Presbyterians for Earth Care - Winter Solstice Worship Service 🌠and MORE 🌎in December!

NEW WEBINAR A Winter Solstice Worship Service The contemplative worship service will observe the theme of darkness at Winter Solstice and prophetic proclamation of the birth of light from Advent. Darkness can be a safe place of retreat, like when bears hibernate in winter or perennial bulbs rest in the ground before shooting forth again come spring. Darkness can also be catastrophic, like when there is natural disaster or terrorism and war. Environmental news seems more threatening than ever – the middle Atlantic Current (AMOC) is weakening and the carbon sink of trees and land failed to absorb much carbon in 2023. At the same time, politicians and policy makers who deny Climate Change and stress government de-regulation over environmental protection will be making decisions that impact not just the USA but the entire globe. When the darkness seems most threatening, how does Christ give us courage to continue? If you are experiencing disquiet, depleted energy, and fears for the future, join with others on Saturday evening Dec. 21st for this special Zoom gathering. We are not alone.  Webinar Date: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 Time: 7:30 pm EST (6:30 CST, 5:30 MST, 4:30 PST) Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Janet Adair Hansen Rev. Dr. Janet Adair Hansen has been passionate about God’s Creation her whole life; her doctoral dissertation for San Francisco Theological Seminary was on “Wilderness Spirituality.” She was a General Assembly Commissioner in 1990 when the PCUSA adopted our major environmental justice policy statement and an original Restoring Creation Enabler trained at Ghost Ranch in 1996. From 1997-2003 she served on the Steering Committee for the predecessor to PEC – Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. She was Conference Coordinator for the national Eco-Justice Conference on “Living Waters” at St. Simon’s Island Feb. 2000. In Susquehanna Valley Presbytery in New York she helped the late Rev. Dr. William Gibson write the 2001 PCUSA statement on biodiversity loss and threatened mass extinction. She served the Synod of the Northeast on the Public Policy Advocacy Network for 13 years, the last 7 as Moderator. Since “retiring” in 2018, Janet has volunteered and worked at Yellowstone National Park, 2 California Redwoods State Parks, a Gulf Coast Texas State Park, and 6 New York State Parks. She served Presbyterian Churches for 36 years as a local pastor, the last 18 at Christ Community Church in Cortland NY. From 2019-2021 she served as Interim Pastor for a UCC church next to Acadia National Park in Maine, and has just begun as Interim Pastor for a Federated Church in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the Link It's time to nominate YOUR Eco-Justice Champion for 2024! Do you know a young adult, 30 years old or younger, who connects their faith with creation and shows great potential to be a future leader for environmental justice? Or perhaps you know a more mature person who has spent their life acting and advocating for the beauty, integrity and health of God’s creation. Maybe your congregation or faith organization operates in a sustainable manner and promotes being a good steward of God’s earth within and beyond its membership.  If one of these prompts brought an individual or a congregation/organization to your mind, now is the time to nominate them for a Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) Annual Earth Care Award. PEC presents three awards each year, two for an individual and the other to an organization.  These awards are presented to individuals and groups whose work for the environment is particularly praise-worthy and creative.  Visit the Awards page on the PEC website for more information, then nominate your eco-justice hero by December 22. You may also download, complete and return a printed Nomination Form for PEC Earth Care Awards. If you are a PEC member/donor, you are welcome to nominate an awardee. If you are not a member/donor and would like to make a nomination, you can join or renew now. Volunteers are needed to make the decision about which qualified individual/congregations or organizations will receive the 2024 Awards. If you would like to serve on the PEC Awards Committee and attend up to two virtual meetings in December, contact PEC Coordinator, Mindy Hidenfelter pec@presbyearthcare.org.  CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE Online Bible Study Lesson 4: Water Justice You are invited to join Presbyterians for Earth Care on Sunday, December 22nd for an online study of: Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation by Patricia K. Tull Suggestions for Leaders by Rebecca Barnes Please join PEC for this unique monthly opportunity for community and meaningful study.   Time: 7:00 pm Eastern/ 6:00 pm Central/ 5:00 pm Mountain/ 4:00 pm Pacific. The study will run for 75 minutes each session. Future Dates: Dec. 22nd, Jan. 26th, Feb. 23rd, Mar. 23rd, Apr. 28th, May 26th Study Leaders: Rev. M. Courtenay Willcox and Rev. Lucy Youngblood Each lesson is stand alone - join us online for any or all of our study sessions! We hope to see you there! CLICK HERE for INFO & ZOOM LINK Called to Make a Difference for Creation Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) educates about the causes and consequences of climate change, yet recent storms in Asheville, Florida, and other states are worse than what many could have imagined. In the last year, our monthly webinar series provided information about climate change, environmental resilience, green energy and its funding, fossil fuel divestment, solar power EV charging stations, and the advocacy of faithful voting. While PEC absorbs the cost for most of our educational and advocacy events, none of this is free. PEC gives webinar speakers an honorarium. We work to keep the conference registration fee affordable but cover the travel, room and board costs for speakers. We also pay our PEC Coordinator and a part-time bookkeeper.  With Donald Trump’s election, our work is more important than ever. We will advocate to counter the new administration’s poor environmental policies. Our work will continue with greater intention, regardless of government response. As a non-profit, PEC relies on sponsors that include congregations, organizations, and individual donations from people like you to continue and improve our work to care for God’s earth. Please consider donating today to help PEC lead our denomination to a sustainable, faithful, and joyful way of living on this planet.  CLICK HERE to Make a Donation SAVE THE DATES! PEC Annual Membership Meeting will be held online on Jan. 12, 2025 at 4:00 pm EST (3:00 CST, 2:00 MST, 1:00 PST).  During the meeting, we will be electing new Steering Committee Members, as well as breaking into discussion groups.  Stay tuned for more details and the link! PEC’s Earth Care Conference will be held at Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center on Oct. 8-11, 2025!  More information will be available soon!  We hope to see you there! How can we help you care for God’s creation?  Drop us an email and let us know at presbyearthcare@gmail.com Help us grow! Please let us know if there is anyone we should add to our list!  Just reply to this email.  Thank you! Please help us to continue to assist individuals and churches in creation care work by donating to PEC through our website by CLICKING HERE.  Thank you!

