January, 2013
Ohio Interfaith Power and Light News
In This Issue
Power of the Pulpit
January Webinars
New Years Resolutions
Legislative Summit
Ohio Congregations Win National Honors
2012: Hottest Year Ever
Children's Corner
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Greetings!

Grace and peace to you all as we enter the new year. Only together can we face the challenges before us and work towards a world that is safe and healthy for all God's children. As we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. this month,his words remind us of "the fierce urgency of now."

 

"We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. ... We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words 'Too late.'' - Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 Join us this month-you can:

  • register to have your congregation be a part of the National Preach-In on Global Warming to be held in February
  • attend one of our webinars on climate change and invite others to join us;
  • be a part of the clean air defense campaign and be an advocate for environmental justice (watch for upcoming Action Alerts.)
  • take another step towards energy efficiency or make more sustainable choices in your daily life.

We share the dream that clean air, safe food and water, and a sustainable future are available to all. Only then will we have true justice.

 

In faith,

 

Sara Ward

Director

 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

Power of the Pulpit

IPL's National Preach-In on Global Warming

National Preach InEach year, Interfaith Power & Light organizes the National Preach-In on Global Warming to help clergy bring attention to this key moral issue of our time. On the weekend before Valentine's Day, thousands of clergy, lay leaders, and other people of faith will speak of their abiding love for God's Creation. Ohio Interfaith Power and Light encourages faith communities in Ohio to join the 2013 Preach-In on Global Warming.

 

For more information about the 2013 National Preach-In on Global Warming, go to http://www.preachin.org/. There are resources, sermon ideas, postcards to send to President Obama, and a DVD that can be shared with your congregation about how climate disruption is affecting people worldwide. Register your event on the site and find out what others are planning.


For information about the National Preach-In on the Ohio Interfaith Power and Light website, click here.

"The faith community must be heard, now is the time for people of faith to take a moral stand to save our planet." -Reverend Canon Sally G. Bingham, president of The Regeneration Project Interfaith Power & Light

Join Our January Climate Change Webinars

Join Our January Climate Change Webinars:

  • If you're planning to take part in the National Preach-In and want more information about the religious response to climate change so you are able to share with others;
  • if you need new ideas on how to address climate change in your personal life or your faith community;
  • if you want to hear up-to-date climate change information and gain some perspective; or
  •  if you want to join others from around Ohio in a dialogue about climate change

Dr. Greg Hitzhusen Join us for a presentation by Greg Hitzhusen, PhD., M.Div., on January 10th from 7-8p. 

 

Dr. Hitzhusen's topic is called Renewing Climate Stewardship: Drawing from the Deep Wells of Our Religions.

 

Click here to join this webinar.  

 

 

 

Also, join us for a presentation by Leanne M. Jablonski, FMI, PhD., on January 17th from 7-8p. 

 

Dr. Jablonski's topic is called A Climate of Change in Ohio: Science, Health, and Our Response.

 

Click here to join this webinar.  

 

 

 

After you register for a webinar, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

 

We look forward to sharing with you in this webinar series. You can participate from the comfort of your home, or gather a group around a computer in your house of worship. 

Make a New Years Resolution- 
Cut Energy Use!
Step 1:  Encourage your House of Worship to join the Energy Stewards program- track energy use over time and follow the steps to a more energy efficient worship facility that reflects your values for caring for creation. Find out more here or contact Craig Foster, OhIPL Technical Consultant at
614-940-6274. 
      

Step 2:
 Make a New Year's Resolution to reduce your own energy consumption. You can start on January 10th- National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! It's all about using less energy.  
Check out these ideas to lower your footprint! 
Unleashing the Power of Green

Join the Ohio Environmental Council and Ohio's environmental-conservation community for its annual Legislative Summit. Learn more about current issues facing Ohio's environment.

 

Friday, February 1, 2013

9:30am-3pm

Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square

75 E. State Street
Columbus, OH 43215

 

The day will include updates, workshops, and training, such as:

  • working with the media
  • understanding the legislative process 
  • an overview of current issues facing Ohio's environment and the health of our communities
  • and much more!
Click here for more information and to register. We hope you will join other members of OhIPL in this informative opportunity to learn more about environmental public policy. 
Ohio Congregations Win 
National Honors

In a year marked by increasing climate disruption, two Ohio congregations have won recognition in the 2012 Cool Congregations Challenge. First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, Shaker Heights (renewable energy), and First English Lutheran Church, Columbus (energy efficiency), are among more than three dozen congregations honored this year by national Interfaith Power & Light.

 

"This year, we have witnessed the catastrophic impacts of global warming, from Superstorm Sandy to widespread drought, floods and wildfires...As people of faith, we know that it's not enough to talk about climate impacts. We need to take action now, and these congregations are leading the way with their creative and meaningful projects."

- Reverend Canon Sally G. Bingham, founder and president of Interfaith Power & Light

 

For more information on the Cool Congregation Challenge, see  http://www.coolcongregations.org/
2012: Hottest Year Ever?
There is a 99.99999999 percent chance that 2012 will be the hottest year ever recorded in the continental 48 states, based on our analysis of 118 years of temperature records through Dec. 10, 2012.
 
 
Children's Corner
New Year- New You
Many people make New Years Resolutions to stop doing something; usually to combat a vice or bad habit. We would like to encourage you all to consider changing those habits or actions that lead to greater environmental degradation- in turn you should see increases in your health and mood. 
Drink more water- Tap water is practically free, healthy for you, and the planet (much better than bottled water). 
Take your kids outside- Enjoy your local park, bike trails, and community gardens. 
Learn a new skill- Anything from gardening to snorkeling to rock climbing; dive deeper into nature and discover all creation has to offer. 
As you begin to better understand and appreciate creation, we hope the desire to care for creation will blossom, and you will take actions to promote real environmental change.  
 
Energy Savings Tip of the Day:
Drink tap water! By making the choice to drink tap water instead of bottled water, not only will you save hundreds of dollars annually, you will be taking thousands of plastic bottles out of our nation's landfills and our planet's oceans. By not purchasing bottled water you will also be saving energy and natural resources.
Ohio Interfaith Power and Light
Thank you for being a part of the effort to provide the religious response to climate change. 
Ohio Interfaith Power and Light
6230 Busch Blvd, Suite 430
Columbus, Ohio 43229-1879