Creation Care Network E-news
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Dear friends,
• Last month I
preached about the power of baptism
when I visited First Congregational Church, UCC, in Townsend, MA. Here’s an excerpt: Because we are
“baptized into a love that extends through all Creation, a love that insists that life and not death will have the last word, we rise up as healers and justice-seekers, as prophets and activists, as people unafraid to confront the powers-that-be. That’s what the early Church was known for. Remember the complaints that were lodged against the first followers of Jesus? They were charged with ‘turning the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6).
”
• I wrote an op-ed for
Daily Hampshire Gazette
that advocated for strong protection of our oceans. After the article’s publication, I discovered some factual errors, so my website gives an updated version of “
Opposing Rollbacks to Magnuson-Stevens Act
.”
• I led a retreat on spiritual resilience and leadership in a time of climate crisis for students at Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary. What a joy!
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Miguel Escobar (Director of Anglican Studies), Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, & Kelly Brown Douglas (Dean) in the Bonhoeffer Room of Episcopal Divinity School at Union
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• What if people of faith and scientists joined together to demand swift climate action and a just transition to safe, clean renewable energy in Massachusetts? Could that be a game-changer? We can do this. Please join me at the 2019 kickoff of Faith Science Alliance for Climate Leadership, which will be held in Boston on Friday, February 8, 9:30-Noon. We're thrilled to announce that our keynote speakers will be Catholic moral voice Fr. Bryan Hehir and public-health resilience champion Dr. Atyia Martin. For information and to register, visit
here
. If you are a member of the clergy, please sign the
Faith and Science Joint Appeal for Climate Action
.
•
Green New Deal Week of Action
: Events across the country are being planned for February 4-8, to help accelerate the Green New Deal, a powerful new movement to address both climate change and economic inequality. On Feb. 8, you can gather at Rep. Jim McGovern’s office in Northampton and help deliver a letter that calls on our elected officials to commit to a just and equitable transition to a world free from fossil fuels. For information and to sign up, click
here
.
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•
Pledge to preach a sermon
about the landmark climate change lawsuit, led by Our Children’s Trust. Twenty-one young people have taken the federal government to court for its role in causing climate change, thereby violating their rights to life, liberty, and property and also failing to protect essential public resources. Their day in court is coming up, and now is the time for people of faith and conscience to speak out in solidarity.
- Create a Green Team, beginning by naming one or more individuals to serve as liaison with our diocese’s Missioner for Creation Care in order to help the parish strengthen energy conservation and efficiency and encourage public advocacy around environmental issues. (If you like, download “How to start a green team at your church,” by clicking here. Other “green team resources” are posted on our diocesan Website here.)
- Undertake an energy audit for all parish buildings in order to reduce the parish’s carbon footprint, keeping in mind that grants are available from the Diocese to offset half the cost of the audit. (Wondering how to get an energy audit? Contact Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light.)
- Report back to the sponsors of this resolution before the 118th Diocesan Convention on steps taken and progress made on Steps #1 and #2. Congregations should report progress and accomplishments here:
• You heard it here first! In Lent, the Episcopal Church will launch an exciting initiative to address climate change, reduce our carbon footprint, and build community. Our diocese will be one of the pilot dioceses. Stay tuned!
• As for what to read this month, I encourage you to take a look at one of the handful of books I’d want to have nearby if I were trapped on a desert island – it’s that full of wisdom:
Joanna Macy’s classic, Active Hope
.
Thank you for reading these monthly newsletters, which give me an opportunity to speak about what I’m doing and also to suggest some ways that we can follow Jesus in working to protect Mother Earth, our fragile island home. Let’s keep in touch.
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Blessings,
(The Rev. Dr.) Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Missioner for Creation Care
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Opportunities for engagement
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Celebrate Earth Day Sunday on April 28, 2019
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Earth Day Sunday
The Bible is full of beautiful language and theology for celebrating God's Creation. Yet sometimes, it can be challenging to find a specific time to focus on the theme of Creation. Earth Day Sunday provides just such an opportunity.
Read more
www.creationjustice.org
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Episcopal Climate News Quote of the Week:
The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
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ECN quote of the week: The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Weekly ECN Newsletter/Bulletin Insert: End the environmentally harmful shutdown, and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas on Baptism
Read more
episcopalclimatenews.com
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Demand Real Climate Leadership from our New Congress
Right now, we're in a crucial moment to show the strength of our movement for climate justice: presidential hopefuls are starting to announce their candidacies, and new Congressional leaders are defining their priorities for the year ahead. Now,...
Read more
actionnetwork.org
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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
ME, MBJ, & KBD photo: submitted
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