Call to Moral Action on Climate Change

On March 19, 2013, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) made a call to action from the Senate floor that all faith based communities rise up to address climate change.  Please watch this 17 minute view into our national dialog on climate change.

Time to Wake Up: Faith Organizations Weigh in on Climate Change

What are we going to do to answer this call?

Treading Lightly for Lent 2012

Tread Lightly for Lent 2012

The Presbyterians have done it again creating a wonderful environmentally focused Lenten calendar for 2012: Tread Lighting for Lent 2012.  The calendar take individuals on a journey of reflection and action that anyone of us can and should do. 

When we care for God’s good earth, we do so through both action and reflection. We are called to engage in intentional and thoughtful “doing” as well as “being.” As we anticipate the lengthening of daylight during Lent, we are invited to long, deep reflection. This reflection will shape our action. Likewise, our actions shape how we reflect—on ourselves, our world and our Creator.

In what spirit might we enter a season of reflection and action? I propose that we enter Lent in a spirit of fasting and feasting. We fast, refraining from things that do not foster life. Yet we also feast, remembering God’s grace and power in the world. Echoing Sabbath and Jubilee themes in the Torah and other parts of Holy Scripture, we feast on God’s liberating goodness even as we fast from the harmful things we do to the earth.

So I invite you, then, to reflect and to act, to fast and to feast. This simple calendar will serve as a daily Lenten reminder of this invitation. Most reflections and actions can be done in less than 10 minutes, or they can take as long as you like. Guiding themes for the weeks in this calendar are: creation, water, land, air, people, diverse species, and lifestyle commitment.

From the introduction to the Tread Lighting for Lent 2012 from the Presbyterian Church (USA) Environmental Ministries.

If you are interested in another faith based environmental path for Lent, there is the 2012 Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast which will send you email with daily actions for Lent.  The Lenten Carbon Fast is developed and run by the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.

What ever you path you choose, do something for yourself and the world the Lord has entrusted to us.

Peace!
Jon

Faith in Action - MBTA

This past Sunday, Greening Grace organized a letter writing protest against the proposed MBTA service reductions and fair increases.  The proposed changes would have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable including seniors and low income in Medford and other effected communities.  They would also take Massachusetts backwards in the fight against Climate Change and increase traffic on our already crowded roads in and around Boston.

We wrote over a dozen letters to the MBTA, local and state officials with signatures from dozens of members of Grace Church.  Some letters were written by hand, while others typed.  The kids joined in too, decorating the envelopes with environmentally and public transit themed art.

Everyone that attended was glad they could do their part and show support for legislators opposing the proposals and encourage other legislators to do the same.

If you would like more information on setting up your own letter writing campaign, contact us at GreeningGrace@gracemedford.org.  It was fun and easy and makes a difference.

Peace!
Jon

TAKE ACTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORTATION EQUITY

On Sunday, February 12, Greening Grace will host a letter-writing campaign to protest MBTA’s proposed fare increases and service cuts and urge legislators to change the funding formula for the MBTA. Please join us in Grace Church's Wiles Hall at 11:45 am! 

Years of borrowing for – instead of paying for – repairs and improvements to the states’ roads and transit systems have left the state without enough money to fund basic transportation operations. Also, the funding mechanism that the legislature put in place for the MBTA (a portion of the state sales tax) failed to produce the anticipated revenue. As a result, the MBTA is proposing grave fare hikes and service reductions to pay the bills. For example, the MBTA plans to cut all commuter rail service on weekends, and one of the proposals would eliminate four bus routes that service Medford. Service cuts and fare hikes will urban poor families the hardest because of their dependence on public transit and their limited ability to afford the fare increases. Also, it is wrong to cut public transit when we need to take serious steps to tackle climate change.

Come with your laptops, pens, friends, and kids. There will be chocolate snacks to help bring out your inner environmentalist.

To learn more about the proposed service reductions and fare hikes, go to http://www.mbta.com.

Question about the event should be directed to Jonathan Hunt or Catherine Smith at greeninggrace@gracemedford.org.

Faith Communities involved in Climate Change Conversation

Bishop Geoff Davies is at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa (COP17). He was interviewed by OneClimate.net, who are reporting live from Durban during COP17.   Bishop Davies relates the need for action on climate change and the economic resistance to abolishing slavery in England and Apartheid in South Africa.

Here are some other really powerful quotes from Bishop Davies:

We believe in life before death.

Christians should worry less about getting to heaven and more about climate crisis on earth

We have been tasked by God to look after this creation and to look after one another on this creation.

Destruction of creation is a sin against God and crime against humanity.

Listen to this powerful call to action of the Faith Community by Bishop Davies.

Peace, Jon

In your mind, what is the most important thing (or lack of) coming out of the international negotiations in Durban?

"FLOW" Showing at Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday

Given the interest in social justice and water we have at Grace, I thought everyone should be aware of this opportunity to see this film.  I haven't see it myself, but based on the description I want to see it.

Peace,
Jon

Nov. 18: Film in Medford about water and the environment

The Social Justice Committees of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and the First Parish Church of Malden will hold a screening of the award-winning documentary, "FLOW", produced by Irena Salina.

Come learn about what experts and scientists are calling the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century: the world water crisis.

Beyond identifying the problem, "FLOW" also gives viewers a look at practical solutions to the water crisis.

The film will be followed by a discussion led by Nick Cohen, a local expert in fresh water conservation, and an Environmental Justice Coordinator. Nick is also
with Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-Cap) and the Mystic River Watershed Collaborative.

