Blowin’ in the Wind

By Dennis Keeney, Middleton Community UCC, March 20, 2026

Bob Dylan’s great 1962 ballad has a prophetic phrase:

“Yes and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind

The answer is blowin’ in the wind”

As we wage another war over oil, it is clear to me that alternate sources of energy are critical to World peace. The answers are there; the World just needs to embrace them.

As one looks east off the shore of Nantucket, Massachusetts, huge turbines slowly churn, bringing clean renewable energy to up to 400,000 Massachusetts homes. These majestic machines, beloved by many, hated by Trump, almost did not get the opportunity to provide cheap carbon free electricity. The Trump administration tried desperately to stop the construction of Vineyard Wind, the country’s first large-scale offshore wind project. But the courts prevailed and Vineyard Wind installed the final blade on the last turbine in early March. 

Betty and I have been especially interested in this project. Our granddaughter, Carson McNatt, is an engineer on the project. A little bragging: she has a Bachelors and Masters from Rochester Institute of Technology in Environmental Engineering. It took her a few months to find the perfect job, in the meantime she biked solo across the US, taking time off to be with the family at our annual summer Door County reunion. To get the job, she had to pass an emergency evacuation test from a sinking helicopter!

Read the rest of the story here.

Plan Now to Get Involved in Freshwater Faithworks Project

The Wisconsin and Minnesota conferences are partnering to offer Freshwater Faithworks, a new intergenerational care-of-creation event set for June 28-July 1 at Daycholah Center. Freshwater Faithworks will offer a family camp experience centered on the importance of freshwater and what we can do to protect it as people of faith. Activities will include exploring the waters of Green Lake and White Creek with the Green Lake Association, a trip to the Wisconsin Dells, lots of camp fun and worship, and, of course, the opportunity to make new friends. Also on tap is a Freshwater Faithworks program for middle schoolers -- a service and learning trip to Minnesota from July 29 to Aug 2. More information and registration details are forthcoming. In the meantime, email Lisa Hart with questions.

Creation Care Grants Update: St. Stephens UCC in Merrill Receives a Grant for Solar Power

Congratulations to St. Stephens UCC in Merrill. The congregation is installing a solar array to provide 59% of the power used in the church building and grounds. Power produced beyond the daily needs of the church will be supplied to the local power grid. The project is expected to be completed yet this spring. Many areas of the church have also had the lighting converted to LED fixtures and bulbs; additional areas will be converted by the end of 2027.

At the end of 2025, the Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team has helped 37 congregations in 29 communities with 50 different Kairos Call to Action grants for incentive and assistance in local sustainability efforts since 2020. So far, $45,545 has been shared throughout the state with everyone’s help by donating to Our Church’s Wider Mission.

These grants have helped our congregations…

• remove invasive species and high maintenance lawns, 
• plant native flowers and grasses for wildlife benefits and stormwater treatment,
• install solar panels for clean energy, 
• develop worship services and hold special creation care events,
• purchase energy-efficient appliances, 
• update lighting and heating systems, 
• expand recycling options for the community, and 
• raise local awareness of the urgent need to protect our earthly home.

These projects reflect significant changes for our congregations and the communities in which they witness, and we celebrate them. Now that we have reached the midpoint of the Kairos Call to Action decade, and given that our national political leadership has turned away from responsible environmental stewardship, we want to encourage our congregations to consider ever more serious projects that will “make a difference” and “turn up the heat on turning down the heat” of global climate change. When we have done all that we can in our churches and homes to reduce our carbon footprint, how might we further extend our public witness and advocacy for the earth in ways that address “Kairos:” the “fierce urgency of now.” 

Grant awards to eligible projects will be made (up to $1000) as long as our current allotment lasts. 

Congregations who receive grants will be asked to make progress reports on the project funded. These should include photographs, descriptions of what is happening, a narrative of how the project is impacting the congregation, who was involved in the project and any insights and advice that could be shared with other congregations. These will be shared in the Kairos Newsletter or Wisconsin Conference Life.

To apply for a grant, complete the application and return it to Lisa Hart at the Conference office. Future Kairos newsletters will provide details on newly-funded projects, and the availability of remaining grant money.

MEA and Partners Seek Court Order Preventing Pipeline Construction while Line 5 Permits Under Review

Midwest Environmental Advocates and our partners will be back in court on April 16 for a hearing on our motion for a stay on pipeline construction—an important step in our ongoing legal challenge to state-issued permits for the reroute of Enbridge Line 5.

In February, we filed a petition for judicial review in Iron County Circuit Court after an administrative law judge upheld the permits. At the same time, we asked the circuit court to issue a stay on construction while the case is under review. The court will decide at the upcoming hearing whether construction can move forward in the meantime. Read newsletter article here. 

New Legislation Releases State Aid for Communities Impacted by PFAS Contamination

State lawmakers have finally moved to release roughly $133 million in funding to help communities respond to PFAS contamination. While the new legislation isn’t perfect, it provides critical funding for water system upgrades, expanded testing and well replacement. Read newsletter article here. 

Wisconsin UCC Creation Care Team Offers Worship Resources

The Creation Care team offers churches a new worship service order celebrating Creation and the coming of Spring. Full permission for use is given by the author, Kathy Bartilson, Namekagon Congregational Church in Earl, who wrote it after a fun Mothers' Day canoe outing on the river near her home. Feel free to use all or parts of the service in the weeks ahead.

Check it out here.

PBS Wisconsin Hosts Program on Climate Change for Grades 6-12

“Field Notes on Climate” was produced here is our state by PBS Wisconsin. Geared for a target audience of grades 6 through 12, episodes and educator resources are posted on the organization’s website.



Some of the episodes include:

• Bee-ing the Change: Protecting Pollinators from Habitat Fragmentation
• Planting Seeds of Change: Youth Changemakers for Environmental Justice
• Raising the Grain: Restoring Wild Rice Habitats to Protect Food Sovereignty
• Shifting Gears: Biking to Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Check it out! There will likely be good information for all ages.

Emerald Bluffs Solar Project Approved by Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved the Emerald Bluffs Solar Project, a 225 Megawatt (MW) solar project in Juneau County. This project is planned for completion in the latter half of 2027. Projects like this have a wide range of local and statewide benefits.

Emerald Bluffs will create good-paying jobs, provide funding to local municipalities, and reduce carbon emissions. Our collective efforts to support this project got it across the finish line! Thanks to everyone who submitted comments.

If you want to know more about the project and our views on it, you can read RENEW's public comment here.

Mother's Day at St. Paul, Erin

from Pastor Bonnie Jacque

St. Paul's in Erin has a Mother's Day "Aprons in the Wind" exhibit including 200 aprons hung throughout our side lawn. Individuals say a prayer as they hang these aprons and many of them have an apron history attached - who's it was and memories of the owner's use of them. I have attached a photo from last year's event. It is open to the public to walk around and share their own stories. In addition, this year the Women's Guild will offer Christmas Cookies, St. Paul's is known for their outstanding Christmas Cookie Sale, with a free-will offering going to the Lisbon Presbyterian Church, which suffered tornado damage.