Creation Care Network E-news
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Dear friends,
Alleluia! Christ is risen! We have entered the Great Fifty Days of Easter, a season that invites each of us to explore and experience the power of resurrection. If Christ is alive, how will His risen presence transform your life and mine? I preached about the power of Easter in my Easter Vigil homily at St. Andrew’s Church, Longmeadow. You can read it
here
.
The days leading up to Easter drew many of us to stand up against violence of all kinds – gun violence, racial violence, and violence against Mother Earth. After months of hard work, I was glad when Monday in Holy Week finally arrived. In the company of more than a hundred faith leaders and supporters, I helped to lead an interfaith service on the steps of the Massachusetts State House:
Exodus from Fossil Fuels
.
In word, song, and prayer, we called upon Governor Baker to take leadership in stopping construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure. As I said in my remarks to the press,
“We are holding this event during a time of year that is a holy season for multiple faith traditions, because protecting our climate and God’s creation is one of the most important ways to practice our faith in today’s world.” After a lively outdoor service, which included speakers from front-line communities all across the Commonwealth that are resisting new fracked gas pipelines, we walked in procession to the State House, where I met with a couple of the Governor’s staff members and the whole crowd wrote him postcards. The Berkshire Edge wrote a good short article that can be found
here
.
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Faith leaders preparing to lead Exodus from Fossil Fuels in front of the Statehouse. From left to right: Rev. Fred Small (Minister for Climate Justice, Arlington Street Church, Boston); Rev. Betsy Sowers (Minister for Earth Justice, Old Cambridge Baptist Church); Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas (Missioner for Creation Care, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts & Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ); Rev. Ian Mevorach (Spiritual Leader, Common Street Spiritual Center in Natick; Coordinator, American Baptist Churches Creation Justice Network); Rev. Dr. Lawrence Jay (Executive Director, Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center of the New England United Methodist Conference); Kristina Keefe-Perry (Coordinator, Creation Care Ministries, The American Baptist Churches of Mass.); Rabbi Katy Z. Allen (President, Jewish Climate Action Network)
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Astonishing news arrived the next day: the judge in the trial of the last 13 defendants who had carried out civil disobedience to protest the West Roxbury Lateral fracked gas pipeline were found not guilty of the charges against them, reportedly because their actions were deemed a “necessity.” If confirmed, this could be
the first time that defendants were acquitted based on “climate necessity.”
Since I carried out civil disobedience and was arrested just a few weeks before the 13 defendants carried out their own direct action at the site of this high-pressure, dangerous pipeline, I feel a particular joy in celebrating the judge’s historic decision.
Looking ahead, we have many ways to bear witness to the power of the risen Christ.
• Faith Climate Action Week (April 14-22) will encompass the week leading up to Earth Day and will focus on how we can take action to protect our climate.
Faith Climate Action Week
, formerly known as the Preach-In on Global Warming, is sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light. This year the theme is Charged with Faith: Leading the way to a clean energy future.
• As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal just published a new book,
Climate Church, Climate World
. Each chapter ends with questions for discussion, and there is an appendix that offers over 50 preaching suggestions drawn from each of the chapters. Perhaps your congregation would benefit from convening a study group in April, with Earth Day as a centerpiece.
• I will lead a free evening retreat,
Earth Stewardship: Healing Earth, Healing Ourselves,
on Thursday, April 19. The retreat will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at
Treehouse Community Room, Easthampton. Offered through the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership, the retreat is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For information and register, visit
here
.
Thanks for everything you are doing to re-weave the web of life, resist the powers of destruction, and restore hope.
The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Blessings,
(The Rev. Dr.) Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Missioner for Creation Care
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Opportunities for engagement
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PRAY + LEARN + ACT + ADVOCATE
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New England Youth Environmental Justice Summit
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When:
Sat April 7, 2018, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Where:
Brookside Congregational Church, UCC, 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, New Hampshire 03104
Although registration officially closed on April 1, there may still be room for you –
Check out the event agenda
here
.
Flier can be found
here
.
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This Saturday, April 7, come to the New England Youth Environmental Justice Summit! The Summit is open to all middle school, high school and college students, as well as teachers, mentors, pastors, lay leaders, advisors, and anyone interested in acquiring tools for facing the pressing moral issue of climate change.
Anyone interested in eco-justice is welcome to attend.
