To Inspire and Mobilize

Time for Action!

2012-01-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

Next week on Wednesday January 25th, Earth Ministry staff, people of faith, and friends of the environment throughout Washington State are gathering in Olympia to meet their legislators and support bills that will protect the environment and children's health. It's time for Environmental Lobby Day 2012!

Environmental Lobby Day is a great opportunity to become involved in the legislative process. Attendees will:

Learn about the issues. Get briefed by experts on all three environmental priorities!
Attend lobbying trainings. Learn the tricks of the trade from top environmental lobbyists.
Meet face-to-face with their legislators. Practice the power of persuasion.

Does this excite you? There's still time to register! Be one of the Washingtonians to stand up for God's creation.

This year the priorities are a clean energy future, preventing rollbacks of our state's environmental programs, and children's health. Learn more about children's health and the Toxic-Free Kids Act in our previous post.

Register today!

Can't make it? Your voice is still important. Call 1-800-562-6000 to tell your legislators that as a person of faith, these issues matter to you!

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Hidden Hazard in the Nursery

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

Toxins in children's products? It sounds too ridiculous to be true. Who would want to poison kids? Yet a new study by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States found 17 popular baby products contained toxic flame retardants.

The study tested 20 products, including nursing pillows, changing pads, car seats, and bassinet pads. Chlorinated Tris, a known carcinogen that has been linked to neurotoxicity and hormone disruption, was the most prevalent toxic flame retardant in the study. Out of the 20 products, researchers found chlorinated Tris in 16 of the baby products. In the 1970s, chlorinated Tris was removed from children's pajamas due to adverse health effects, yet it persists in surrounding our children in our homes, cars, and nurseries. View the executive summary of the report here.

In the face of this dismal report, there is hope for the children of Washington! The Toxic-Free Kids Act was introduced to the Washington State legislature on Monday (SB 6120 and HB 2266). Earth Ministry and fellow members of the Environmental Priorities Coalition support this bill. The Toxic-Free Kids Act will ban chlorinated Tris and other toxins in children's products, while moving towards comprehensive reform by requiring companies to conduct thorough health and safety assessments of potential alternatives.

As people of faith, we recognize that each newborn is a child of God, a blessed creation. We must care for them and allow them to develop. Unfortunately, with Tris and other toxins in children's products, children's risk of cancer and development disabilities is on the rise.

Tell your legislators that caring for the next generation is the responsibility of everyone. Help parents raise healthy children and care for our future by taking toxins out of baby products.

Christmas is for the birds

2011-12-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

by Betsy Cannon

Christmas day is rapidly approaching. Soon I will visit close friends and family, light the Christ candle on the Advent wreath, and attend my church's candlelight service. These traditions are central to my celebration of Christmas.

Recently, I learned of St. Francis’s Christmas traditions. Around 1220, the patron saint of animals was the first to present a living crèche with donkeys, cows, and sheep. He wanted people experience Christmas as it truly was—in a stable surrounded by a menagerie of farm animals.

Then, on Christmas day, St. Francis believed that all creatures should be included in the celebration. He scattered birdseed, so the larks wouldn’t need to forage but could also join in the feast.

If I could see the Emperor, I would implore him to issue a general decree that all people who are able to do so, shall throw grain and corn upon the streets, so that on this great feast day the birds might have enough to eat, especially our sisters, the larks.

May we, like St. Francis, include the whole of creation in our Christmas festivities this year.

Merry Christmas from Earth Ministry! Peace and joy to all!

I give thanks

2011-11-21T13:48:00.001-08:00

As we enter this Thanksgiving week, we at Earth Ministry are grateful for God's beautiful creation and everything that each of you does to protect and care for creation. Remembering these blessings, we offer this poem, "Awakening" by Harriet Kofalk.

Awakening
in a moment of peace
I give thanks to the source of all peace

as I set forth
into the day
the birds sing
with new voices
and I listen
with new ears and give thanks

nearby
the flower called Angel's Trumpet
blows in the breeze
and I give thanks

my feet touch the grass
still wet with dew
and I give thanks
both to my mother earth
for sustaining my steps
and to the seas
cycling once again
to bring forth new life

the dewdrops
become jewelled
with the morning's sun-fire
and I give thanks

you can see forever
when the vision is clear
in this moment
each moment
I give thanks

May we give thanks each and every morning. A blessed thanksgiving to you this year!

Crossing the Mountains

2011-10-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

by Betsy Cannon

This weekend Jessie and I ventured to Yakima to discuss Greening Congregations. As I had never visited Washington before moving to Seattle two months ago, this was my first time crossing the Cascades. Although I understand the theory behind rainshadows, I was amazed to see the clouds and rain fade away as we crossed the pass and entered a beautiful, sunny day in Yakima Valley.

Jessie and I had a great discussion with members of Wesley United Methodist's Green Team as well as interested members of other congregations. Everyone shared inspiring stories. A Master Gardener spoke about how less than 1% of insects are harmful to gardens. The rest are either neutral or beneficial, so it is better not to use pesticides. A couple shared about how they designed their home to take advantage of the sunlight. Another woman explained how she focuses on changing one behavior at a time. Once that behavior became a habit, she moved on to another behavior, but if she had tried to adopt several changes at once, she would have failed.

Hearing about the work of each congregation was even more exciting than the individual efforts. Working our way through the green fields, we discussed worship, education, individual stewardship, buildings and grounds, and community outreach. One person told about the joy when her church held a Blessing of the Animals. Wesley members shared about the recycling center that the church runs for Yakima and how they are advocating for county recycling. Additionally, Wesley maintains an organic garden and shares its produce with members. At Wesley and over the past two months, I've been astounded by the efforts of Earth Ministry's Greening Congregations.

