You're Invited: GWIPL's 3rd Birthday
Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light cordially invites you to a birthday reception celebrating our community's work over these past three years. Come and be energized to continue our efforts toward building a sustainable future together! The evening will feature:
- Awards to commemorate successful faith communities and individuals,
- Tasting of delicious appetizers from local restaurants,
- Silent auction of Shakespeare Theatre tickets, bike tours and more!
When: Thursday, November 29, 2007 6:15 pm
Where: Washington National Cathedral, Pilgrim Observation Gallery
For directions, go to: www.nationalcathedral.org/visit
Please RSVP to Allison at 202-885-8684 or Allison@gwipl.org
To help us grow and continue our success, please consider a donation:
Light Level $36 - Power Level $100 - Energy Level $234 - Planet Level $1,000
Opportunities
Green Light: A Sustainable Hanukah
In the traditional Hanukah story, there was only enough oil available to light the eternal light for one day after the rededication of the Temple. Instead, it burned for eight: it was eight times more efficient.
In this sprit, our actions to increase our energy efficiency live more sustainably, and cool the planet from climate change are especially important at this time of year. To that end, we invite your congregation to participate in Green Light: A Sustainable Hanukah, a series of actions that can easily be incorporated into your existing Hanukah programming. Click here for more details about how to participate .
This Holiday Season: Give the Gift of Light
Through our new ShopIPL program , your congregation has the opportunity to hold an educational fundraiser selling compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs make great alterative gifts and are great give-aways to low income families your community already works with. This program can help your group raise money, and will educate members about ways to save energy and empower them to take action.
Faith Communities in the Spotlight
1. A Simple Sign to make a Difference
Nursery school children at UU of Arlington used recycled file folders to create these decorative and fun signs to remind the congregation to turn off the lights when they leave the room. All generations can help save creation together.
2. Creation Care Sunday
On October 14, Oakbrook Church of Reston, VA held Creation Care Sunday, a celebration about stewardship of God's creation. Oakbrook Church member Karin Slawinski reports: The pastor at Oakbrook, John Moyle, spoke on God's delight over His creation and that creation worships God and reflects His glory. He brought out that we have been given the Earth as a gift to steward and not to abuse.
In addition to the service the celebration also included a picnic featuring local produce and biodegradable utensils, plates and cups. At the end of the day these were taken by members of the congregation and composted. Exhibits on the 3 R's, local pollution and habitats were presented along with suggestions of what we can do to be better stewards. This theme carried over into the games and crafts. Children played a relay game to see who knew the most about recycling followed by a quick lesson on the topic. Other kids made kazoo's from toilet paper cardboard tubes, while some put together birdhouses made from OJ cartons.
3. Saving Energy
After the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville received an energy audit from GWIPL last spring, they sprung into action and tacked many of their "low hanging fruit" changes including:
- Installed new LED exit signs in several locations;
- Purchased a new "energy-star" refrigerator for the UUCR kitchen;
- Moved the Hobart commercial dishwasher to the main kitchen, which runs 3-minute wash cycles and turns off automatically when not in use;
- Moved all professional and administrative staff into the main building, reducing week-day heating and cooling needs.
For the future, they plan to install rain gardens to help with storm water management.
To schedule an energy audit of your congregation or for more information please contact Allison at Allison@gwipl.org or 202-885-8684.
Other Events
1. Step It Up Against Global Warming and Factory Farms on Saturday, Nov. 3
Industrialized animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions -- higher than the share from all our cars, trucks, and planes combined! The environmental costs of feeding, transporting, and slaughtering animals in intensively confined facilities, known as factory farms, are devastating to our planet and its resources. Step It Up is a national day of grassroots action organized by people all around the country, calling for leadership on global warming. On November 3, will you march with us, to fight the proliferation of factory farms and help persuade our politicians to take action on global warming?
When: Saturday, November 3, 12:00 noon.
