And the Winners Are...

GWIPL thanks all who entered our first-ever sermon contest and congratulates the winners. We are pleased to announce the following winners of our Earth Day Sermon Contest:

First Place:
"Noah's Promise" by Rev. Dr. Janet Parker, Pastor for Parish Life at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington, VA.

Runners-up (in alphabetical order):
- "A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Earth Sunday" by Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Faeth, Rector of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill in Alexandria, VA.
- "Alive in This World" by Pastor Joseph M. Smith, Interim Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg in Gaithersburg, MD.
- "Climate Change: A Rabbi Speaks Out" by Rabbi Warren G. Stone, Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD.

All wonderful and inspiring entries can be found on our sermons page and are great resources to use for future sermons. Stayed tuned for more information on where the winners will donate their energy and money saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you would like to give the gift of energy efficiency to low-income families in your community, please contact Allison. Thanks to our judges: Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Rev. Barbara Green, and Jana Meyer.

Make Your Voice Heard

As people of faith, we have a responsibility and a history not only to make changes in our own lives but advocate for the world we want to see. The prophets, like Isaiah, voiced their dismay for polluted lands, greed, and harm to human welfare. Be a part of the solution by advocating to your state or district representatives.

Virginia: Gov. Kaine has the opportunity to appoint two new people to the State Air Pollution Control Board. This body will decide on the air permit for the proposed coal plant in Wise County, VA, the future of Alexandria’s Mirant Plant, and other decisions that will affect God’s creation. Please write to Gov. Kaine and urge him to appoint qualified individuals who are committed to meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards and future regulations on global warming gas emissions that the U.S. Supreme Court has directed the U.S. EPA to develop. Send an email today.

DC: In a huge step for the District of Columbia and the environment, the DC Clean Cars Bill became law on May 13, 2008. The bill will regulate carbon dioxide emission from cars registered in the District beginning with 2011 model year cars. This is a very important step towards the reduction of the District's impact on global warming. We want to thank everyone who helped get this bill passed; it would not have been possible without your support. A special thanks goes to Ginny Spavek, of the Earth Stewards Task Force of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, who spoke in front of the DC City Council at the hearing on the bill that took place on September 26, 2007. Additionally, we thank Mayor Adrian Fenty for his support and leadership in the passage of this legislation. If you live in DC, send a Thank You email to Mayor Fenty.

Upcoming Events

June 14, Soul Walking
Join with kindred spirits to notice the sacred space all around us: watch the river flow by, flowers in bloom, and herons and hawks hunting. In nature we quiet down and are more able to listen for the holy. Come feed your soul and enjoy community on this 3 mile hike through an off-beaten trail near Great Falls, VA.
When: Saturday, June 14, 9am – 12pm
Where: Meet at the Difficult Run Parking Lot
RSVP to Tiffany at Faith at Work
Sponsors: Sierra Club, Faith at Work and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light

June 20, A Crude Awakening
Are high gas prices here to stay? What can we do to make a difference at this time of historic challenge? Come see the award-winning documentary "A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash," which argues that we have been sleepwalking toward a future in which we will soon face permanently declining oil production. The movie will be followed by a question-and-answer session with guest speaker Steve Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change International. Kretzmann will suggest steps you can take to help overcome the political barriers to a clean energy economy.
When: Friday, June 20 at 7:30pm
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring: 10309 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903
Sponsored by: UUCSS Global Warming Study/Action Group and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light
Admission is free. Donations to Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light will be accepted to help defray the costs of purchasing the screening rights to the film.

For more events: Go to the GWIPL Events Calendar

Highlights of Last Month

Mile Long Petition and Delivery
Thanks to all who signed on (over 42,000 from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia) to the Mile Long Petition to Dominion Power asking for a clean energy future and not to build the proposed coal plant in Wise, Virginia, which would harm creation and our neighbors. Also, thanks to those who made it to the delivery of the petition on May 8. And a special thanks to Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield, Executive Director of Faith In Place (home of the Illinois IPL), for leading a prayer outside the Dominion shareholders meeting in Chicago.

Rabbi Ben Romer, of Richmond's Congregation Or Ami, spoke at a rally on May 8 for the delivery of the "mile long" petition.

Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield (right) at May 9 meeting outside Dominion shareholders meeting in Chicago.

Interested in making sure this coal plant is not built? Send a letter to Gov Kaine and urge him to appoint strong people to the citizen’s air pollution control board.

Youth Energy Efficiency Volunteer Day
Thank you to Takoma Park Presbyterian Church and Jubilee Housing for making our first youth energy efficiency volunteer day a success! The youth of Take Park Presbyterian Church gave the gift of energy efficiency to 20 families of this low-income housing residence. The change from 100 incandescents to 100 CFLs will result in a total annual savings of approximately: 10,000 KWH, 13,700 lbs of carbon dioxide, and $1070. The youth and residents also discussed other steps to save money, energy, and our planet like line drying clothes. Want to set up a similar project? Contact Allison.

Congregation in the Spotlight

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, in Gaithersburg, MD, is a new GWIPL partner congregation. One of their first steps was to have GWIPL lead an energy audit planning session. They immediately implemented one recommendation from the audit - installing LED bulbs into their seven exit signs (pictured at right). This change will result in a monthly savings of about $26.40 or 4% of their monthly electric bill. What's even more remarkable is the energy reduction by making this simple change: a 93% reduction for the same (or better) lighting of the signs.

Their members followed the building’s example and purchased CFLs and other energy efficiency saving devices for their homes through a shopIPL group fundraiser sale. A display board, pictured at left, was created to help advertise.

Want GWIPL’s help in examining energy use in your congregation? Learn more at: www.gwipl.org/energy_assessments.asp
Want to organize a CFL fundraiser? Learn more at www.gwipl.org/shopipl.asp

Support GWIPL today
You can make a secure online donation at http://www.gwipl.org/support_us.asp. Every dollar helps us to protect creation.