Happy Earth Day, April 22, 2021! How will you and your church celebrate?
Perhaps your church will have a worship service on one of the Sundays before or after Earth Day. Even in early May. It’s never too late to celebrate God’s wonderful creation. Perhaps include a litany or prayers that focus on creation. Or a sermon. Worship resources are available from the General Board of Global Ministries, including scripture, litany, and sermon, at umcmission.org/worship-resources-for-earth-day-2021/.
Plan a safe event to celebrate Earth day. Take a walk through a local park. Plant trees. Host a virtual letter writing campaign to advocate for climate legislation. Learn how healthy soil can help solve the climate crisis and support food justice. Bless a garden. Remove invasive plants. Plant native plants. Start composting. Host a virtual video screening on climate justice issues, such as “Kiss the Ground”, available through Interfaith Power and Light at faithclimateactionweek.org.
An opportunity to dive deeper is to become an Earthkeeper, a training program through Global Ministries that equips United Methodists to launch and grow environmental projects in their communities. The next online training is scheduled for May 7-22. The deadline for registration has been extended to April 19, or until the spaces are filled. Register at umcmission.org/earthkeepers/.
Additional resources for ongoing participation include United Methodist Women’s Just Energy for All campaign. UMW hosts monthly Strategy and Capacity Building sessions, intended to provide opportunities to network, share best practices and support the work of advancing just energy for all at the local, state, and national levels. UMW also hosts a 3-part webinar series, “Just Energy for All 101”. Check out further information at unitedmethodistwomen.org.
To regularly receive information on the various activities provided through our United Methodist Boards and Agencies and active United Methodist members, sign up for the monthly newsletter from UM Creation Justice Movement, which includes Creation Justice tips and calendar of events, at umcreationjustice.org.
Earth Day is April 22. I hope you celebrate all month, and well into the future.
Karen McElfish
Arlington District Lay Leader