Creation Care Network E-news |
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Dear friends,
• We have entered the holy season of Advent, and this month’s newsletter offers different ways to prepare for the birth of Christ. Maybe you feel drawn to a period of deeper prayer and listening; maybe you’d like to plant seeds for the future; maybe you will listen to the voices of Indigenous people from around the world as they speak about their pain and hope. How will Christ be born again within you, and in our midst? Come, Lord Christ!
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• Space for Jesus: An Advent Quiet Day
December 12, 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
Led by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
In these tumultuous times, what better way to welcome Jesus than to set aside a quiet morning to make room for his birth in our hearts and minds? During this Advent Quiet Day, we will step away from our daily tasks and concerns so that we can listen with full attention to the Spirit’s movement within us. Our intention will be to awaken to the divine Presence being given to us, moment by moment, breath by breath. Our time together will include presentations and guided meditations, with options for solitary reflection (indoors or out) or small group conversation.
Please bring a candle and matches, if you can. For the periods of free time, you may wish to have a journal or art supplies nearby, or a good warm coat so that you can head outside. Together, let’s create a space for Jesus to be born again in our lives.
To download a flier, click here. To register, click here (you will receive a Zoom link in a confirmation email). This online Zoom retreat is co-sponsored by The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Open to all at no cost.
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• Good News Gardens is coming to our diocese! Interested in learning more? Come to our Zoom Interest Meeting on December 14, 5:00 p.m.
This program will equip congregations in our diocese – and their individual members – to 1) grow and give healthy food; 2) reflect on connections between scripture, faith, food, and gardening; and 3) learn about and influence food systems and policies that affect society as a whole. Grace Church in the Berkshires is already modeling through Gideon’s Garden how growing and giving healthy food can transform lives. We will collaborate with area partners to spread the good news through gardening.
Join us on Monday, December 14, at 5:00 p.m. for a brief 30-minute presentation, followed by a time for questions. We’ll share the vision for Good News Gardens and share with you how you, your parish, and your community can be part of it!
Register here to receive Zoom info.
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• Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis: Advent webinars
Episcopal and Anglican leaders invite church members worldwide to a webinar series for Advent that will highlight the disproportionate effects of environmental disasters and climate change on Indigenous communities. “Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis” is a four-part series on Zoom. Its goal is to lift up the voices of Indigenous people, who will be featured in 45-minute videos sharing their experiences with environmental racism in four regions: The South Pacific, Africa, the Amazon and the Arctic. Participants will spend the remaining 45 minutes of each webinar in small group discussions. The webinars are scheduled for each Monday in Advent at 4 p.m. EST, starting Nov. 30.
Described as “a lament in the present and a vision for living well,” the sessions will look at the current reality facing communities and draw on Indigenous wisdom for shaping a prophetic vision of a better future. The series is a collaboration between the Anglican Indigenous Network, the Anglican Communion Environmental Network and the Anglican Alliance – the first time these three networks have worked together on a project like this.
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30 November – Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia
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7 December – Africa
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14 December – Amazonas
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21 December – Arctic
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• Connecting Faith, Climate and Justice – A Virtual Conversation, December 8, 7:00 PM. Join the Union of Concerned Scientists and a group of eminent climate faith leaders for an online discussion about how traditions can inform advocacy and action in response to climate change and racial justice. Learn more and register at UCS Conversation: Connecting Faith, Climate, and Justice.
• Sacred People, Sacred Earth. Build the climate justice movement! Diverse religions have come together to launch the world’s first multi-faith climate justice network. Led by GreenFaith, faith groups from around the world have announced a global day of action called Sacred People, Sacred Earth, and released a set of 10 demands. The hope is that this day of action, on March 10, 2021, will be the biggest and boldest the faith community has ever seen on climate justice – and we need you to be a part of it.
By signing this statement and checking the box to attend the day of action, you’ll be the first to get updates, hear about different communities who are participating, and get resources and guides about how to plan an action in your community.
On March 11, religious and spiritual communities around the world will get together to ring their bells, sound their gongs and chimes, blow the shofar or conch, sound a special call to prayer - whatever sacred sound they make, calling out for climate justice and this bold set of demands! As GreenFaith says: “We know that without powerful moral pressure and action behind a bold, just, audacious vision, the world doesn’t have a prayer of meeting the threats posed by the climate emergency. We want you on our team as we build that pressure, together.”
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Planting bulbs for spring. Photo: submitted. |
• People of faith have an opportunity to shape climate justice policy at the outset of the new administration. Join 350.org to push for 10 Executive Actions for Climate that the Biden Administration can take on Day One. Sign on to their letter here or write your own letter to President-elect Biden, urging him to:
- End fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
- End crude oil and gas exports.
- Deny permits for new fossil fuel infrastructure projects and rescind federal permits for Keystone XL.
- Stop fracking through EPA pollution rules.
- Create a Just Transition task force.
- Investigate and prosecute fossil fuel polluters.
- Direct federal agencies to assess and mitigate environmental harms in low-income areas and communities of color.
- End fossil fuel subsidies.
- Use the Clean Air Act to set a science-based national pollution cap.
- Ensure a just and equitable recovery from climate-related disasters
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Margaret hikes Chapel Brook trail in Ashfield. Photo credit: Robert A. Jonas. |
• SAVE THE DATE! The diocese is making plans for its second-annual social justice conference, “Bending toward Justice: A Day of Prayer and Discernment,” to be held on Saturday, January 23. This online event will give us a precious opportunity to hear from a nationally known speaker and to join a small group to discuss a particular justice issue. I hope that all in the diocese who care about Creation care – especially members of “green teams” – will meet me in a breakout room to share news and discuss next steps. Details to follow.
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Blessings,
(The Rev. Dr.) Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Missioner for Creation Care
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View from ledges at summit of Chapel Brook trail in Ashfield. Photo credit: Robert A. Jonas. |
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Opportunities for engagement |
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Zoom Interest Meeting
December 14 at 5pm
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This program will equip congregations in our diocese – and their individual members – to 1) grow and give healthy food; 2) reflect on connections between scripture, faith, food, and gardening; and 3) learn about and influence food systems and policies that affect society as a whole.
Grace Church in the Berkshires is already modeling through Gideon’s Garden how growing and giving healthy food can transform lives. We will collaborate with area partners to spread the good news through gardening.
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Highlighting indigenous voices on the environment |
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Throughout Advent, the Anglican Indigenous Network and Anglican Communion Environmental Network are offering a series of four weekly webinars, bringing perspectives from Indigenous communities across the Communion on the planetary environmental emergency.
Contributions will come from Aotearoa and Polynesia (week 1), Amazonia (week 2), Africa (week 3) and the Arctic (week 4).
Described as “a lament in the present and a vision for living well”, the sessions will look at both the current reality facing communities and draw on Indigenous wisdom for shaping a prophetic vision of a better future.
Each week, a 45-minute video from one of the regions will be presented, followed by discussion.
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350.org: A global campaign to confront the climate crisis
We are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil and gas projects and build clean energy future for all.
Read more
350.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: Tipper Gore, 2014 |
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