To learn more about our Greening Congregations and how to get your church involved, visit our website.

As Jessie and I made our way back to the pass, we drove past orchards full of apples and towering walls of basalt. Gradually, the trees transitioned from golden yellow to deep evergreen and rain began to beat against the windshield. I found it difficult to believe that such different ecosystems are so close together.

Fresh apples, a stunning landscape, and dedicated people caring for creation made for a wonderful weekend.

Miracles of Restoration

2011-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

by Betsy Cannon

Last Friday, the Lutheran Volunteer Corps members in the Puget Sound area, including myself, went on a tour of the Lower Duwamish River. This five mile stretch of river in South Seattle is the tribal land of the Duwamish people, an industrial center, and a Superfund site.

As we boarded the boat, our guide handed each of us a map of the river. As we unfolded them, we learned that a river once characterized by oxbows follows a nearly straight path today due to channeling. Several of us identified with the attempt to regulate rivers in our hometowns. Whether reversing the flow of the Chicago River or diverting the Mississippi away from the Atchafalaya River, we all remembered a time when humans have tried to control nature.

But more than the channelizing of the river, we were devastated to hear of the PCBs in the salmon, the toxins in the sediment, and cranes driven from their home. An industrial shredder used to rip apart cars and appliances appeared as a monster looming on the bank. Although the environmental degradation is terrible, it is equally incredible what has been accomplished. Now, a park sits along a restored riverbank. Toxic sediments are being removed from the riverbed with pinpoint accuracy. Industries contain their chemicals, instead of using them in the open. Cranes and other wildlife are migrating back.

There is still much work to be done. Toxics in the water are well above health standards. Pollutants banned decades ago remain in sewers and flow into the river. The polluted water disproportionally harms minority and low-income communities. With over 500 outfalls, contamination continues to run directly into the river. Still, it is important that we claim our successes and remain hopeful. Dedicated work can lead to recovery.

On the boat ride back to the dock, I saw two sea lions surface as a kingfisher dove and snatched a couple of fish from the water. To me, that’s a miracle.

Moving Planet Seattle

2011-10-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 24th, Washingtonians gathered around Lake Union for a day of education, action and fun at Moving Planet Seattle.

In solidarity with over 2,000 events in 175 countries for 350.org's annual day of action on climate change, Earth Ministry, Climate Solutions, the Sierra Club, 350 Washington, Washington Environmental Council, Transportation For Washington and many other community organizations came together to host Moving Planet Seattle. In the theme of moving beyond fossil fuels, the day focused on the need to end our reliance on coal and oil and to take action on urgent issues facing Washington state and the Northwest, including halting coal exports and supporting a wider array of transportation choices.

Earth Ministry table. Photo by Paul Anderson

Moving Planet Seattle kicked off with almost a hundred people taking action in workshops on coal and oil and continued into the afternoon with over a thousand people converging on Lake Union Park via bus, bike, on foot, on skate boards, roller skates, paddle-boards, sail boats, canoes, electric vehicles and more! At the park, attendees attempted stand-up paddleboard yoga, rode a conference bike, registered for Undriving licenses, and learned how they could be involved at the many information tables.

LeeAnne at the rally.

Earth Ministry's very own LeeAnne Beres emceed the rally. Each of the featured speakers spoke proudly of Washingtonians working to move our state beyond fossil fuels - including Mayor of Seattle Mike McGinn who rode his bike to the event and spoke out against coal export terminals. Washingtonians have also worked hard to end our state's reliance on coal, protecting our communities' health and God's creation.

The day ended at Plymouth United Church of Christ. The young adult recipients of the David Brower Youth Award spoke about the environmental justice issues in their home communities. The event also marked the launch of the new national United Church of Christ Environmental Justice Center in the Seattle area.

The iconic 350 photo. Photo by Paul Anderson

Earth Ministry thanks the many organizations who made Moving Planet Seattle possible. We are blessed to have such wonderful partners!

Moving Planet Seattle Hosts:

350 Washington State
Climate Solutions
Earth Ministry
Pacific Northwest Conference, UCC
Sierra Club
Transportation for Washington
Washington Environmental Council

Gold Sponsors:

Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment
Seattle Parks & Recreation
Seattle Department of Transportation

Silver Sponsors:

Bishop's Committee for the Environment, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Home Performance Collaborative
Plymouth United Church of Christ
UnDriving
ZipCar

Bronze Sponsors:

BikeWorks
Cascade Bicycle Club
Center for Wooden Boats
Seattle Dutch Bike Company
Sellen
Surf Ballard/WASUP Yoga
Urban Surf

Community Sponsors:

aLIVe, CoolMom, Family Bike Expo, FeetFirst, FUSE, Maryhill Ratz, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, NW E-Bike, NW EcoBuilding Guild, Salish Sea Trading, SCALLOPS , Skate Like a Girl, Spokespeople, Transit Riders Union, YES! Magazine, Yoga for Bikers, and many more!

Announcing our 2011 Finalists!

2011-09-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

This year heralds Earth Ministry's 4th annual Celebration of St. Francis Creation Care Sermon Contest. Join us this year at Keystone United Church of Christ in Seattle on Saturday, October 1st at 4pm for four short and thought-provoking sermons by our finalists from around the nation.

Our finalists offer their inspired call to care for God's creation because they believe in the work of Earth Ministry. The sermon contest is a fundraiser to support the religious environmental work of Earth Ministry. Admission is free, but we need you to show up and vote with your dollars to select the winners of this year's sermon contest.