Copyright (C) 2024 Presbyterians for Earth Care. All rights reserved.

Presbyterians for Earth Care - Today (September 1st) is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I write to you on September 1st, a day that is celebrated by many Christians as the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”   Our world is in deep trouble.  As UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres said on July 27, 2023, “Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.  The air is unbreathable ,the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.” The first step for Christian action needs to be guided by prayer.  Pope Francis offers this prayer for our earth:  “All-powerful God, you are present inthe whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.  Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.  Bring healing toour lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day.   Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.” Copied from Laudato Si:  On Care of Our Common Home (recommendedby 222nd GA (2016) for study and use throughout the PCUSA)  “We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN: Urgent changes needed to cut risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and poverty, says IPCC” was the October 8,2018 headline (so we now have only 7 years).   These concerns forGod’s world inspired the 225th General Assembly (2022) to “Call upon the whole Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to reduce our carbon imprint by 25 percent in the next four years. (now three years). We can and must achieve this goal.  “With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), houses of worship now have easier access to clean energy funds and tax credits through a program called “direct pay.” Before the IRA, only homeowners and commercial entities with some tax liability could claim tax credits when installing solar panels, wind turbines,or other eligible technologies on an eligible property. Now, the “direct pay” option means non-taxable entities (churches) can also benefitfrom these credits” (see Interfaith Power & Light for details).  Individual church members can also benefit from IRA funds that will help them get energy savings in their homes and buying electric vehicles and help God’s world.   Our PEC conference will have workshops on IRA, PILP, EVs and more. The Presbyterian Investment & Loan’s Restoring Creation Loan makes it easier for congregations to ensure our church buildings reflect who we are as a community of faith. Low interest loans are available to qualifying congregations engaged in projects that render our church buildings more energy efficient. By helping churches reduce their carbon footprint, collectively we can become better stewards of God’s Creation.” The national Presbyterians for Earth Care conference, September 20-23, 2023 is offering 20+ workshops that people can participate in, in person in four locations (VA, MN, AK and CA) or online.  The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett (president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency) will preach for two worship services, the Rev. Dr.Patricia Tull (author of the 2024-2025 Presbyterian Women Bible study, tell your PW friends) will lead the Bible studies, top scientists like long-time NOAA oceanographer Mark Eakin, seminary professors, pastors, activists, and concerned Christians will gather to learn, share and organize.  This is a great time to learn and organize for our churches to counter climate. This Labor Day weekend, please encourage family, friends and church members to register for it now! We need to follow biblical and church teachings for environmental justice and hear the scientists’ call for urgent action now.  With God’s help, we can make a real difference. Blessings on you, your loved ones and your care of God’s creation. Grace and Peace, Bruce Gillette PEC Moderator