Come experience a day packed with engaging talks by speakers that include the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal and the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, and with workshops led by
Pam Arifian, Marla Marcum, Professor John Ungerleider,
Jehann El-Bisi and Art Desmarais, the
Rev. Eric Jackson, and representatives from 350.org. Explore topics from how our dietary choices impact the environment to the history behind the resistance at Standing Rock. Expand your activism toolbox by learning about public storytelling and active non-violence.
Registration is $20.00 and includes breakfast pastries and lunch.
Scholarships are available!
Contact Rev. Rob Grabill at Rob@ccducc@gmail.com for more details.
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Northeastern Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument:
A Letter Writing (and Drawing!) Campaign for Kids
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Through mid-April, Creation Justice Ministries is inviting Massachusetts ecumenical and inter-religious partners to collect drawings and letters to send to Senator Warren, urging her to care for God’s marine creation--particularly in support of the Northeastern Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
Kids are encouraged to create and decorate their own drawings or letters
describing why the ocean is important to them and why Senator Warren should do what she can to protect the marine monuments. These letters and drawings will be photographed for a social media campaign, as well as consolidated for delivery to Senator Warren.
For delivery by Earth day on April 22nd, please
mail all pieces to
Creation Justice Ministries (110 Maryland Ave. NE #203 Washington, DC 20002) by April 20th.
For more information, and for more ways to get involved (for all ages!) check
here
.
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Starting on April 7th, the countdown to the Berkshire Earth Expo/Environmental Action Fair begins! The Expo itself will take place on April 21, but it will be preceded by two weeks of events of all kinds--from workshops and community discussion to art shows and movie showings.
Click here to see descriptions of all events.
As part of the lead up, there will be a showing of Academy Award®-winning documentary filmmaker Charles Ferguson’s most recent film "TIME TO CHOOSE." As described, the film is a "breathtaking global journey exploring the comprehensive scope of the climate change crisis" that displays the "powerful solutions that are available and the entrepreneurs, change-makers and ordinary people who are helping to deploy these solutions." If you need for a "message of empowerment and action," this movie might just be for you. Check out the trailer below!
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The screening will take place on Saturday, April 14th at the The Stationery Factory (63 Flansburg Ave, Dalton, MA), from 6:30 PM - 8.00 PM.
Entrance is free, with donations greatly welcomed. All donations will be sent to hard-hit communities in Puerto Rico.
For more information about the movie screening, go
here
.
For more information about the Expo, go
here
.
When:
Saturday, April 14, 6.30 to 8.00pm
Where:
The Stationery Factory (63 Flansburg Ave, Dalton, MA
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Faith Climate Action Week is focused on preaching, learning, and taking action to protect our climate. Previously known as "The Preach-In on Global Warming," this year’s event is the ninth time that Interfaith Power & Light has organized this opportunity. Spanning the week leading up Earth Day (April 14-22), its theme this year will be Charged with Faith: Leading the Way to a Clean Energy Future.
Join in with congregations all around the nation in preaching, praying, petitioning, acting, movie screening, and growing "pizza" gardens (yes, seriously). All persons of all ages are welcome to participate; there are plenty of activities and resources for youth and children!
For more information and to download materials and organizer resources, visit
here
.
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Since March,
BEAT
(Berkshire Environmental Action Team) has been collaborating with the
Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee
to screen "some amazing films celebrating the natural world and the activists working to protect it."
These films are part of the nationally touring
Wild and Scenic Film Festival.
Join with others throughout the nation for a day of wild, refreshing, and inspiring films about the good work for environmental justice taking place all around the world.
What better way to celebrate the transition into Spring than by renewing your hope and resolve?
Here are remaining show dates for the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley area:
- April 14, Northampton, from 2:30pm - 5pm, Smith College, Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall. For more info and tickets visit the CEEDS homepage.
- April 20, Huntington, from 6:30pm - 9pm, Gateway High School Auditorium, coinciding with the Westfield River Whitewater Races. For more info and tickets visit the Gateway Hill Towns website.
For an overview and trailers of films to be screened, browse
here
. Be sure to check out each host event pages for details particular to each venue and screening event!
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If you've enjoyed this newsletter, please feel free to forward to one or two friends you think may be interested.
Blessings!
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MBJ photo credit: Tipper Gore, 2014
Faith leaders preparing to lead Exodus from Fossil Fuels in front of the Statehouse : Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, 2018
"globe in hands" photo credit: Noticelj, 2008 (accessed via
Flickr
)
Katharine Hayhoe photo credit: Kai T. Dragland / NTNU, 2017 (accessed via
Flickr
)
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