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
Midway Hills CC
Food and Faith
Snow Fail
Clean Power Plan
Ignoring Climate Change
Become a GC Ministry
Climate Video
greenchalice.org
Call to Action
Gardening
Pope Francis
Thought
GC Congregations
Sign On
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
 
Blessed Tomorrow


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Green Chalice News
 September 2015
Congratulations to Midway Hills CC, Dallas
Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas, Texas is the newest CERTIFIED Green Chalice Congregation! 
Midway Hills looked at every area of the life of the church and made changes. The whole process has taken several years. Among the most impressive and innovative is their commitment to water conservation. Midway Hills is an EPA designated Water Sense Facility, they have a rain demonstration garden named, "Raincatcher's Garden," they installed low water fixtures, had a water use survey competed, planted low water use plants and installed drip irrigation. Water is sacred and Midway Hills is living that out each and every day in their care for and conservation of God's holy water. Congratulations Midway Hills!

If your congregation is interested in going through the Certification Process, Click HERE for more information. 
Food Security and Faith
870 million people around the world do not have access to a sufficient supply of nutritious and safe foods---14.3 % of U.S. households or 49.1 million people in the are food insecure .

Today people who are food insecure are almost always employed, a big change since the 1960s. But minimum wage today does not have the purchasing power it used to in the 60's. Today people who are food insecure are often obese as hunger and obesity are two sides of the same coin. People make trade-offs and purchase cheap food that is filling but not nutritious.  The extra pounds that result from a poor diet are collateral damage of hunger itself.

Holy Eating, eating that supports healthy soil, water, and air, which supports bio-diversity on our planet, humane and ethical treatment of animals, and fair wages and good working conditions for people AND is nutritious and delicious is what we desire for all of God's children. 

Click HERE for a Food Security and Faith Resource
 
Snow FAIL
The Sierra Nevada, which John Muir called the Range of Light, stretches 400 miles long, encompassing the highest peak (Mount Whitney) and largest alpine lake (Lake Tahoe) in the contiguous United States, as well as Yosemite National Park and other world-renowned landmarks. 

New research says the Sierra snowpack, vital to water and recreation in California, reached a 500-year low this year. This stark finding comes from an analysis of more than 1,500 California blue oak tree rings dating back to the early 1500s, when Spanish explorers were just beginning their conquest of the state.
Researchers who examined cores from the long-lived oaks to calculate the water content of each year's snowpack were stunned to find that no other year was even close to as dry as 2015. 
  
The result has been a summer of steep water cuts and exploding wildfires, billions in economic damage, and stressed wildlife-and perhaps a preview of what's to come under climate change.
The lack of snowpack could turn California's summer and fall wildfire season into a year-round event. Unseasonal winter blazes, such as last February's fire near Bishop, are now torching Sierra elevations that used to be blanketed with snow. The 2015 statewide wildfire count is up more than 1,500 over last year, with a huge one now threatening Kings Canyon, home to the giant sequoias that are among the oldest living things on the planet.

Click HERE for the entire article.
Clean Power Plan
Creation Justice Ministries welcomes and celebrates the release of the Clean Power Plan. As Christians, we are acutely aware of the threats posed by a changing climate. Already, we have seen rising floodwaters, severe droughts, disrupted access to food, harsh storms, higher rates of asthma, and increased vectorborne diseases. 

Climate change is most harming the vulnerable among us: people living in poverty, older adults, and people living in countries least responsible for contributing to climate change. Our faith communities are on the front lines of providing relief and aid to those who are bearing the unequal burden of climate change. 

Now, with the Clean Power Plan, we have a chance to prevent suffering by limiting a major contributor to climate change: carbon pollution. We urge every state to create a strong and effective state implementation plan that successfully meets carbon reduction targets --- without shifting costs to impoverished communities. In particular, we encourage renewable energy projects to meet state carbon reduction goals and to generate new jobs for working families. The Clean Power Plan allows each state to develop its own state implementation plan to meet a customized carbon reduction target. It elegantly recognizes the diversity of energy landscapes in the United States, giving each state an opportunity to account for the local economy as well as local eco-systems. God's creation is sacred, and we are called to responsibly steward the gifts of creation while protecting our vulnerable neighbors. Adopting the Clean Power Plan in every state will help us live out our faith commitments to stewardship and justice.

Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change
Listen to a Green Faith webinar recording with climate change communications expert George Marshall - founder of the Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN) and author of Don't Even Think About It - Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change. George shared five narratives that work, five key findings, and insights about this research - the first of its kind anywhere to explore narratives and messages that can work across multiple faith traditions.
Click HERE to Listen and learn more. 
join the GC movement!
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.

Climate Video 
featuring Sharon Watkins
"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
 

The video can also be found on greenchalice.org


greenchalice.org
Answering the Call
Are YOU and your congregation ready to take action on the Climate Crisis?
 
* In Black Mountain they are planning a concert on behalf of creation care.
* In Missouri they will have a "Green Float" down the river as they launch their Creation Care Study Series.
* In Tulsa, First Christian will launch their Creation Care Sermon Series.
 
Tell us what is happening in your congregation HERE 
 
Ideas:
* Read and Sign the Green Chalice Covenant HERE  
* Pray/fast for emerging justice, compassion and healing for our earth and for political and faith leaders.
* Design or break ground on next year's Garden
* Create a green team at your church
* Invite your children and youth groups to climb trees, walk in a creek, plant seeds, trees or hold vigil at your local recycling center
* Help create a Regional GC Event or Regional Green Chalice Team
* Share the Green Chalice video in worship, Click HERE
* Read and discuss the Papal Encyclical "Praise Be" 
* Preach or invite another to preach on creation care and climate change
* Offer to cohost a listening party, vigil, potluck or discussion with one or more congregations in your community with a focus on creation care. 

Share your action with us at greenchalice.org
Gardening

 

Tell us about your community garden at Return to the Garden 

Follow the Pope in D.C.
Pope Francis is coming to Washington, DC, on September 22nd through 24th.  Please join us as we celebrate and support his call for action on climate change and creation care. .

Click HERE for the Pope's Schedule

JOIN US!
Worship at the National Cathedral 
September 24, 7:30 PM
Click HERE for a free ticket to the National Cathedral Worship Service
Thought for the day
The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.

WENDELL BERRY
Green Chalice Ministries

Green Chalice Congregations

Arlington Christian Church, Lexington, KY
Burgin Christian Church, Burgin, 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, Concord, CA   

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, Harrisonville, MO

First Christian Church, Henderson, KY

First Christian Church, Houston, TX

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, Torrance, CA

First Christian Church, West Palm Beach, FL  

First Christian Church, Wilmington, NC

First Christian Church, Wilmington, OH

Florence Christian Church/Harmony Place, KY

Harmony Springs Christian Church, Uniontown, OH

Harbor Christian Church, New Port Beach, CA

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

Plymouth Creek Christian Church, Plymouth, MN

Providence Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY

Red Rock Christian Church, Boise, ID

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  

Midway Christian Church, Midway, Kentucky

Midway Hills Christian Church, Dallas, TX

Salvisa Christian Church, Salvisa, Kentucky   

Woodland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky

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. 

If you will be in Washington D.C. for the Pope's visit, please let us know so that we can connect with you!

 

Rev. Carol Devine                

Minister for Green Chalice

 


 

Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri

Associate 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