The event takes place Friday, November 18, at 7 p.m. in Benker Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 147 High St., Medford. There will be refreshments served. All are welcome.

For further information contact: Michael Glen, 781-396-6424 or Karen Lynch,
781-420-6186.

For a Greener Earth - Green Faith Series - Joseph Asaya

Joseph Asaya showing his home made laminate solar panels.

On Wednesday, March 26, 2011 Josephy Asaya shared his story with Grace Church about how he is making a difference in Nigeria with solar energy. His story is shared below. Enjoy!










Think about what you can do to make a difference.

Grace Church Celebrated Earth Hour

On Saturday, March 26th, Grace Church joined with people from 131 countries to make a statement of support for addressing climate change by turning off our lights for Earth Hour 2011.

Below are pictures from the church with the lights on and off.

Grace Church - Lights ON

Grace Church - Lights OFF

And another view from Earth Hour 2011

Grace Church - Lights ON1

Grace Church - Lights OFF

Maybe next year we should have a candle lit party at the church...

Peace!

Earth Hour this Saturday!

Do you turn off the lights when you leave a room?

Why do you turn them off?

Do you know what Earth Day is?
How about Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a global initiative where individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.

When? Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 to 9:30 PM (local time)

What? Turn off non-essential lights

Why? To show your support for environmentally sustainable action.

What else? Register at http://www.earthhour.org/ to be counted.

Grace Church is participating by turning off our exterior lights for Earth Hour this year.

The Greening Grace team encourages all members of the Grace Church Community to turn off their lights and to sign up with the Earth Hour website to show your support for this action.

Who else? The City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts are participating. The City of Boston list includes the following local participants and more:

• MA State Buildings
• Boston Hostelling
• IBEW 103
• The Lenox Hotel
• Westin Copley Place
• Museum of Science
• Boston Children’s Museum

Other places you may have heard of that are participating in Earth Hour 2011 include:

• The Empire State Building, New York
• Times Square, New York
• Christ the Redeemer statue, Brazil
• National Monument, Indonesia
• London Eye
• Eiffel Tower, Paris

Please join us in turning off your lights for Earth Hour and let us know by leaving a comment below!

Alicia

for the Greening Grace Team

Greener Earth: Leading Green Projects Locally and Internationally

Join us as we welcome Joseph Asaya from the Greener Earth campaign dedicated to the full rejuvenation of the earth’s green nature by giving opportunities to people in the third world countries to have access to Solar Energy. Our discussion will include the benefits associated with living green such as cost benefits, reduction of carbon footprints and health benefits as well as the dangers of continuing in the status quo such as the rise of water level, global warming, death to polar bears and eventually the quick end to earth.

This is part of our “Wednesdays at Grace” Lenten Green Faith Series taking place every Wednesday evening from 6:45-8pm from March 16 to April 13 at Grace Episcopal Church in Medford, MA. Dinner will be served at 6:00pm.

All are welcome!

Tread Lightly for Lent - Lenten Green Calendar of Activities

On Sunday, copies of the "Tread Lightly for Lent" calendar of environmentally conscience activities for each day in Lent were made available in the Parish Hall.  This wonderful calendar was put together by the Presbyterian Church (USA) Environmental Ministries and is the best "green" Lenten calendar we found so the Greening Grace Team decided we should reflect on it at Grace Church.

You can pick up a copy in the Parish Hall or download it from the web:

http://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/environment/pdf/lentcalendarnew.pdf

The activities include a good mix of reflection, action and ideas. 

My favorite action is to

Collect your personal trash and recyclables throughout the day. At the end of the day, survey your waste and think of ways to reduce. On average, Americans create 4.6 pounds of waste a day.
Saturday, March 12th from Tread Lightly for Lent

Please take a look and consider these actions during Lent.  The Episcopal Church has similar resources for many of the programs linked to within the Presbyterian Church.  Please ask us if you need help finding local contact information or have a question about .

Genesis 2:15 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁵ The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Exciting Green Faith Lenten Education Series

Come join us at Grace Episcopal Church on Wednesday evenings in Lent for the Green Faith Environmental Education Series.  The lectures will start at 6:45pm and go until about 8pm. Bishop Bud Cederholm (The "Green" Bishop) will get us started on March 16th.

Click Here for more details including the line up of speakers and events.

Join the Global Local 10-10-10 Events - Getting Involved

350.org, which was started by a fellow New England Episcopalian, Bill McKibben, is organizing a Global Work Party on this Sunday, October 10th aka 10/10/10 as a call to action to address climate change.  With over 6,300 events across 187 countries already planned, this will be a massive effort to raise awareness world wide about the need for action to address climate change.

Grace Church has contributed left over supplies from our recent HEET Weatherization Barnraising to the Barnraising ATO at Tufts event being organized by Tufts students who volunteered at our own barnraising a few weeks ago.  This is a great opportunity to lend a hand, learn something new and have some fun.  Join Alicia Hunt and others.  For more details visit the Barnraising ATO at Tufts invitation.

If a little caulking and changing light bulbs is not your preferred way to spend a Sunday afternoon, there are lots of events planned one town over in Winchester ranging from guided walking tours to bike rides to a movie night on the Commons.  For a full list of local 10/10/10 events check out the 350.org Map of Action - 10/10/10 events in and around Medford.


View Actions at 350.org
The Lord has called us to be stewards of this Earth our fragile home.  Get involved!