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compact flourescent light bulb

Energy Stewardship for Congregations

How can your congregation save energy — and precious money on heating, air conditioning and lighting? Here is a good go-to site to get started. The federal Energy Star program has a variety of resources to show how you can make your church buildings more efficient. Lots of good information! (Photo by Sun Dazed, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks, Sun Dazed!)

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2012: The Year of Energy

What should faith communities say about energy-related issues such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking), mountaintop removal mining, offshore drilling, smart grids and other issues facing our world? Plenty, says the Eco-Justice Program of the National Council of Churches, which  has developed a number of free, informative resources for congregations to use.  (Photo by Xlibber, used by… Read more»

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No power for worship?

‘It’s Personal’ Blog
When Hurricane Irene knocked out power on a Sunday morning we had to cancel worship. But is the electric company the real source of our power for worship? Of course not, but many churches hold services even though they seem “off the grid” of the Holy Spirit. (Rob Blezard photo.)

Earth Day Activities for Kids

Environmental Awareness for Confirmands

One aspect of the Christian life that often gets little attention in most Lutheran confirmation programs is environmental stewardship. Following is a six-session program that concentrates on how each individual person interacts with his or her surrounding environment. The program has three basic goals; an awareness of how many resources it takes for each of us to live, an awareness of the amounts and kinds of waste each of us generates, and an awareness of our human and Christian responsibility to steward the use of God’s creation.

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Catastrophic Weather: The New Normal

Ferocious blizzards and cataclysmic cyclones. Welcome to our planet, circa 2011–a planet that, like some unruly adolescent, has decided to test the boundaries. For two centuries now we’ve been burning fossil fuel that pours carbon into the atmosphere; for two decades we’ve been ignoring the increasingly impassioned warnings of scientists. And now we’re getting pinched.

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The Afterlife of Trash

Our throwaway economy creates problems far beyond overflowing landfills and refuse barges. This writer discovered that toxic emissions from her city’s incinerator are helping to poison breastfeeding infants hundreds of miles away. Is this consistent with Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves? (Photo by Dolmansaxlil, used by Creative Commons license.)

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Creation Care: 10 Steps Any Church Can Take

We all want to help preserve God’s creation for future generations, but what can one local  congregation do? Plenty, says this article, listing practical steps your church can adopt with a little effort and NOT a lot of money. (Photo image by aussiegall used by Creative Commons license.)

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ELCA Environmental Audit Guide for Congregations

Here is the perfect guide for a congregation, school or other organization to examine its environmental practices and make changes that will help save energy, reduce waste and make the church “greener.”  (Photo by  Avencap, used under Creative Commons license. Thanks!)

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Become a ‘Greening Congregation’

Do do more than just fume about climate change and creation care, join the congregations who have committed to reducing energy use and becoming more environmentally friendly. The “Greening Congregations” program of Earth Ministry will give help you make a difference and give a powerful witness.

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Creation Care Sermons

Here’s a round-up of 16 sermons dealing with the environmental crisis and how God’s people are called to respond. The sermons represent a range of denominations and prominent Christian preachers, including Bill Hybels to Rob Bell.  Sure to inspire your preaching or personal devotion.