Planning for Earth Month: Resources for Congregations

April is Earth Month, and for congregations, it can be a great time to further discern how to best answer our first calling as Christians which is the caretaking of God’s creation. Form a plan for making the most of April. Check out this suggested course of action:

1. Get Started by Doing an All-Church Book Read in April! The Rev. Jim Antal has written an acclaimed book entitled Climate Church, Climate World with a foreward by Bill McKibben. A revised and updated edition has recently been released. The book dovetails perfectly with an event featuring Antal…
2. Join the First Ever UCC Earth Day Summit! This online event will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 11 am ET. The theme is “What’s Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope.” It will feature a keynote from Antal, a panel of inspiring speakers, the presentation of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award, and a video showcasing the uplifting story of Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis. Register now!
3. Celebrate Earth Sunday! Many churches celebrate God’s creation on the Sunday closest to Earth Day. For this occasion, Creation Justice Ministries has created a resource entitled “Sowing Seeds.” It brings the lens of justice to food, the most immediate and tangible way that we connect with the natural world around us. Join a webinar on Wednesday, April 12th at 1 pm ET to learn more about how to craft a powerful message and experience for Earth Sunday.
4. Launch into Climate Hope! On April 29th, the UCC will be launching an effort to collect as many petition postcards as possible to seek government action for cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Sign-up to get updates on the Climate Hope Cards campaign and this launch event.

Other Suggestions for Earth Month

Have a BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug) Sunday! “Green” your coffee hour and shift away from disposable cups. You can support the climate justice ministries of the UCC by purchasing Climate Hope Mugs.

Participate in Faith Climate Action Week with Interfaith Power & Light! From April 14th to the 23rd, congregations are invited to focus on this year’s theme, “Living the Golden Rule: Just Transition to a Clean Energy Economy.” Get an organizer kit, worship ideas, movie screening information, and more.