Where: March begins at Dupont Circle (look for us by the fountain) and proceeds to Washington Circle (at approximately 12:30pm) through the GWU campus and ends at 1:00pm at Lincoln Memorial, where we will join a peaceful rally with hundreds of our friends and fellow citizens at The League of Conservation Voters and NRDC. Please wear blue!
Please contact Bowen (bowencho@gmail.com) or Sarah (dc.cool.cities@gmail.com ) to RSVP or volunteer, or if you have any questions. |
Forty-five local clergy and community leaders gathered October 24 for a breakfast on the role of faith communities in caring for creation. Speakers included Bishop James Jones, Liverpool, UK (Church of England). Read more. |
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2. Power Shift- Rally on Capitol Hill on Monday, Nov. 5
Noontime rally on the Capitol West Lawn with thousands of youth and inspiring speakers. Spend your lunch break demanding bold solutions to global warming!
This weekend marks a historic point in the American fight against global warming! Step It Up rallies will be happening across the country, and over 5,500 student leaders will be converging at Power Shift 2007, the first national youth global warming summit. On Monday, thousands of youth will speak with their representatives in the largest lobby day on global warming ever, and will be called to testify in a congressional hearing with the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming. Please join the youth and help call for bold and comprehensive climate policy!
What: Major rally to demand Congress take bold action on global warming. Inspiring speakers including Congressional Representatives Markey and Van Hollen, Van Jones, Co-Founder of the Ella Baker Center and Green for All, Carol Browner, Board Member of the Alliance for Climate Protection, and Jessy Tolkan, Director of Programs with the Energy Action Coalition.
When: Monday, November 5th from 12 noon - 1:00 pm
Where : The U.S. Capitol West Lawn - intersection of First Street NW & Pennsylvania Ave. The closest Metro stops are: Capitol South (Orange line) or Judiciary Square (Red line).
3. Chapel Service on Creation Care at Wesley Seminary on Tuesday, Nov. 6
"God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good." Genesis 1:31. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all that fill them. Now fast forward to November 6. Wesley Theological Seminary will have its first Creation Care Service. We will celebrate God's Creation, confess the ways in which we have not cared for it, and claim how we as individuals and a community can be good stewards of the environment. After the 11 am Service, there will be a Community Forum on Creation Care from 12:00 to 1:30 in Elderdice Hall. Featured will be John Hill, Director of Economic and Environmental Justice of the General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church, Allison Fisher, GWIPL, and Adam Bray, a recent Wesley graduate who is working for the National Council of Churches Eco-justice Programs. Please come, not only to hear what John, Allison and Adam have to share, but to share your thoughts and ideas on environmental stewardship.
4. Environmental Concerns: A JCRC Educational Forum on Monday, Dec. 3
The JCRC will host this educational forum for the Greater Washington Jewish community at Adat Shalom. Jewish leaders from our national advocacy groups as well as local experts will address the topic and engage in dialogue with participants.
Community-wide event, all are welcome.
When: Monday, December 3, 2007 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation,7727 Persimmon Tree Lane, Bethesda
For more information, contact Barbara Burke at bburke@jcouncil.org or (301) 770-0881.
5. Green Light: A Sustainable Hanukah Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 11
Light a CFL (compact fluorescent light) hanukiah!
Eat latkes and applesauce made from locally grown potatoes and apples! Get your hands busy making art from recycled materials! Learn something new at workshops about sustainability in the home and your synagogue! Come schmooze and nosh with old friends and new ones!
Please bring a CFL (compact flourescent lightbulb) for low income families or recommended donation of $5.
When: Tuesday, December 11, 6:30-8:30pm
Where : Josephine Butler Parks Center, 2437 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC
Co-sponsored by: Shomrei Adamah of Greater Washington, Jews United for Justice and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light
To RSVP or for more information, email shomrei_adamah@yahoo.com or call Lindsey Paige Savoie at (202) 489 5278.
Go to the GWIPL Event Calendar
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.