Our 2011 finalists are:

Paul Graves, Sandpoint, ID
Did Francis Have a Weed-Whacker?

Rev. Stephanie Johnson, New Haven, CT
Abundance

Bill Scarvie, Bainbridge Island, WA
Changing Forms of Light

and

Gil Waldkoenig, Gettysburg, PA
Margins and Hope

Two awards will be presented: The People's Choice Award will go to the contestant with the highest number of votes as indicated on the donation ballot. The Franciscan Philanthropist Award will go to the contestant whose votes raise the most money in support of Earth Ministry's work and mission.

In addition to these great sermons, members of Earth Ministry's forty-four Greening Congregations will be honored for their greening work. The sermon contest will be followed by a heavy hors d'oeuvres reception.

Please join us as we celebrate God's gift of creation!

Continuing the work of Environmental Justice

2011-08-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Each August Earth Ministry transitions to a new Outreach Coordinator. As the team bids farewell to Dana, I am settling into Seattle and beginning to work with Greening Congregations. Although each Outreach Coordinator has different skills and background, each of us is passionate about environmental stewardship. Like Dana, Clare, Chris and others, I am spending a year of service to work towards social justice and to live simply and sustainably through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. As part of my commitment to social justice, I will be working with Earth Ministry on environmental stewardship.

On Monday, I hiked to Annette Lake with four other Lutheran Volunteers. The lush forest of the Pacific Northwest captivated me. At home in South Carolina, I recognize birds and can name each tree, and by the time I finished college in Minnesota, I was well acquainted with the prairie ecosystems. Now west of the Rockies, I hear new bird calls and discover new plants. As the scenery changes, I also meet new people and ideas. Along the trail, conversations with the other volunteers ranged from the musings of Aldo Leopold to the costs and benefits of eco-tourism, from current documentaries to amazement at God's creation around us. Listening to my fellow volunteers, I became increasingly excited to begin my work at Earth Ministry and to encourage the Christian voice in environmentalism.

In June I graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota with a degree in physics. Although I was a physics major, I spent a term focusing on conservation biology research and studying environmental anthropology. Over the course of the semester, I became increasingly aware of the connections between the people and the land and how each impacted the other. Instead of focusing simply on numbers and genetics, I had to incorporate the fairness to the people who used the land. Each of us are connected to and part of the environment. Through environmental stewardship, we honor these connections and praise God for this wonderful creation. I look forward to continuing to explore our obligations to environmental stewardship with the Earth Ministry community over the next year.

On the Naming of Green Teams

2011-07-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

by Clare Brauer-Rieke

This last Sunday, Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle held a Name the Green Team contest. Throughout the last month, members of the congregation - young and old alike - submitted their ideas for the new green team's title: "Disciples of Recycle," "Earth All-Stars," "Green Beans," "Green Eggs and Ham," and "Verdant Veritas" were just a few of over thirty submissions.

Before the vote, the founding members of the green team narrowed the voting pool to three: "Ballard First Renewtheran," "Greendom Come," and "Verdant Disciples." The congregants' ballots were collected in the offering plates, and while the pastors tallied the final count, the green team took the stage to ask other interested people to get involved; in addition to a more formal invitation, they led the church in a hymn-sing to a creatively rewritten "green" version of Jesus Loves Me.

At final count, "Greendom Come" won the day. Prizes were awarded not only to the winner, who received a Green Bible, and to the other two finalists, who received BPA-free waterbottles, but to a variety of entries based on such categories as creativity, theological insight, cuteness, lyricism, and most entries submitted on one paper (the greenest participant). The sanctuary was alive with laughter and applause.

Get your congregation involved! If you're not already, become a Greening Congregation with Earth Ministry and join the movement of environmental stewardship. All congregations can come up with fun new ways to engage their members and their youth. Be creative! Participate with joy.

Superhero of the Week: Dana Swanson

2011-06-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

Earth Ministry's Dana Swanson was recently caped as Superhero of the Week by the Washington Toxics Coalition! The excerpt below is reposted from the ToxicsWAtch blog.

Pssst. Hey. Did you know that everyday people have joined forces to protect kids from toxic chemicals in products? They’re pretty steamed about toxic chemicals in things they use every day. So they’ve formed the League of Everyday Superheroes to stop toxic chemicals from invading our homes.

Green Girl, AKA Dana Swanson, is the Outreach Coordinator at Earth Ministry, an organization that works “to inspire and mobilize the Christian community to play a leadership role in building a just and sustainable future.” She is a recent graduate of Augustana College, where she developed a passion for environmental stewardship while interning at an organic farm. She pursued an interest in food and agricultural issues volunteering with Farm to Fork, building bridges between the college and local growers. We asked her a few questions to learn even more about her superhero powers!

Who would be your celebrity sidekick? Kermit the Frog

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? I’d want to be able to teleport from one location to another – less pollution than driving and way more fun.

What do you do to be a superhero for kid’s health? Children deserve protection from everyday toxins that can negatively impact their health. I don’t understand the effects of most toxins, how can we expect kids to discern a safe product from a harmful one? Someone has to speak out to protect our children because kids have more important things to do, like turn a cardboard box into a castle.

Why do you support the Children’s Safe Products Bill? When I have children, I know I’ll have to worry about runny noses, diaper rash, and bullies – but parents should not have to worry about formaldehyde in baby blankets. Supporting the Children’s Safe Products Bill is easy, stressing about the levels of cadmium in plastic cups is not.