Copyright (C) 2023 Presbyterians for Earth Care. All rights reserved.

Presbyterians for Earth Care Christmas Day Advent Devotion

Christmas Day - December 25^th

Matthew 2:11

Brenda Barnes

Christmas Day – a beautiful day of celebration with others around us, good food, and, of course, the gifts. When I was a child, we received one large (main) gift, a handmade gift (usually a crocheted sweater or poncho) and our stockings, which were filled with little gifts, fruit, and candy. We thought we were rich. Now the pyramids of gifts that my extended family provides for one another demonstrates what I view and experience as excess. I read somewhere that instead of giving numerous gifts to one another, we should be more thoughtful, using the example of the Magi. A gold wrapped gift would be something the recipient truly wants. The frankincense gift should remind the recipient to meet with Jesus (a devotion book or music CD or journal book); this gift could be wrapped in white. The myrrh gift can be anything that prepares the body (lotions, soaps, shampoo, shaving cream) and reminds us that Christ’s coming in the flesh has significance beyond the manger. This gift is wrapped in dark paper to remind us that Christ was born to die and rise again not just for humanity, but for all of Creation, as it groans in anticipation of salvation.

I have rebelled against the excess. Instead, I give the three gifts, wrapped as noted and then I use the rest of my holiday budget to give gifts to Creation on Christmas Day. I feed the birds. I feed the deer and buy them a new saltlick. I feed the crayfish in the stream behind the house. These are my gifts to the Lord of all Creation.

PRAYER: Jesus Christ, Lord of All, you came that we might have life and have it in abundance, but we take the abundance for granted. Give us an understanding of the need to take care of Creation in dismal winter weather and allow us to see You in all that You have created.  AMEN

Action Item:  Smear pinecones with peanut butter or suet and roll them in bird seed. Hang these “bird feeders” on Christmas Day for a special treat. (The peanut butter/suet gives extra nutrition to the birds during the winter weather.)

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Mindy Hidenfelter

Coordinator

Presbyterians for Earth Care

www.presbyearthcare.org

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Presbyterians for Earth Care Christmas Eve Advent Devotion

Christmas Eve – December 24^th

Luke 2:8-15

Susan Gilbert Zencka

The angel stood before them.  The word ‘angel’ comes from both Latin and Greek words that meant ‘messenger.’  Angels bring messages from God.  How do we receive messages from God?  Where does revelation happen?  We believe that the Bible is the revealed Word of God, that God inspired the writers and assemblers of the Bible—even if there are contradictions among its texts, and even when we find the Bible challenging. 

As Presbyterians, we believe that we can sometimes receive revelation in community—ours is a conversational polity. 

Many places in the Bible tell us that creation reveals God to us, too.  We get messages from God through the world that God has made.  Heaven and nature sing—every day—not just when Jesus is born.  Sometimes nature is singing songs of joy—as bees suckle from wildflowers, as creeks gurgle in the woods, as the snow crunches under our feet.  Other times, nature is lamenting—as storm surges crash onto shore, as winds break or uproot trees, as species face extinction—leaving creation forever. 

We can all experience God’s loving energy mediated through the particular community of creation where we live.  Just as the shepherds experienced God’s messengers coming to them as they watched their flocks by night, and the magi experience God’s guidance as they watched the stars, we may experience God’s nurture in nature—and we can participate in that nurture.

Let us pray: God, help us to hear your voice throughout creation, and give us hearts willing to welcome the smallest creatures around us—just as the shepherds welcome the helpless infant Jesus so long ago.

