Vegetarian Mondays in Lent.

You may already be vegetarian. If so we applaud you. If you eat meat, we hope that you to choose meat raised by farmers using Earth-friendly practices that treat animals humanely and produce healthy food.

At the same time, we invite you to join in observing a discipline for six weeks as a 2013 Lenten Discipline. Congregations can enlist individuals and families to observe one day a week with a vegetarian meal, designed to reduce the carbon emissions that come from the raising of animals for food and also to contribute the money you save to ELCA World Hunger Campaign.

Click here for the full resources for observing Vegetable Mondays for six weeks: Introduction, prayers, recipes, facts about hunger. We invite others to contribute meatless recipes that we will post on the site to David Rhoads at drhoads@lstc.edu.

"Renewing the Face of the Earth: Lenten Reflections on Air”

For vibrant Lenten faith-sharing groups using material with an ecological emphasis, check out this program developed by Terri MacKensie, SHCJ for catholic audiences (adapt as needed). “Renewing the A five-session resource, “Renewing the Face of the Earth” can enhance group prayer and sharing, build community, deepen awareness of God's presence and action within creation, increase participants' understanding of air pollution and global warming, and motivate participants to action. This free resource is available for downloading: http://www.shcj.org/amer/documents/2012LentReflectionBookAir_001.pdf.

For a companion Web site with lots of Earth images, go to www.seescapes.com

Earth Day Resources

Earth Day, now a world-wide observance involving one billion people, is always on April 22. See Earth Day Network for the Campaign for Communities "Global Day of Conversation" and EDN's "A Billion Acts of Green".EDN also has a Green Schools campaign and an Educators Network.

“A Life of Abundance: Energy and Ethics”

is this year’s Earth Sunday education and worship resource from the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program. Conversations about energy often revolve around the concept of scarcity. But the truth is that God has given us energy sources in abundance. We may have a finite supply of some sources of energy like coal and gas, but sun and wind are examples gifts from our Creator with the potential to generate power in perpetuity. Creation is brimming with energy, and a Christian perspective on energy involves acknowledging the abundance of God’s Creation and the call to care for Creation including our “neighbors.”

Interfaith Power & Light offers an Earth Day program called "Sow a Cool Harvest" — faith garden ideas for a cooler planet. This program is filled with inspirational stories from faith gardens across the country. It includes ideas for installing raised beds, building a worm composting bin (which kids love), tips on choosing seeds, and ideas for what to do with all the produce. If you are unable to plant a garden, you will still find useful information in the organization's kit — ideas such as, hosting a farmers' market, being the hub of community supported agriculture, or gleaning healthy food for redistribution. When you order, you will also receive, free of charge, Enjoy a Cool Harvest "dinner and a movie" organizer's kit. This program is designed to help you gently raise awareness within your community about climate-friendly food choices. It includes ideas for hosting your own "cool potluck". Those are free programs. And when you order the kits, we're also able to pass along a really good deal on the companion DVDs: DIRT! and Nourish.

 

After Earth Day

A Global Day of Prayer for Creation Care, April 26, 2012 is coordinated by the Evangelical Environmental Network.

Arbor Day

Plant Trees. This year, celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees on your church property and by encouraging members to plant trees. Visit the Arbor Day website for ideas and information, consult with the city arborist or other local expert, and learn more about the beauty of trees and the value of trees and forests for the support of life on our planet. Get 10 free trees at www.arborday.org. There is a brief tree-planting ceremony on our companion site,  www.letallcreationpraise.org.

 

Mother's Day

Celebrate Mother Earth Day. One congregation held a panel of garden specialists promoting healthy gardening practices. Another planted trees. Write letters in support of earth-Friendly public policies. Be creative. Find a way to celebrate and honor Mother Earth on Mother's day!

 

Father's Day Project

Collect Neckties for Quilts: Collect old ties and contribute them to Prairie Moon Quilts (www.prairiemoonquilts.com), which makes quilts from the ties and contributes the quilts and the proceeds to charities. Send the collected ties to Prairie Moon Quilts: Necktie Project, 31763 Intrepid Road, Macon, MO 63552.

 

Transportation Month (May or June)

As part of our monthly emphasis, LRC offers resources to observe transportation month. Check out all the resources—information, study guide, bulletin announcements, suggestions for congregation and home, and a letter template to send to elected representatives. See how Resurrection Lutheran Church in Racine, WI observed a month-long emphasis on transportation as a means to live simply and to reduce carbon use—with bicycles, smart cars, and more.