Want to be a superhero like Dana? Take the Superhero Pledge and receive recipes for homemade, non-toxic cleaning products!

Submit an Entry to Earth Ministry's Creation Care Sermon Contest

2011-04-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

What sparks your passion for faith-based environmental stewardship?

The sacredness of water?
Christ’s call to speak for those without voice?
The impact of climate change on impoverished communities?
Seeking the reflection of the Creator in creation?

Share your message of faith, hope, or action for the Earth at Earth Ministry's Celebration of St. Francis on Saturday, October 1, 2011!

Who: All clergy and lay leaders

What: A creation care sermon

When: Submit by July 31, 2011

4 finalists announced August 12

Sermons given on October 1

Where: Seattle, WA

Why: To inspire and mobilize other people of faith to care for God’s great gift of creation

Submission Deadline

July 31, 2011

Download the flyer here for more details on contest rules, judging, and prizes!

For more information, contact Earth Ministry at emoffice@earthministry.org
or call (206) 632-2426.

Reflections on the Power of Water in the Holy Land

2011-03-31T12:23:00.000-07:00

Seattle Pacific University professor and former Earth Letter Editor Doug Thorpe shares a moving contemplation of the power of water in the Holy Land, as he experienced it on an Earth Ministry eco-justice trip to Israel, Palestine and Jordan in January, 2009. The following excerpt was featured in the April 2011 Edition of Soujourners Magazine.

By: Doug Thorpe
Former Earth Letter Editor

"I lay myself down in the Dead Sea waters. It's the middle of January and I’m travelling with a group led by Earth Ministry, a nonprofit based in Seattle that works in the area of faith and the environment. We're in Israel/Palestine for the usual reasons -- a pilgrimage to holy sites -- but also to learn more about the water situation.

So I float in a shrinking Dead Sea. I put my hands into a polluted Jordan River.

Symbols are alive in the Holy Land, even if their source is dying.

For millions of people, the power of this river and land is evoked in the lyrical language of the Bible, which has made the Jordan River one of the world's great symbols. In these texts, just as the land is more than just another piece of property, water is never simply water. Here the waters sing in poetry.

It's not that the biblical images are simply poetry: All of us are on this trip because there is a genuine water crisis in this region. Too often we hear that the next war here will be over water. But this crisis, which includes not just how well humans are living with each other, but how well they are living on the land, is connected to the loss of a sense of water's "mystique," as Thomas Berry calls it. The mystique of the water here comes partly from the poetry -- and it's something that we lose the moment we think we control it.

The irony is that there's a dream in these scriptures of coming home to this place, but the attempt to literalize that dream has taken a gift and locked it up behind a wall.

One morning early in the trip, I awake at 4:30 in Nazareth and lie in bed as the birds begin to sing, as a chant rises from a nearby mosque. I turn on the light and begin to read from Psalm 46:

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.

When I am at the Jordan, it is a holy day for Syrian Christians; both banks are lined with celebrants and priests, some in Israel, some in Jordan. They can see one another, even shout to one another across the 10-foot-wide stretch of the river. What they can't do is cross it. I walk down to the bank past a soldier and cup my hands in the still water. I say a prayer for my brother, dying from a stroke in a hospital in Chicago, and another for this place and these people. I let the water run through my fingers. I do not drink.

We travel about the countryside and through the villages. We listen to stories from Christian Palestinians, including Samuel Barhoum, an Anglican priest near Nazareth, and Sami Awad of the Holy Land Trust, a nonprofit based in Bethlehem that uses nonviolence tactics in support of Palestinian farmers. Both speak at length of going for days without water -- no water for bathing or for cooking, little for drinking -- while they can see Israeli settlements in the West Bank with swimming pools. We travel down to the Dead Sea, where we meet with Gundi Sachal, Middle East regional director for Friends of the Earth. We hear of (and see in front of us) the shrinking of the Dead Sea. Gundi confirms what we saw days before, and what I’ve also heard from Susan Koppelman, a young Jewish-American woman who works with the nonprofit initiative LifeSource in the West Bank: The Jordan River is now mostly untreated sewage, with 5 percent of its historical flow reaching the sea here. Lebanon, Syria, and Israel all cut into it. The Dead Sea drops a meter every year.

We float in the warm water. We sink our feet into the famous mud.

In both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we hear the beautiful phrase "living water." But it's important to know that, when the scriptures use this phrase, it means fresh water that hasn’t been controlled by human action: Living water is a direct gift from God.

We may wish to dismiss this distinction; after all, the water that most of us in this country get from our taps is pure in some literal sense (as is the "pure spring water" that we drink from plastic bottles). But anyone who has drunk from a mountain stream on a hot day knows the difference, as does anyone who has done any research at all on the bottled water industry: Such water's claim of purity leaves out the "living" quality -- that mystique -- as well as the human and environmental cost. And these omissions are of course connected. We substitute the poetry of marketing for the poetry of water.

Read the original story from Soujourners Magazine, April 2011.

Children’s Choir and Friends visit Olympia for Interfaith Advocacy Day

2011-03-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, March 17, Earth Ministry's Jessie Dye and Dana Swanson, many Earth Ministry members, and several hundred others gathered in Olympia for Interfaith Advocacy Day. Representing a wide range of faith communities, participants lobbied legislators for a unified social justice agenda.

Present for the day was the Children's Choir from Plymouth Congregational Church, one of Earth Ministry's Greening Congregation partners. Plymouth member Robin Appleford gives more detail of the day in her posting below.

