Text

In This Issue

Thank you for your work

Around New Mexico

Green Ideas

Action Alerts

Resources and More

Stay Connected

I Will Do My Part to Protect Creation for Future Generations

2014 Preach-In event weekend Feb 14-16 or until Earth Day. Sign up before Feb 14 for resources and to be Counted!!!

New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light

January 2014 E-Notes

Blessings of all of the holy winter feasts and grace upon this 2014 New Year. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard in 2013 and who supports NMIPL. We look forward to much joyful and important work together in 2014.

Special recognition in pictures below for those celebrated at the Annual NMIPL meeting and made and ate pie at the end of November. Here are a few photos of our honorees who received certificates, plants and donations to IPL Carbon Covenant Tree Project in Africa and Cambodia.

St. Mark's on the Mesa Seed Award Winner for Energy Efficiency

Rev. Amstutz receiving Spout Award

Rev. Henry receiving Life-Time

achievement award for Las

Placitas Presbyterian.

First Unitarians

celebrating their Life-Time Achievement Award

All of our honorees include:

Life-Time Achievement: First Unitarian and Las Placitas Pres.

2013 Seed Award: St. Mark's on the Mesa, Episcopal

2013 Honorable Mentions: Church of the Good Shepherd and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

2013 Individual Sprout Awards: Rev. Anita Amstutz, Tom Stark, Karen Schmiege, Pat O'Meara, Kathy Garland, and Don Partridge.

A HUGE Thank you to Cheryl Foote

and Edwina Beard who baked

nearly 100 pies that were sold as

a fundraiser---so popular that

NMIPL hopes to do this again

next fall---volunteer pie makers

welcome.

I came back from Sabbatical in mid-November and immediately moved into NMIPL and holiday mode. One fruit of sabbatical was an article for the New Theology Review for CTU in Chicago which will be published in March. I will share that when it is out.

In the meantime, let us work together joyfully, for there is much to do, including:

*Advocacy Training for People of Faith (see below)

*2014 Preach-In, Education and Action weekend Feb. 14-16 or another weekend up to Earth Day. You must sign up before Feb. 14 to be counted and receive resources.

IPL just received funding that allows free DVDs of the award-winning film Chasing Ice to the first 300 congregations who order the National Preach-In on Climate Change Kit. Click here.

*Weatherization, furnace and water heater assistance for low-income families

*Educational Programs---Water As Sacred Trust, Advocacy for People of Faith Caring for Creation, Fossil-Free films

And more....please read on and we love to hear your stories and ideas!

Peace and grace,

Joan Brown,osf

Executive Director, NM Interfaith Power and Light

Around New Mexico

Advocacy Training for People of Faith

Tues., Jan. 14, Two Sessions (2:30-4:30 and 5:30-7:30)

First Unitarian Church (corner Carlisle-Commanche, ABQ)

Learn about and get engaged in issues that matter at New Mexico Legislative Session and beyond.

The session will be led by Rev. Holly Beaumont, Interfaith Worker Justice; Ruth Hoffman, Lutheran Advocacy; Sr. Joan Brown, osf, NM Interfaith Power and Light----PLEASE RSVP. ((Flyer)

Witness for the People

Tues. Jan. 21, 3:00

Rotunda at Capitol

Faith leaders pray for work to address issues and justice for education, health, immigration, environment and health at the beginning of Legislative session.

Albuquerque Earth Sabbath

Monday, Jan. 27, 7-8:15 (each 4th Mon. of the month)

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.

Environment, Faith and Young People Meeting

for Youth Leaders and Pastors

Mon. Jan 27, 11:30-1:00 (free lunch)

St. Michael and All Angel's Church

601 Montano Rd. NW, ABQ

Great plans are being made for young people and adult inspiring faith and environment program that includes curriculum for any faith community in NM, retreat at Ghost Ranch and first Central event on March 15 at Volcanoes with prayer, expert on geology, and history. All are invited to come or offer ideas whether around ABQ or at a distance. Contact Joan.

Gallup Earth Sabbath

Thursday, January 30 (each last Thursday of month)

604 Jeff King St, Gallup

Join others in prayer, meditation and sharing the work of creation care in Gallup. All are welcome!

Water As Sacred Trust

Four sessions have been or will be completed at various Faith Communities. This great presentation can be done at your faith community.(Flyer for details)

Fossil Free Film Festival
Feb. 5th-6th, two sessions 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave. NW, ABQ

FREE. More info abqclimateaction.us/f4

2014 Preach-In

More than 1,500 congregations in US

Sign up in NM

Feb. 14-16 (or another weekend in Spring)

This year's theme is "I Will" do my part to protect the climate for future generations. Together, we will send tens of thousands of Love Creation postcards to senators, asking them if they will do their part.

Must sign up before Feb. 14 for resources and to be counted!!!

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 Joan if you have not already RSVP'd.

Cool Congregations: Green Ideas

Free Weatherization and more

for Qualified Families throughout NM

Weatherization, hot water heater and furnace replacements possible for eligible income families....pass the word in your congregation

Between today and March 31st, 2014, the NM Energy$mart Program will help 350 eligible households save money on their utility bills while conserving gas and water. Our program's DOE-trained energy auditors will provide a free assessment and install free energy efficiency improvements to eligible households. This program is for New Mexico Gas Customers.A family of 4 earning less than $41,700 will be eligible. (SEE FLYER)

For more information about the program and program eligibility please visit http://www.housingnm.org/nm-energysmart and to apply contact the Central NM Housing Corporation http://www.centralnmhousing.org/. This program is administered by MFA and NMIPL is helping with outreach to congregations and food pantries.

Contact NMIPL if you want to save creation and your budget with energy efficiency upgrades, solar, etc. We have resources that might assist. NMIPL also has $2,000 available for no-interest loans to begin the process.

Opportunities to win cash prizes and recognition for Faith Communities

Enter the Cool Congregation Challenge

Request Guide

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.

http://www.coolcongregations.org

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

Action Alerts

NMIPL will be working with others on a variety of water and energy concerns at the NM Legislative Session. Let us know if you want to be on an action alert network. Stay tuned for information on People of Faith Caring for Water, Land and Community Legislative Day.

Concerned about air and climate change. Get on board with IPL and work supporting EPA clean air standards for coal fired power plants. Contact NMIPL to get involved.

NMIPL will be gathering signatures for letters to the PRC regarding PNM San Juan generating plant proposal and inviting people of faith to hearings in April and May. Contact NMIPL for information and to get your congregation involved.

Resources and News

NMIPL's new Lenten carbon fast calenar available soon. Let us know if you want an electronic version. It will also be posted on our website by the end of January.

Lent 4.5: Christian Simplicity

Passionist Earth and Spirit Center

1924 Newburg Road

Louisville, Kentucky 40205

(502) 452-2749

lent@earthandspiritcenter.org

Lent 4.5 is a 7-week faith-formation program of conversion for churches that observe Lent. It inspires and informs Christian communities on how to use the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to protect God's creation, embrace Gospel justice, and nurture spiritual fulfillment. It offers practical opportunities for people of faith to apply the values of Gospel simplicity to their everyday lives.

If your faith community is interested, contact NMIPL and we can order at a special rate.

New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light | 505-266-6966 | info@nm-ipl.org
| http://www.nm-ipl.org
PO Box 27162
Albuquerque, NM 87125-7162