Action item: By planting native plants in your yard, or encouraging native plants at your church, in neighborhood schoolyards, and local parks, you can provide food and habitat for a variety of insects, birds, and small mammals whose needs are met by native plants.

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Mindy Hidenfelter

Coordinator

Presbyterians for Earth Care

www.presbyearthcare.org

Find us on Facebook
Twitter: @presbyearthcare

Instagram: @presbyearthcare

Presbyterians for Earth Care Dec. 22st Advent Devotion

December 23^rd

Luke 2:13-14

Phyllis Windle

How astounding for a birth to be announced by an angel and heavenly array, breaking into song. Later, the Generous One speaks of Jesus directly and lavishly, including at his baptism. In seven verses, the words are nearly the same – words fit to announce a new child, too. To paraphrase:

“You are my chosen child, my beloved, in whom my soul delights and is well-pleased.”

Wouldn’t it be magnificent if every child, everywhere, was welcomed by angels singing – in an unpolluted sky? Wouldn’t we be stunned if the Generous One interrupted church baptisms to bless us with love and delight – and clean, safe, drinking water, where none existed before?

In high school Latin, Virginia Grande taught me that Luke 2:14 reads, “Peace on Earth to men of good will, not “Peace on Earth, good will to men.” She was right. Bibles were corrected. For example, Gafney’s 2021 lectionary offers: “on earth peace among peoples whom God favors.”

Without inner peace, there is neither peace on Earth, nor for the Earth. Too often we try to soothe unrest inside with greed and arrogance; selfishness and short-sightedness; apathy and addiction. Destructive corporations show the same traits, with outsized impacts.

If only we were wise enough to remember being beloved, delightful, and having a place in the Generous One’s soul. Surely, we would damage ourselves, and the Earth, less. Surely, we would find ourselves more often among the favored people, for whom heaven and nature sing.

Prayer: Grant that we know, always, that we are beloved, delightful, and pleasing to the Generous One. May we carry that message to the Earth, along with our love, generosity, and wisdom.

Action item: Embrace the message, “You are my chosen child….,” for yourself, then tell several people they are beloved and delightful to you.

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Mindy Hidenfelter

Coordinator

Presbyterians for Earth Care

www.presbyearthcare.org

Find us on Facebook
Twitter: @presbyearthcare

Instagram: @presbyearthcare

Presbyterians for Earth Care Dec. 22st Advent Devotion

December 22^nd

Titus 3:4-7

Scharmel Roussel

 STOP SHOPPING AND START SHARING

 

Holiday sales started the 2nd week of October. Retailers wanted to give consumers plenty of time to buy more. The news was full of anxiety over inflation, but I observed no slowdown in frenzied shopping.

Our culture is obsessed with consumerism. As Patricia Tull reminds us in “Inhabiting Eden,” between the 1950s and the 1990s, Americans more than doubled the number of cars we owned and used 21 times more plastic. The trend continues.

 

Jesus owned no home and few possessions. His messages are clear on materialism: a life focused on possessions is a poor life. He walked gently on the earth, offering God’s love.

 

I am committed to offering gifts consistent with my values. One year I gave local organic soap wrapped in paper. I began to explain that I was offering soap without plastic because… but after I got out the words “I am offering soap…,” everyone’s laughter drowned my words that connect the dots to protecting fragile ecosystems that sustain life. This year I will be more intentional explaining why everyone is getting local honey from bees I have personally met.

 

As heirs with hope for eternal life (Titus 3:7), let’s share gifts that say “I love you as God loved us” and also “the best things in life are not things.” Because we all have more than enough, let’s open our homes, our hearts, and our tables, ready to accept God’s gift of renewal and ready to protect God’s creation. Let’s stop shopping and start sharing the Good News of God’s kindness, love, and mercy (Titus 3:4-5).

 

Prayer: Creator God, I pray for those whose forests, mountains, beaches and habitats have been destroyed by our material desires. Help me make choices based on creation care values.

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Mindy Hidenfelter

Coordinator

Presbyterians for Earth Care

www.presbyearthcare.org

Find us on Facebook
Twitter: @presbyearthcare

Instagram: @presbyearthcare