By: Robin Appleford

Eleven children, in addition to parents and friends, journeyed to Olympia for the third year in a row. Our goal has always been to inspire hard-working public servants through song and the lively presence of our intergenerational group. We have no political agenda and were there to inspire and support our elected officials.

We sang to the Interfaith gathering which included people from across the state. Linda Strandberg and the children had everyone in the room singing along to “We Shall Overcome” and “Eyes on the Prize”. The children taught them the “Crossing Bridges” song, along with the hand movements. It was amazing to see the whole room join in song and hand movements!

We were invited to the Senate Rostrum by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen where we sang to members of legislative leadership and their staffs. We continued our inspirational journey by “caroling” through the Senate Republican and Democratic office buildings where staff and legislators came out to hear the angelic voices of the children. They joined in from time to time because our songs are known to those of many denominations. We brought tears to Sen. Haugen’s eyes for the second year in a row. Her quote:

“You are beacons of Christ’s light and we are grateful for your gifts.”

Check out the short video above, shared by Plymouth's Children, Youth, and Family Blog, to learn more about the choir's adventures in Olympia.

The Triune God Revealed in Nature

2011-03-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

by Clare Brauer-Rieke

Happy St. Patrick's Day! In the United States, St. Patrick's Day has come to be mostly a day on which you must wear green or be pinched; it is also a day of great libations. Understandably - as St. Patrick's Day is first and foremost an Irish holiday - there is little reflection about the holiday's roots and original expression. Happily, a little research proves worthwhile.

St. Patrick is best known in Ireland as the perhaps most significant Christian evangelist to the Celtic Irish. Ireland was one of the very few places in which conversion to Christianity was a peaceful one, thanks largely to the ways in which Christian evangelists and Celts folded their spiritual wisdom and beliefs together as complementary rather than opposing traditions. Legend informs us that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people, to whom nature was deeply central.

In God in Creation: an ecological doctrine of creation, theologian Jurgen Moltmann writes of the importance of our understanding of the Trinity in a creation-honoring Christian perspective:

We should see [the Trinity] as at once the most intense excitement and the absolute rest of the love which is the wellspring of everything that lives, the keynote of all resonances, and the source of the rhythmically dancing and vibrating worlds. . . . All relationships which are analogous to God reveal the primal, reciprocal indwelling and mutual interpenetration of the trinitarian perichoresis: God in the world and the world in God; heaven and earth in the kingdom of God, pervaded by [God's] glory; soul and body uniting in the life-giving Spirit to a human whole; woman and man in the kingdom of unconditional and unconditioned love, freed to be true and complete human beings. There is no such thing as solitary life.

We are as creation what has come to be coined "interbeing," in the same way that the triune God is a relational mutuality. We necessarily affect each other and all things living in creation. May we learn from the example of St. Patrick the value of listening to the other and sharing meaningfully our own story; may we find the triune God present in the world around us; and may we celebrate the richness of our lived-together life on this beautiful planet.

This Lent, Give Up Carbon and Keep the Chocolate!

2011-02-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

By: LeeAnne Beres
Earth Ministry Executive Director

Forty days of Lent. Nine hundred and sixty hours. Fifty-seven thousand, six hundred minutes. This time before Easter is one for reflecting on and fasting from the actions, objects, or attitudes in our life that separate us from God. For many, it is also a time of renewal and reconnection, to our Creator and the great gift of creation.

Marjorie Thompson writes in her book Soul Feast, “For the early church, Lent was just the opposite of a dreary season of restriction.…It was understood as an opportunity to return to…the life of natural communion with God that was lost to us in the Fall.”

In this view, Lent is a time to restore our life of natural communion with God, which includes understanding both our limits and the limits of God’s creation. One way to celebrate Lent, therefore, is to practice practical ways of honoring those limits.

The spiritual practice of fasting, accompanied by prayer and meditation, moves us to be more open to the will of God in our lives. Fasting helps us listen to what God wants us to be and to do. During Lent this year, Earth Ministry and Washington Interfaith Power & Light invite you to try a “fast from carbon,” that is, to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you put into the atmosphere.

Why should you consider a fast from carbon? There are at least five reasons:

1. The carbon dioxide we are putting into the environment, in the form of greenhouse gases, is changing the climate of God’s creation, our planet Earth. Scientists no longer debate the basic facts of climate change.
2. The sources of these greenhouse gases are largely produced by human beings and the society we have created.
3. The largest component of greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, which comes from the burning of fossil fuels during the generation of electricity and from the modes of transportation that we use.
4. Unless we reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, the impact of these increases will be devastating for our planet, for its people—especially the poor and vulnerable—and for the plants and animals that have lived here for millions of years. Time is critical.
5. God created this Earth, declared it to be good, and expects us to care for creation and to maintain its goodness for future generations.

Engaging your congregation in a carbon-free Lent is a practical and timely way to put faith into action. These free resources can help you get started.

Lenten Creation Care Resources

Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s Prayer and Action Guide for a Lenten Fast from Carbon
This Lenten prayer guide features seven prayerful reflections (for Ash Wednesday and the six Sundays of Lent), which include insights on regional impacts of climate change, Scripture readings and prayers, and actions of individuals wanting to reduce carbon their carbon footprints. An excellent resource for weekly bulletin inserts, adult forums, and even personal devotions.

Earth Ministry/WAIPL’s 2011 Carbon Fast for Lent Calendar
This 40-day calendar suggests a practical, carbon-dioxide-reducing action for each day of Lent (e.g., "find the most environmentally friendly way to get to church today" and "run your dishwasher only with a full load"). And under this program, you can have your chocolate and be observant too: the Lent calendar allows for an indulgence in a Theo Chocolate bar, which is organic and free-trade certified.

