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GWIPL Newsletter: April 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
News
Upcoming Events
NEWS
Global Warming on the Pulpit
Celebrate Earth Day 2007 by preaching a sermon or encouraging your clergy to preach on global warming during Earth Day weekend April 20, 21 and 22. Your congregation would join congregations of multiple faiths in the greater Baltimore-Washington area participating in this effort.
Because talking about the problem isn't enough, please pair the sermon with an activity in your congregation that will lead to a reduction of global warming gasses. Among the important activities which your congregation can do are: installing CFLs in your sanctuary, selling/ distributing CFLs to your congregation, installing LED exit signs, and participating in a tree planting.
Church of the Ascension in Silver Spring for example is showing The Great Warming, going on a tour of the Montgomery County Recycling Plant and listening to a sermon on global warming by its pastor. Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC is having a tour of a nearby solar home and tabling with energy savings tips during coffee hour. Please send Allison Fisher an email, Allison@gwipl.org, to let GWIPL know what your congregation is doing.
You can find suggestions for preparing sermons on global warming for Earth Day weekend and any time at http://www.gwipl.org/earthday2007.asp. This resource page includes information about the effects of global warming on our planet and in our own backyard, as well as denominational statements, texts, cooling actions (steps you can take to reduce green house gas emissions), complete sermons, and prayers.
CALL TO PREACH AND TAKE ACTION– Global Warming on the Pulpit, Earth Day Weekend 2007:
Please fill out our downloadable form to describe the sermon that will be preached as well as the actions taken by your congregation. We will report on your efforts in future newsletters and with the media. Download the form at http://www.gwipl.org/documents/GWIPLEarthDay2007-form_000.doc (MS Word document)
GWIPL New Program Offering
“Being Cool: Youth and Global Warming” is an interactive program designed for middle school through high school-aged youth where they will learn about global warming and how protecting the environment is an expression of their faith. At the conclusion of the program, your youth will be asked to promise to take personal action to cool the planet and stop global warming and to act collectively within your congregation to model environmentally sustainable practices.
This free program consists of two one-hour sessions led Bynum Hoekstra, GWIPL Youth Education Fellow. The curriculum will implore your youth to look closely at the world around them and to see the sanctity of Creation.
What: A curriculum on global warming for youth groups facilitated by GWIPL staffer Bynum Hoekstra.
Length of Time: Two one-hour sessions.
Ages: Middle school through high school.
Goals: Education about global warming, connection between faith and environment, and empowerment to take action, both personally and with others.
Why: As the faith community, we have to be leaders in protecting God’s creation.
When: Contact Bynum to schedule.
For more information or to schedule this program for your youth group, please contact Bynum Hoekstra at (202) 855-8684 or at education@gwipl.org. There is no charge for this program.
Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court Ruled on Monday, April 2, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate CO2 and other green house gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. To find out more details and read commentary about what this means, please visit:
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 14: Step It Up: A National Day of Climate Action
Join your neighbors and people in all 50 States on April 14th to call upon the U.S. Congress to “step it up” and pass climate legislation. Every Step it Up event across the U.S. is saying the same thing: "Step It Up Congress! Cut Carbon 80% or more by 2050."
Listed below are two events happening right here in the District. View the complete listing of events at http://events.stepitup2007.org/. We hope you can join us. Also download a Step It Up poster for people of faith to hang in your congregation: http://www.gwipl.org/documents/step_it_up_DC_poster.pdf
Shabbat Picnic - before "Step It Up"
On Shabbat Shmini, we'll read the Torah's rules of kashrut -- a holy blueprint for human interaction with the natural world. Also on April 14, tens of thousands of Americans will gather at more than a thousand events in 50 states across the country to call for action on climate change. You're invited to join a DC Jewish community contingent for a Shabbat picnic lunch in Mount Vernon Square. We'll eat, shmooze (and sing, maybe). Then around quarter of one, we'll walk together to DC's Step It Up action in front of the Capitol.
When: Saturday, April 14, 11:00am to 12:45pm
Where: Mount Vernon Square, 801 K Street NW, Washington, DC
Washington, D.C. Steps It Up!
Students, citizens and community leaders will be gathering on the West Lawn of the Capitol to unveil a photo petition and create a human postcard. Participants will rally in front of a photo petition containing thousands of photos of students across the U.S. urging their elected officials to Step It Up! and cut global warming pollution 80% by 2050. Student leaders, community members and politicians will speak, urging the same sort of action. From 2-3pm, participants will gather in a "human postcard" spelling out "80% X 2050" for an aerial picture.
When: Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 3pm
Where: West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, DC
For more info, send an email to dcstepitup@gmail.com
April 15-22: GreenDC Week
The DC Department of the Environment is once again sponsoring GreenDC Week from April 15–22, 2007 - a citywide, collaborative effort to educate the people who live, work and learn in the District of Columbia about energy and environmental sustainability. GreenDC Week aims to educate residents about simple yet effective actions that reduce energy consumption and climate change emissions; improve the quality of our air, water and land; and utilize green building principles. To see daily tips and find out about events visit: www.greendcweek.net
April 22: Hazon DC Jewish Environmental Bike Ride 2007
The First Hazon DC Jewish Environmental Bike Ride on Earth Day, April 22, will raise money for cutting-edge Jewish environmental projects in the greater Washington, DC area, the U.S. and Israel.
Cycle with Hazon for 50 miles from Am Kolel Sanctuary to Sixth and I Historic Synagogue to celebrate Earth Day and Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Join the People of the Bike! Register or sponsor a rider today at www.hazon.org/dcride
For more information, contact Lindsey Paige Savoie, DC Ride Co-chair: lindsey@hazon.org or 202-489-5278.
April 26: Energy Wisdom for Your Home: Learn how to SAVE MONEY, SAVE ENERGY and COOL the PLANET
This educational workshop facilitated by Eric Coffman, Senior Energy Planer, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will help YOU find the energy-savings opportunities you need to avoid the cooling season budget crunch. It will highlight options for improving the energy efficiency of your current or future home by choosing measures that provide a high rate of return for your investment and maintain a comfortable living space.
Topics discuss include: Insulating windows and doors, heating systems, air-conditioning systems, lighting and programmable thermostats.
FREE compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) give away! The Montgomery County DEP will provide each participant with a CFL, a low-cost measure that can save you up to $50 over the life of the lamp, and will explain how this new technology can provide efficiency and performance.
When: Thursday, April 26, 2007 from 7 to 9pm
Where: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 8011 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, MD. Corner of Glenbrook - 8 blocks from metro. Public Parking at Cordell - one block away.
Questions: Please contact 301 652-5160, ext. 8 or creationcare@heartmindsoul.com
Sponsors: Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light
Go to the GWIPL Event Calendar
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