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New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light
August 2013 E-Notes
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Greetings!
As I write, I am trying to get many pieces in place to begin a 3 month sabbatical from August 12-November 12. My Franciscan community has graciously given me the opportunity and the wonderful
 | | Poetry and Inspiration at rally. |
board and volunteers of NMIPL are carrying forth in my absence. THANK YOU!
Amidst all, the summer has been very busy. The Rio Rally calling for strong moral action in Albuquerque, August 3 brought out around 350 concerned citizens.
On July 24, the I Will Act Climate Change Bus Tour through a number of states stopped in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. NMIPL spoke for the faith community calling for Climate Change Action.
As we enter the fall, there are a number of events and campaigns to get involved with. NMIPL has a new Adult Education offering for the winter and fall, Water As Sacred Trust, check out details below, as well as many other events, resources and news.
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I will hold you all in prayer during my sabbatical time, as I reflect and pray about our important piece in the Great Work.
Blessings of Peace and Grace,
Joan Brown,osf, Executive Director
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Around New Mexico
Gallup Earth Sabbath
Thursday, August 29, 7-8:15
604 Jeff King St.
(Call 722-7504 for directions)
Everyone is invited to this monthly time of sharing, prayer and
renewal to continue to work for care of God's creation.
Worship In the Wilderness Hikes
North 10K Trail, Saturday, September 7, 9 am
Fall Backpacking in Weminuche Wilderness, September 16-21
Four of July Canyon Hike, Saturday, October 12, 8 am
Making the Shift: A World Cafe addressing Energy and Poverty
Friday, September 13, 9:30-1:00 pm (lunch provided)
The Peace and Justice Center, 2012 Harvard SE, ABQ
Hosted by Trish Herron, Loretto Community
You need to RSVP quickly for this great event with political leaders, mid, high school and college
Tour of LEED Certified Sanctuary and Film: Do the Math
Wednesday, September 18, Tour at 6:30 followed by film at 7:30
First Unitarian Universalist Church
3701 Carlisle Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110---(505) 884-1801
First Unitarian and NMIPL are so excited about the new LEED certified Sanctuary and now you can
have a tour and have all your questions answered. A great opportunity to see what another
congregation has done to address various energy needs. The noted Bill McKibben film:
Do the Math will be shown followed by discussion. Invite friends and come on out.
Albuquerque Earth Sabbath
Monday, September 23, October 21 and November 18---7-8:15
Albuquerque Mennonite Church, 1300 Girard Blvd. NE
Everyone is welcome to this community sharing of prayer, reflections, simple yoga and 20 minutes of meditation. We gather to pray for healing of Earth and to encourage our work and our spirits.
Water As Sacred Trust
At your congregation, adult ed forum, women's or men's group
Fall--Winter
NMIPL has put together a 50 minute forum on the ethics of water which includes local water experts to offer the situation of water in the Middle Rio Grande. At the end of the presentation an action will be offered for participants to get engaged. Contact Nancy at nancyeval@gmail.com for more information or to sign up for the fall or winter.
Youth, Environment and Faith Meeting for Youth Leaders and Pastors
Tuesday, November 19, 9:30-11:30
St. Michael and All Angel's Church, 601 Montano Rd. NW, ABQ
NMIPL has been working with Ghost Ranch and some youth leaders to create a plan for engagement of youth and leadership development around faith and environment. Come hear
some ideas, share your insights and let us move forward together. If you live outside of the Santa Fe/Albuquerque area, but are interested, please contact us. We would love to work with you. Contact Edwina to RSVP edwinabeard@msn.com.
NMIPL Harvest Festival and Annual Meeting
Sunday, November 24, 3-5
Albuquerque Mennonite Church, 1300 Girard Blvd. NE
Come celebrate accomplishments of faith communities with awards, wonderful food, entertainment and chance
to purchase homemade pies for Thanksgiving dinner. All are welcome.
