Each year congregations mark Earth Day with sermons and celebrations and this year is no different. We want to know what your congregation is planning. And if you need some ideas, don't worry, we have some of that too:
Preach on it: or ask your clergy to. Thanks to last year's sermon contest, we have over 30 sermons from which to draw some inspiration.
Go Trash Free: Use china mugs and other reusables after services for food. I am sure some folks will want to volunteer to wash them, or ask everyone to bring their own mugs and they can wash them at home. We produce 245 million tons of waste each year and most waste sites are in low income and minority communities. Going trash free is a great way to be a good steward of creation.
Covenant/ Resolution: It is a great time to get folks to commit to do something different. Feel free to steal All Souls' Green Resolution or Immanuel Church on the Hill's Green Living Challenge. Don't forget to have some sort of visual to show everyone taking the pledge. Here are some examples:

Don't forget to send us photos of all of the wonderful ways your congregation is going to mark Earth Day.

And we would love for you to come and spread the word about these two fantastic events:

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH MUSIC & GREEN SOLUTIONS
A Benefit Concert for All Creation featuring Robin & Linda Williams
In addition to hearing the musical talents of Robin and Linda Williams, this Benefit Concert will have two special guests: Dr. Francis S. Collins, well-known scientist and the author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, will play guitar and Alan Jabbour, from the Library of Congress, will play banjo. Francis Collins will also offer comments on caring for the environment.
All proceeds, after costs, will benefit the Greater Washington InterFaith Power and Light .
Tickets are $20. Contact: 301-530-2613 or send an email.
Date: Saturday, April 18, 7:30pm
Location: Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road,
Rockville, MD 20852 www.saintmarkpresby.org

Congregation in the Spotlight
This month our work was featured far and wide:
Maryland Presbyterian Church and All Souls Church are both featured in Eco-Faith, a new book that is a practical, user-friendly guide for pastors, church leaders, congregations, and individuals who want to understand and address environmental issues as they relate to caring for all of God’s creation.
Rockspring UCC, St Marks Presbyterian Church, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church were all mentioned in the Washington Post for their Carbon Lenten Fast.
Rev Dr Roy Howard, St Marks Perbyterian and I were interviewed about his congregation’s Carbon Lenten Fast on the radio show Interfaith Voices.
Let us keep on spreading the good word next month!

Highlights from Last Month
The Great Light Bulb Swap

Thanks to the volunteers from the 9/11 Unity Walk, the residents of Homecrest House, a low-income seniors living complex in Silver Spring MD, are now saving energy, money, and our planet. Over the course of one year, the new CFLs will save some 46,000 KWH and eliminate 63,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Residents welcomed volunteers into their homes to receive the light bulbs and enjoyed conversations beyond just how to save energy. A few bonded over college basketball, others heard stories from retired opera singers, and much more. A special thanks to Temple Sinai for donating to the Let There Be Light Fund to make this project a reality. To volunteer for a bulb swap or donate to the Let There Be Light Fund, email Allison