April is a good time for your faith community to focus on caring for creation as an expression of your faith. Earth Day is April 22. We encourage you to participate in (outdoor, COVID-safe) events on that day and/or incorporate awareness of climate justice in your worship services in the weeks surrounding Earth Day.

Interfaith Power & Light offers two helpful resources so you can easily plan and participate in events geared toward planetary care.

EMO/OIPL, Havurah Shalom, & EcoFaith Recovery film discussion of Kiss the Ground, April 25, 4–6pm: register here

Celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day by watching the new film Kiss the Ground and discussing how to put its teachings about regenerative agriculture into practice in Oregon. People of faith all over the country are watching this film during April, generously available for free through Interfaith Power & Light. As the film shows, regenerating the world's soils has the potential to rapidly stabilize Earth's climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. The transition can restore our sense of hope while rehabilitating the planet.

In Oregon, Havurah Shalom, Ecofaith Recovery, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light are partnering to host a discussion about Kiss the Ground. In addition to the opportunity to dialogue about the film, we will hold a panel discussion with those working toward regenerative agriculture in a variety of contexts in Oregon. The panel will include Kristin Ohlson, an Oregonian who was included in the film and who authored The Soil will Save Us, Teague Cullen, an Oregon farmer from Sherrett Food Forest, and Jennilee Porch who will share about a program called Carbon Gardens through the EcoFaith Community Carbon initiative. Michael Perman will share about certifications and other tools available based on the Kiss the Ground film.

Stream the film between now and April 25, then attend a Zoom discussion on Sunday, April 25, from 4:00–6:00pm. Kiss the Ground is available free April 10–26 from our friends at Interfaith Power & Light or anytime on Netflix. Links to watch the film and attend the April 25th discussion will be sent when you register.

Panelists:

Download a flyer about the Kiss the Ground discussion on April 25 to share with your networks.

Students in grades 4–12 are invited to register for a free Youth Acting for our Earth (YAE!) Youth Climate Training on Saturday, April 17, 2021, 8:45am–2pm. Not only will they learn about the climate crisis and how they can work to protect their future with other fun and caring people, they will also be able to use the skills and knowledge they gain for schoolwork and receive 5 volunteer/culture hours for their participation.

You can invite young people from your town, other states, and other countries, since this will be a video conference training. YAE youth teach and empower their peers to work for global climate justice as youth climate leaders. Students learn about the science behind the climate crisis, the related social impacts and how we can have fun with each other while working to address the crisis. A free parents’ training starts at the same time.

The training is hosted by Cool Islam and co-sponsored by P’nai Or Jewish Renewal Congregation of Portland, OR and its Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) Committee, as well as Oregon Interfaith Power & Light. Register at ClimateChangeRecovery.org.

YAE is intentionally not faith based in a way that might exclude anyone, but faith is woven through the training—both faith in people's ability to act and faith in the sense of the wisdom of ancient traditions that say we are part of the Earth and have a duty to take care of all creatures including each other. In a sense, to paraphrase a Jewish teaching, we must act as though God is watching and for the sake of our ancestors and descendants; our actions matter whether we believe in a Great Spirit or not.

Help get out the word by inviting youth you know, or sharing the event on Facebook or Instagram. Contact Pam Vergun for more information. Download a YAE flyer in English and Spanish.

Our partners at Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) are holding a phonebanking event on Monday, April 19, 5:30–8pm. Help support the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunities Campaign.

Immigrant justice is climate justice is racial justice! Join IMIrJ leaders from around the state as we call constituents in key legislative districts before the bills we’re supporting as part of the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign have critical floor votes. IMIrJ will provide training, call lists, and accompaniment.

If you're hosting an event related to creation justice, let us know and we will help you publicize it! Right now, most events are virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital events can be shared, too, so if you want others to join your digital events, please let us know! Email Cherice Bock to share it with our networks.