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Cool Congregations: Green Ideas
PNM Reduce Your Use grants for nonprofits open August 1
While Faith Communities are not directly eligible, ministries that include everyone and are not religious based, such as food pantries are eligible. Grants of up to $5,000 are available and past projects have included:
*Replacing old appliances with Energy Star appliances
*Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents or LED lighting
*Upgrading office equipment and installing power strips
*Down payment on solar energy systems
Opportunities to win cash prizes and recognition for Faith Communities
Enter the Cool Congregation Challenge
If your community has done energy upgrades, solar, LEED certified buildings, amazing educational programs or other programs, you can be recognized for your good works and win prizes to assist with more work. Check out this year's IPL Cool Congregation Challenge.
We have lots of helpful ideas and success stories from other faith communities.
Free online Energy Portfolio Manager Tool through EPA
On July 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a significant upgrade to the free, online Portfolio Manager tool with which voluntary program partners can generate EPA's 1 -100 ENERGY STAR score. With new user-friendly features and functionality, including major redesign of database architecture, system processing, Web services, and user interface, Portfolio Manager includes a module designed especially for worship facilities.
The Portfolio Manager upgrade is explained via recorded webinars, fact sheets, slides and FAQ downloads at www.energystar.gov/pmupgrade
Cool Harvest
Check out IPL's Free Downloads to assist with programs in October around Food, Justice and Harvest related to creation care and climate change (www.coolharvest.org)
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Action Alerts
Shaheen-Portman Senate Energy Efficiency Bill
The Senate is considering a bill that could lower energy costs, reduce emissions, and provide grants that give non-profits and congregations the opportunity to take advantage of energy efficient technology.
Click here to urge your senator to vote yes! If you are having trouble with the link, please cut and paste this web address into your browser to send a letter to your senator: http://bit.ly/15IpCol
Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN] and Sen, John Hoeven [R-ND] have introduced the Non-Profit Energy Efficiency Act - S. 717 that would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of retrofitting their buildings with energy-efficient improvements.
This bill would help congregations model stewardship of Creation by making their sanctuaries and buildings more energy efficient. The proposed legislation is expected to be combined with another bill - Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act - S.761 introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] and Rob Portman [R-OH].
As members of the faith community, we have the moral obligation to be stewards of Creation and provide a healthy environment for future generations. Setting the example in our houses of worship is an important first step! Click here
to tell your senator to support S.717 and S. 761, today.
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See what National Catholic Rural Life writes about the ethical implications of hydro-fracking. See article on Fracking: Injecting Ethics into the Process and what this means for communities and their ground water supplies.
Faith in Conservation By Martin Palmer and Victoria Finlay Alliance of Religions and Conservation, Revised Edition, 2013
Earth and Spirit Center Christian Simplicity course book
Christian Simplicity: A Gospel Value a discussion course book, provides engaging prayer services, articles, and discussion questions. While it follows the exact same seven themes as their Lenten program (see below), the book does not use the language of Lent, so it may be used any time of the year. Using the book with small groups this fall would provide your church with leaders for the Lent program next year. In addition they produce an engaging Lent program for churches, Lent 4.5: Christian Simplicity. Through a series of bulletin inserts or handouts, the program explores themes such as Food, Energy, and Christian Simplicity to engage people in North America to a more sustainable way of living, through traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to encourage protecting God's creation, embracing gospel justice, and nourishing spiritual fulfillment. Lent 4.5 also offers a School Resource Book for use in K-8 parochial schools and Parish Schools of Religion. New pricing for 2014 makes the program affordable for parishes of all sizes. For further information or to request free samples, please contact: Mary Mattingly, Program Coordinator Passionist Earth and Spirit Center 1924 Newburg Road
explaining how climate change will have a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. The study found that more than 1,100 counties -- one-third of all counties in the contiguous United States -- will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming. More than 400 of these counties will face extremely high risks of water shortages.
2013 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS from Catholic Climate Change
Start Planning Now!
Join tens of thousands of other Catholics who will learn about the dramatic evidence of climate change and explore Catholic teaching on climate change. This year's Feast of St. Francis program is: Melting Ice, Mending Creation: a Catholic Approach to Climate Change. It's not too early to be looking ahead to your celebration of the Feast of St. Francis.
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