Additional inspiration for Lenten reflection can be found on Earth Ministry’s Lenten Devotions and Resources page, including an Environmental Stations of the Cross service.

If you’re going to give up something for Lent . . .

2011-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

By: Rev. Tim Phillips
Guest Blogger

Giving up something is a traditional practice during Lent. Some people give up chocolate or alcohol or meat. The idea is that to abstain from something will make us more aware of the pattern of our lives and the life we owe to God. It identifies us with the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before he began his ministry or the forty years the children of Israel wandered in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. Periodic fasting from meals, various foods, or particular actions is part of most religious traditions.

This year, if you are going to give up something for Lent, why not give up something that would make a positive impact on the Earth? Since Earth Day is also Good Friday this year, our Eco-Spirituality group at Seattle First Baptist invites us to experience an eco-friendly Lent, asking you to consider what you might give up as a spiritual practice to care for creation.

If you are going to give up something, why not give up driving one day each week of Lent or give up your incandescent light bulbs for more energy-efficient compact fluorescent ones? Why not give up some of those toxic cleaning products for an experiment with more eco-friendly cleaners? Why not give up bottled water (a 16 oz. plastic bottle takes as much water to manufacture as to fill) for an eco-friendly non-disposable water bottle? If you think you might want to take on something rather than giving something up, why not experiment with eating locally-grown food during Lent or commit to sign-up for a Clean Greens Farm share this spring? Why not bring home a house plant and nurture it as part of your Lenten spiritual practice?

Why do any of this? Remember that the most fundamental human responsibility in the ancient creation story is the care of the Earth. There is something deeply human and creative about owning that responsibility and something incredibly hopeful about doing it together. At then end of their book, Saving Paradise, Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker write:

We reenter this world as sacred space when we love life fiercely and, in the name of love, protect the goodness of earth’s intricate web of life in all its manifold forms. We feast in paradise when we open our hearts to lamentation, to amplitudes of grief for all that has been lost and cannot be repaired … We recommit ourselves to this world as holy ground when we remember the fullness of life that is possible through our communities, our life-affirming rituals, and our love of beauty. Thus immersed, we are more responsive to and responsible for life in this world.

That is why. And that is why, this Lent, we invite you to make a spiritual practice of the care of this Earth. If you are thinking of giving up something, why not make it something that will reconnect you with one of the most fundamental human responsibilities – and opportunities – of all. After all, we were made to feast together in paradise and to walk on holy ground.

Earth Ministry offers several resources to help you along your Lenten journey, including a Carbon-free Lent Calendar with carbon reducing practices for each day of Lent, and a weekly prayer and reflection guide, both available on the Carbon-Free Lent Resources webpage.

Love the Earth - Support Senate Bill 5769!

2011-02-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

By: Dana Swanson

On Sunday February 13, I attended St. John United Lutheran Church's Love the Earth Sunday, as part of Interfaith Power & Light's National Climate Preach-In.

Interfaith Power & Light invited faith leaders from across the country to give sermons and reflections on global warming the weekend of February 11-13. Over 20 churches across Washington State joined Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WAIPL) and Earth Ministry to make climate change the focus of their worship service last weekend.

As part of Love the Earth Sunday, members at St. John United signed postcards to their elected officials, encouraging them to love the Earth and their neighbors this Valentine's Day by phasing out coal in Washington. Youth in Sunday School decorated Valentines for their representatives, asking them to "Have a Heart" and support legislation for a Coal Free Future for Washington. On Tuesday, February 15, at Environmental Lobby Day, Earth Ministry delivered the postcards to State Representatives in Olympia.

The advocacy efforts of those at St. John United and of the greater Washington faith community are making a difference in the state legislature. Just this morning, the coal bill passed through the Senate committee. Now is the time to act - tell your Senator to support a Coal Free Future for Washington!

Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 today!

I must confess, I was a little nervous when I called the hotline this afternoon. However, it was not as intimidating as I anticipated. When the operator answered the phone, I told her I was in favor of a Coal Free Future for Washington, Senate Bill 5769 (SB 5769).

She then asked for my name, address, and phone number - just like if I were ordering a pizza. They will ask if you have any additional comments, to which you can choose not to say anything, or you can identify yourself as a member of Earth Ministry and/or as a member of your church.

Call today to tell your Senator to support SB 5769! Consider our children's future - the futures of Emily and Madeline who made Valentines with me - and encourage your elected officials to transition Washington off coal power.

Morning Has Broken

2011-02-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

By: Dana Swanson

As I rise from bed, the sun sluggishly does the same. Flannel sheets replaced by a winter chill, I find myself humming Morning has Broken to soften the transition.

Morning has broken Like the first morning, Black bird has spoken Like the first bird. Praise the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them springing Fresh from the Word!

As my gloved hand pulls the door closed behind me, I am greeted by blades of grass, each zipped up in a frosty coat. With each inhale, crisp air fills my lungs. As I jog west, the silhouette of Mount Rainier smiles at the skyline, his inverted grin looming in the distance.

Sweet the rain's new fall Sunlit from heaven, Like the first dewfall On the first grass. Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden, Sprung in completeness Where His feet pass.

Shy orange light coyly brushes above the Cascades, drawing jagged lines across the still and reflective waters of Green Lake. As an egg shell cracks and its yellow yolk spills into a skillet, the horizon cracks and light spills over the Earth. Yes, I have breakfast on the mind.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning. Born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation, Praise ev'ry morning, God's recreation Of the newday!

The mountain ridges, accented by the day’s first light, form a furrowed brow across the horizon. While climbing Phinney Ridge, I glance over my shoulder at the Olympics completing their morning routine. My rosy cheeks beam at the ridges, and the mountains blush back. I’ll take this over sleeping in any day. Praise every morning.

Now Testify

2011-01-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

By: Dana Swanson

Yesterday, Jessie Dye and I braved the morning commute to testify before the Washington State Legislature’s Environment, Water & Energy Senate Committee in Olympia. Keep in mind; this was only my second time visiting the state capitol. My only testifying experience being second-hand from reruns of Law & Order, I had no idea what to expect.

Upon entering Senate Hearing Room 4, my eyes surveyed chairs filled with crisp suit jackets, but also with worn sweaters and wrinkled shirts. Expecting the room to be lined with intimidating, shifty-eyed lobbyists in expensive suits, I was comforted by the number of “regular” people in attendance.

Over the course of the two-hour Public Hearing, three bills were heard. After a legislative staff member introduced each bill, those who signed up to testified were asked to come forward, in groups of three, to share their insights. Jessie and I were there to testify in support of SB 5231, The Children’s Safe Products Bill. The Children’s Safe Products Bill requires manufacturers of children's products to find safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in their products.

I'm not an expert witness, I don't know the impacts phthalates on the reproductive system —I probably couldn't even spell phthalates without spell check. I do know, however, that I don't want to worry about cancer-causing formaldehyde in my child's blankets, or in any blankets, for that matter. So when I went before the Committee, I said just that.

When it was time for my 90 seconds of fame, I spoke to why I, a 22-year old woman who intends on having children someday, don’t want toxic chemicals used in my daughter’s dolls. As a person of faith, I spoke from the heart about protecting current and future generations from harmful chemicals. Although my message was serious, I light-heartedly joked about how mothers have enough on their minds without worrying about baby bottles poisoning their children—tattoos, for example.

The legislating and policy world are very new to me, but I find myself utterly enthralled. Not only is the process fascinating, engaging in the political process is incredibly empowering. Although testifying before a Committee may sound intimidating, it is a chance to articulate your commitment to care for creation in a very meaningful way.

If you're interested in sharing your testimony with state policy makers at public hearings through the legislative session, or would like to host an adult education forum at your church on environmental health issues, please contact Jessie Dye.

Toxic-Free Future for Our Children

2011-01-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

By: Sarah Holmes
Earth Ministry Intern

Earth Ministry actively engages people of faith and congregations in campaigning for a toxic-free future. If you're interested in learning more or if you'd like to get involved with Earth Ministry's toxic-free work, please contact Jessie Dye. Sarah is a student at Seattle University and working with Earth Ministry's effort against toxins. As a new mother, she has a unique perspective on the effect of environmental toxins.

As any first time mother can tell you, many of your old values and long-held perspectives and beliefs shift by the time your baby gives you that first, innocent smile. For me, that change took the form of having my eyes opened to many of the problems facing children all over the world, and especially those that will affect my family. Before my daughter was born, I honestly had no idea that there were dangerous chemicals in baby bottles and I never gave any thought to the fact that mercury is now found in dangerously high levels in all of America’s fresh water fish. Now, however, I feel like an insurance claims analyst: constantly evaluating the potential hazards of any given situation or product before I allow my daughter to participate. And the amount of easily preventable dangers out there to young children appalls me.

As a mother, I have to be both a nurturer and a warrior. I would love to live in a world where all I am required to do to raise a strong, healthy daughter is to cuddle her and nurse her before bed. That is not the kind of world that we were given, however. In order to raise the kind of woman I pray my daughter will become, it is my responsibility to fight for her. I have to fight for her education, for her safety, and for her health. In a world where rates of autism have more than tripled, asthma has increased 75%, and diabetes type 2 has increased 32%, all since the 1980s, it is obvious that something more needs to be done to protect our children. As mothers, as warriors, and as advocates for our children, we have to be the ones to take up this mantle.

Right now, you can do something to help protect your children, and mine. The Washington Toxics Coalition is lobbying for our state legislature to pass The Toxics-Free Kids Act, a bill that will require companies to identify harmful chemicals found in their products and will ban BPA in baby bottles and other food containers. Join them in their fight to identify and ban hazardous chemicals from our children's products by going to the Washington Toxics Coalition website and help them advocate for a toxic-free future for our children.

Shopping for Simplicity

2010-12-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

By: Dana Swanson

With Christmas less than one week away, I find myself frantically rushing around to pick up last-minute gifts for family and friends. From the chocolates seductively dressed in red and green to the glitzy decorations - not to mention the tempting red sale tags - it is a challenge to resist materialism.

From what I understand, the Wise Men did not bring gold, frankincense, and Nintendo Wii. When we are bombarded with images of all the latest technology and fashion, we are easily distracted from the real reason to celebrate this season. I find solace in the following words by William Ellery Channing:

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never—in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.”

Within the chorus of consumerism, the ringing cash registers, beeping bar-codes and rustling plastic bags, try to discern the symphony of simplicity. Instead, may heart-felt conversations and laughter of loved ones be music to your ears.

Blessings and peace to you from all of us at Earth Ministry.

Give Your Gift to Earth Ministry!

2010-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Did you know? In the last year alone, Earth Ministry has:

taught 59 faith and environment religious education classes in congregations
presented at 5 major conferences
inspired hundreds at creation care prayer services for Earth Day and the Gulf oil spill
provided advice and guidance to green teams in a growing network of 300+ congregations across Washington State and beyond
promoted the efforts of our 39 Greening Congregations
trained 37 religious leaders who participated in 14 in-district meetings on climate change with state legislators and members of Congress
turned out 150 faithful advocates to speak up for the environment at 3 advocacy days
appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, Charlotte Observer, and Huffington Post
and much, much more!

Now is the time to make your year end donation; with your help, we can redouble our efforts in the year ahead. We’re updating and improving upon our already-successful Greening Congregations program. We’ll be in Congress and at the state capitol, representing the faith voice – you – on important environmental issues. And we’ll continue to provide leadership on national climate and energy campaigns through our Washington Interfaith Power & Light project.

With Christmas approaching, it is the perfect opportunity to give the gift of Earth Ministry membership to friends or loved ones. All members receive regular updates on our work, invitation to Earth Ministry events, and a one-year subscription to our award-winning quarterly journal, Earth Letter.

Whether you are a current member or a friend who would like to become a supporter, your gift makes a real difference. Please donate here!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Earth Ministry.

Save the Date!

2010-12-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

As we gear up for the 2011 Washington State legislative session, Earth Ministry invites you to join us for the following events!

Legislative Workshop
Saturday, January 8, 2011, 9:30am-2:45pm
Seattle Pacific University, Gwinn Commons

This annual event is your opportunity to be involved as the state’s leading conservation groups prepare for the upcoming legislative session. There will be experts on hand and a panel of state legislators to answer questions about this year's Environmental Priorities. There will also be helpful break-out sessions on how to use social media to get your voice heard and be your own citizen lobbyist. Also, new this year, there will be a session titled Activism 2.0, for folks who are ready to take their activism to the next level to help build the environmental movement. Register here!

Environmental Lobby Day
Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 8:30am-6pm
United Churches, 110 East 11th Ave, Olympia, WA

No one who attends this exciting and engaging day goes away unchanged. Participating in the democratic process is joyful and empowering. Please join Earth Ministry staff, many people of faith, and friends of the environment throughout Washington State in Olympia to meet your legislators and support good climate legislation. Your voice will make a difference! Registration for Lobby Day will be available later in December. More information is available here.

Interfaith Advocacy Day
Thursday, March 17, 2011
United Churches and State Capitol, Olympia, WA

This event, sponsored by Earth Ministry and an interfaith coalition of statewide religious organizations, brings people of faith from all over Washington to Olympia for a day to advocate for a unified social justice agenda. On this day, Earth Ministry members and friends come together to speak as one voice with the larger faith community on behalf of creation care and protection of our climate. This year, because our goals are strong and challenging, your voice is particularly important to convince legislators to be bold in voting for climate protection. Check out Earth Ministry's Events page for more information.

By the Waters

2010-12-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

By: Dana Swanson

Water flows over these hands.
May I use them skillfully
To preserve our precious planet.
– Thich Nhat Hanh

Aluminum foil, food coloring, and a spray bottle of water – not your usual Sunday School class. Using these materials, I joined youth from Ballard First Lutheran Church to construct Watershed Models, exploring the role of water in our daily lives.

We’re pretty familiar with water here in the Pacific Northwest, as it cascades down from the heavens quite frequently. On average, Americans use 80 to 100 gallons of water each day. We don’t just use water for drinking – we use it for washing our hands and vegetables, bathing, cooling, watering plants and crops, recreation, and waste disposal. Although water may seem in abundance to us, unfortunately many do not have access to clean water. As part of the Watershed activity, the Sunday School youth and I explored what happens when the water supply is contaminated.

First, we created a terrain with paper cups to resemble the natural landscape, leaving a flat place at the far end to simulate a lake at the bottom of the watershed. After securing the foil around the edges of the pan, blue food coloring was placed atop the highest “mountain.” One of the students used a spray bottle to mimic rain on the watershed at the highest point, simulating the headwaters of the river system. The blue “waters” spilled down the mountains, shooting out tributaries as it made its way to the lake.

Next, we placed a few drops of yellow food coloring in the “mountains” to represent pollution. The deep blue waters promptly became contaminated by the yellow, turning a vibrant shade of green. Realizing how the pollution had tainted the watershed, we talked about the impacts of pollution on our water supply. Fertilizers and other chemicals we use create runoff, acting as the yellow dye impacting the water supply.

Water is a wondrous gift of creation, one that should be respected and honored. In the Bible, water represents the essence of life, without which there could be no life. Fortunately, simple adjustments to your daily routine will conserve water, like turning off the water while you’re washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Install low-flow shower heads and toilets to conserve water. Use rain barrels to capture runoff from your roof and use them to water your garden. Be a more mindful steward of creation - think about where your water came from and where it goes once it leaves your house.

In addition to making changes in your personal life, you have a chance to support clean water throughout the 2011 Washington State Legislative Session. Two of the Environmental Priorities endorsed by Earth Ministry deal with water. The 2011 Clean Water Act is about creating jobs, rebuilding our local economy, and cleaning up polluted waterways like Puget Sound and the Spokane River. The Freshwater Pollution Control Act is a common-sense, cost-effective approach to reducing phosphorus in waterways by restricting the sale of phosphorus lawn fertilizer - a great way to keep yellow dye and pollution from damaging our watersheds. Learn more about the priorities here.

Next time you’re caught in a downpour without an umbrella, consider how the heavy droplets are a blessing, trickling down from the heavens to renew us and bring us life.

The Watershed Model Construction activity, as well as other activities and musings on the theme of water, can be found in Caring For All Creation: By the Waters, available from the Earth Ministry online store.