond, OK

Southside Christian Church, Kokomo, IN

South Street Christian Church, Springfield, MO

Sugarbush Christian Church, Guelp, Ontario

The Healing Cathedral Christian Church, Memphis, TN

Valley Christian Church, Birmingham, AL 

Waling Faith (Korean-Am) Christian Church, Sunnyvale, CA

Webster Groves Christian Church, Saint Louis, MO

White Oak Pond Christian Church, Richmond, KY 

Woodland Christian Church, Lexington, KY

15th Avenue Christian Church, Rock Island, IL

 

Green Chalice Ministries  

Christmount Retreat and Conference Center

Black Mountain, NC  

 

Green Chalice Regional Offices

Christian Church Capital Area 

 

CERTIFIED Green Chalice Congregations

Bridgeport Christian Church, Frankfort, KY

Christ Church Uniting, Kailua, Hawaii

Cynthiana Christian Church, Cynthiana Kentucky  

Salvisa Christian Church, Salvisa, Kentucky   

Light for Lima

People all over the world held prayer vigils and lit candles in support for a good framework for a climate agreement. Check out the photos and add YOUR photos. 

Light for Lima occurred in the middle of the Lima Framework Convention on Climate Change where world leaders came up with the basics of a climate agreement. They will then have a year to work on the details so that world leaders can sign the treaty in Paris December 2015. If you have not already, sign your name to the petition for the UN Climate Negotiations that will be held in Paris in December 2015. (see below)

Sign your name

National Religious Partnership for the Environment invites us to add our names to a petition. Call on our political leaders to craft a moral global framework for the UN climate negotiations that will culminate in Paris 2015. Click here to sign the petition. Select "Disciples of Christ" as your religious affiliation. 

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Carol Devine                

[email protected]

Minister for Green Chalice

Contemplative Image by Rev. Chuck Summers

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes