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Sept. 1, 2023

Blessings as we venture into the sacred time of fall, harvest, and deeper gratitude!


The beginning of this fall is a harvest time of gratitude.

Gratitude and Love are sisters. Both virtues guide our footsteps of healing each day. The changing of our season is a special invitation into deeper gratitude and Love.


We at IPL are especially grateful for our little team working with so many of you in NM and El Paso. We want to welcome Clara Sims officially, and back again after completing with honors a Divinity Degree at Yale. Clara worked with IPL during a summer in college and also during a break year before attending Yale. Clara is serving in ministry at First Congregational United Church of Christ, ABQ part-time and part-time with IPL as Assistant Executive Director AND is on her ordination track! Please welcome Clara and many of you will be connecting with her as she leads the Clean Vehicle regulation work.


We also want to share great Gratitude for the work of Sister Odile Coirier who as been our Southern organizer, living in El Paso. Sister Odile will be moving to Colombia for a position in her Franciscan community---we will miss her greatly. We will be looking for someone in the south to continue the great work she began. Please contact joan@nm-ipl.org if you are interested.


Fall is the time of change and we have another change. We want to extend gratitude to Sister Rose Marie Cecchini, a Maryknoll Sister who has served the beautiful People in Gallup for several decades and has worked for Catholic Charities in the Office of Life, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Sr. Rose Marie has been a wonderful and creative voice addressing uranium mining concerns, climate justice and energy. We are so sad to see you leave for her community in Monrovia, CA where she will work with an evolving Earth Care project. BUT....we are in conversation with a group of sisters in Gallup who are open to continue this important climate work for Care of Our Common Home. We will keep you posted.


If you would like to send a greeting of gratitude to Sr. Odile or Sr. Rose Marie, please send to info@nm-ipl.org and we will make sure they receive your note.


As always, thank you for all you do. We all need one another in this sacred web of life. Please read invitations to events and actions below.


Peace and good,

Joan Brown, osf

What's Happening:

You can learn about even more events than those listed here and keep up to new ones at our calendar www.nm-ipl.org.


Thurs., Sept. 7, 5 pm MT

Webinar--Electrifying Homes with IRA

Register https://interfaithpowerandlight.org/event/inflation-reduction-act-resources-to-help-you-electrify-your-home/

National IPL is helping sponsor this helpful workshop that will inform you how to take advantaage of federal funds for energy efficiency and more in your home.


Tues., Sept. 12, 4 Mountain Time

Webinar https://secure.everyaction.com/uyqeM9Fem0uM2gRwF_HgBA2

Nurturing Young Hearts for a Restored Creation

Sponsored by Creation Justice Ministry with authors Amy Houts and Betsy Painer. Registration required.


Sept.-Nov.

Various opportunities to lend your important voice for clean vehicles

Comment meetings and hearings around the Advanced Clean Cars & Trucks rulemaking. Contact Clara Sims clara@nm-ipl.org for information, talking points and how to comment.

  • Sept. 19 - 4:30-6:30 pm, Southside Library, Santa Fe, 6599 Jaguar Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87507, public notice
  • Oct. 4 - 4:30-6:30 pm, Online, Registration, public notice
  • Oct. 16 - 4:30-6:30 pm, Community Meeting Room, ABQ International District Public Library, 7601 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, public notice
  • Nov. 13-15 - Joint Hearings on ACCII and ACT, NM Environmental Improvement Board and Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board, WebEx and NM State Bar, 5121 Masthead St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, public notice 



Sept. 6. 11 am MT

Celebrate, pray, and act in Season of Creation

Catholic Climate Covenant

Speakers will address the forgiveness of debts upon developing nations as critical to create climate solutions and how to pray and offer public witness for a just transition from fossile fuels.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yFY2DBfqRraW2u22MErTbA?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=ed224826-343c-4426-a3c1-b5c249e4a65a#/registration


Monday, Sept. 18, 6:30-8:30 (in person)

St Luke Parish

930 East Redd Roach, El Paso, TX

Climate Change and Laudato Si

All are invited to this faith Enrichment series that will be led by Dr. Jean Soto and Sr. Odile Coirier, Southern Organizer of IPL.


September 16-122

Colonization and Extractivism Immersion Retreat

Please pray for this week experience that will take Mercy Sister community and other friends to Los Alamos, Window Rock, Red Water Pond, Gallup, Laguna, Ft. Sumner, and into the Permian Basin as they learn, listen and pray for healing and advocate for our sacred communities and land, water and air. There will be posts on FB and social media throughout the week.


Thursday, September 21 Natl. IPL presenters

Presbyterians for Earth Care conference

Sept. 20-23

Anyone may attend in person or virtually.

2023 Conference – Presbyterians for Earth Care (presbyearthcare.org)


Sept. 21, 6:30-8:30

On-line https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcuCrpz4oH91o6xfJMYrPC-KPoivmABC7#/registration

Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates Presentation Series

Mike Mamman, NM State Engineer and Nat Chakes, Office of State Engineer General Council will address reducing water depletion to sustainable levels. Also, Click here to watch the August 17 workshop “Centering Equity in Water Planning” and read the chat discussion. Slides from Paula Garcia, Executive Director of the New Mexico Acequia Association available here. 


Wed., Sept. 27, 6-7 pm, Mountain Time

Monthly Earth Spirit Meditation and Sharing

Join Zen Buddhist, Lisa Leahigh

Contact info@nm-ipl.org to register and receive information and link.


Sept. 30, 2023

The Second Annual EV Car Show

Plaza Santa Fe, NM

Come see electric vehicles and enjoy community. IPL board member from the Bahai community, Michael Prine will be showing his EV.


Wed., Oct. 11, 6-7 pm MT

Webinar on Clean Vehicle rules in NM

NM IPL is hosting a local webinar for everyone in our state who wants to express their spiritual conviction for a less polluted creation that addresses climate. Learn about Clean vehicle proposed rules for NM and how you can offer your important voice. Contact clara@nm-ipl.org for information, how to offer comments and to sign up for the webinar.


Thurs., Oct. 19, 6-8:30

Annual IPL Fall Gathering

Healing Relationships Within Our Sacred World

In-person and on line (parts)

Monte Vista Christian Church

3501 Campus Blvd. NE, ABQ

Join us for an evening of community, panel conversation with Laura Paskus and others, hands on-ideas, local food, celebration of SEED (Faith Community) and SPROUT (individuals) Awards for their good work throughout the year---offer suggestions for these to add to our nominations. ALL are welcome so we can share community, gratitude and hope!!!!


Nov. 4--Hold the Date

Prayer Rising at Oak Flats

There will be some folks attending from NM, let us know if you are interested. Also, we may be holding a prayer service in ABQ in solidarity. Watch the IPL calendar.


FUN INVITATION

First Congregational UCC Albuquerque is partnering with GotSneakers.com to keep athletic shoes out of the landfill. We are collecting pairs of sneakers, in any condition, and sending them to GotSneakers, where they will be resold or recycled. Contact the church if you have a donation.


Policy Advocacy Updates:


Federal:

IPL August Washington Report blog link here.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing new federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for vehicles sold in 2027 and beyond. Click here to send a comment in support of stronger fuel economy rules. 


The Bureau of Land Management is seeking comments until Sept 22 on new rules to increase bonding and lease payments in oil and gas fields on public land. These are incredibly important rules and can help our state and address future cleanup, pollution and accountability. Explanation and talking points. Please offer a comment at

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/24/2023-14287/fluid-mineral-leases-and-leasing-process.


Resources:

Many folks and congregations are wanting to know details about the federal money available through the Inflation Reduction Act. National IPL recently had a webinar with DOE. SOOOOOO Much Information. Here is the recording (in 3 different locations):

Youtube

Here are the slides, and here is the chat.

A few FAQs

  • IRS is developing a form for nonprofits w/o 501c status to apply for Direct Pay.
  • Ground Source Heat Pump for congregations is eligible for Direct Pay.
  • Air Source Heat Pump for congregations is not eligible for Direct Pay.
  • Roof repair not eligible for Direct Pay.

Check back on our website here for other FAQ.

And here are the links that were shared during the briefing:

Additional resources that might be helpful:



September 1st (the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to October 4th (the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), is a Season of Creation. This “time for creation” offers, in the words of Pope Francis, “individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation.” The Colombans have special podcasts to share.  

Jubilee for the Earth is a podcast mini-series about biodiversity and our sacred story. Over the course of twelve episodes, we explore the beauty of biodiversity and the threats it faces. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, we hope that this podcast will help us all to see how caring for our common home is fundamental to our lives as people of faith and as global citizens.

"The Spirituality of Biodiversity," the first conversation is with Columban priest Fr. Dan Troy and geologist and botanist Dr. John Feehan. You can find the episode on our website, listen on AppleSpotify, or SoundCloud, or watch the video on Facebook or YouTube.


AND

Find worship resources for Season of Creation month including a wide variety of faith traditions on IPL’s Faith Climate Action Week website.


Check Out IPL website for latest news and actions.

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