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Greetings!
"When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves."
-David Orr
As I look back on the past month, I am filled with renewed hope. Why? Congregations around Ohio responded to the call to share a religious response to climate change in their congregations with creative and compelling services and messages. The largest climate rally in history took place in Washington DC. In his State of the Union address, President Obama again acknowledged the "obligation" he and the nation have to address climate change for our children and future generations.
During this season of regeneration, may we discover a renewed commitment to healing the earth. As environmental activist and author Terry Tempest Williams writes:
"This is an incredibly creative time. It is a difficult time. It is a disparaging time. A time of cultural and global transitions based on the realization that the Earth cannot support non-sustainable practices anymore. Thomas Berry calls this time the Ecozoic Era, a time when we recognize the imperative of caring for the planet as a means of compassionate survival. We do not know what the outcome is going to be, but we have an opportunity to make these kinds of creative and imaginative leaps of thought and actions both locally and globally."
Let's take creative and imaginative leaps of thought and actions, together.
In faith,
Sara Ward
Director
Image Copyright 2013 Gary Thornbloom
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Send a letter to President Obama:
The 2013 National Preach-In was a huge success! More than a thousand congregations and faith leaders from around the country requested materials. Stacks of postcards and petitions from people of faith will reach the White House soon, all asking President Obama to make climate protection a top priority.
However, more voices are needed. If you didn't get a chance to send in a postcard, please use this online petition to send a letter to President Obama now. We must make our voices heard. While climate change is occurring rapidly, political change comes slowly in Washington.
Click Here to send the online letter to President Obama.
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Energy Stewards and
Energy Audits
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"Let's cut in half the energy wasted in our homes and businesses over the next 20 years"
-President Obama in 2013 State of Union Address
If America's more than 370,000 houses of worship cut energy use by only 20 percent, together we would save nearly $630 million, cut electricity use by more than 3.6 billion kWh, and prevent more than 2.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from about 480,000 cars. However, most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30 percent by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance. Your congregation can more easily improve the stewardship of your budget's energy dollars and of the earth by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the environment.
For information about OhIPL's Energy Stewards and Energy Audits programs:
Click Here for information about Energy Stewards.
Click Here for information about Energy Audits.
Please share this information with your houses of worship and neighbors. Let's make Ohio congregations leaders in energy efficiency-the cheapest energy is the energy you don't use!
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Chapel Services at
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
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Join Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Bexley Hall Seminary for Hope for Creation, Creation-focused chapel services for our Lenten journey.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am
2199 E. Main Street, Columbus.
February through March 13th.
Click Here for the flyer.
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 International World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Click Here for more information about World Water Day. Click Here for World Water Day events in Cleveland. "Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet. We must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource." -UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon |
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Passover begins in the evening of Monday, March 25th and ends in the evening of Tuesday, April 2nd.
Click Here for a reflection written by Rabbi Warren Stone, entitled
Dipping Parsley into Waters of Tears: The Earth Cries Out to Us.
Easter is Sunday, March 31st-- a good time to reflect on the truly transformational work that lies ahead. |
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is involving their church community locally and nationally, as well as reaching out across different religious communities, in order to successfully achieve Mission 4:1 Earth.
Mission 4:1 Earth, which will occur for 50 days beginning April 1, 2013, will involve three ways for people to get involved:
1) Planting 100,000 trees,
2) 1,000,000 hours of engaged Earth care, and
3) 100,000 advocacy letters for Earth care policies.
Click Here for more information.
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Rain, Rain Don't Go Away!
The old nursery rhyme asking for the rain to go away so that kids can go outside and play is a quite frightful thought. The last few years our nation has seen record breaking heat waves and drought. In Ohio we are fortunate to have an ample amount of precipitation and beautiful lakes and rivers. This spring, I would encourage you to construct a rain garden with your family or community. Kids can learn about the water cycle and the importance of rain, and you can feel confident that your home or house of worship is aiding in the regenerative properties of rain by reducing the amount of flow entering storm sewers and creeks during heavy rainfall events.
Energy Savings Tip of the Day:
Turn off the water!! There are many ways to save water and energy, but start by turning off the water when you don't need it! Take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, and don't water your grass. Other ways you can save water, energy, and money include- installing low-flow toilets and shower heads, installing rain barrels and rain gardens, and by using energy efficient/ low-water use appliances.
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Ohio Interfaith Power and Light
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| 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
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