Launching on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013, and continuing through the great 50 days of Eastertide, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, camps and outdoor ministries, and health and human service agencies will join together in a shared mission campaign to:
• Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment.
• Collectively plant more than 100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and the UCC's denominational partners around the world.
• Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers.
The Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force at CUCC invites you to add your hours/trees/advocacy letters to the national tally and to practice 50 days of earth care mindfulness.
While tallying our hours allows us to make visible our care for God's creation, we also have the opportunity to practice mindfulness throughout these 50 days. As you pay attention to the actions that fill your day, hunting for minutes to tally, you'll be engaging in a spiritual practice of noticing the good earth and making small decisions that bring you a bit more into alignment with what you believe. This is definitely a family-friendly campaign.
Logistics
Tally cards will be in the Easter Sunday bulletin and Mike Schafale will explain more during the Mission Moment. Cards will be available on the green board in the narthex throughout the 50 days. During the 50 days, you can either drop off your card, picking up a new one, so we can keep the tally running OR you can bring one total card to worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 19.
What counts
Hours: You decide what is "earth care" for you. Taking out your recycling? Researching and making a "green" purchase? Trying an earth-friendly recipe? Reading an earth-care book you've been meaning to read? Taking a walk and deeply appreciating nature (and maybe picking up trash as you go)? Spending time in prayer for earth carers or earth caring votes? Planting your own garden? Learn something new at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences?
Trees: Plant a tree yourself or donate money to plant a tree. The UCC site has some suggestions.
Advocacy: Respond to some of those earth care emails that flood your inbox? Like something on Facebook? Attend an Earth Day rally?
CUCC Opportunities
Adult Forums April 7- May 5 are being sponsored by the Justice in a Changing Climate Initiative (1 hour each!)
1st Wednesday potlucks April 3 and May 1, 6:30pm: Bring a dish with ingredients you chose thinking about caring for the earth. (Count shopping, cooking and eating time!)
Creating CUCC's rain garden: workday April 13, 9-noon (count 1-3 hours)
Tending the Plant-a-row garden
Sign a letter of advocacy after worship (most Sundays April 7-May 5)
Earth Sabbath Celebration April 23, 7pm (count 1.5 hours)
Help the group exploring whether CUCC should install solar panels (contact Gary Smith)
Submit an earth-care fun event at the CUCC auction (auction is April 20, 6pm)
- submitted by Jane Smith for the Justice in a Changing Climate Initiative
• Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment.
• Collectively plant more than 100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and the UCC's denominational partners around the world.
• Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers.
- from the UCC's Mission 4/1 Earth web site
The Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force at CUCC invites you to add your hours/trees/advocacy letters to the national tally and to practice 50 days of earth care mindfulness.
Monday 4/1 (day after Easter) to Sunday 5/19 (Pentecost)
While tallying our hours allows us to make visible our care for God's creation, we also have the opportunity to practice mindfulness throughout these 50 days. As you pay attention to the actions that fill your day, hunting for minutes to tally, you'll be engaging in a spiritual practice of noticing the good earth and making small decisions that bring you a bit more into alignment with what you believe. This is definitely a family-friendly campaign.
Logistics
Tally cards will be in the Easter Sunday bulletin and Mike Schafale will explain more during the Mission Moment. Cards will be available on the green board in the narthex throughout the 50 days. During the 50 days, you can either drop off your card, picking up a new one, so we can keep the tally running OR you can bring one total card to worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 19.
What counts
Hours: You decide what is "earth care" for you. Taking out your recycling? Researching and making a "green" purchase? Trying an earth-friendly recipe? Reading an earth-care book you've been meaning to read? Taking a walk and deeply appreciating nature (and maybe picking up trash as you go)? Spending time in prayer for earth carers or earth caring votes? Planting your own garden? Learn something new at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences?
Trees: Plant a tree yourself or donate money to plant a tree. The UCC site has some suggestions.
Advocacy: Respond to some of those earth care emails that flood your inbox? Like something on Facebook? Attend an Earth Day rally?
CUCC Opportunities
Adult Forums April 7- May 5 are being sponsored by the Justice in a Changing Climate Initiative (1 hour each!)
1st Wednesday potlucks April 3 and May 1, 6:30pm: Bring a dish with ingredients you chose thinking about caring for the earth. (Count shopping, cooking and eating time!)
Creating CUCC's rain garden: workday April 13, 9-noon (count 1-3 hours)
Tending the Plant-a-row garden
Sign a letter of advocacy after worship (most Sundays April 7-May 5)
Earth Sabbath Celebration April 23, 7pm (count 1.5 hours)
Help the group exploring whether CUCC should install solar panels (contact Gary Smith)
Submit an earth-care fun event at the CUCC auction (auction is April 20, 6pm)
- submitted by Jane Smith for the Justice in a Changing Climate Initiative