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What do people in the pews need to address creation justice?
Information, ideas, and inspiration to take action!
Through these brief Tips, you can give your congregation the basics of what the issues are, why Christians should care, and how they can respond to make a difference for all of God’s Creation.
Choose any or all of the Tips. Cut-and-paste to put them in your worship bulletin, your newsletters, your social media, your website,
your bulletin boards or monitors.
The choice is yours.
Each month 10 Tips will arrive in time for you to choose and use.
The service is totally free.
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Tips for May 2020
Queen Esther could have hidden safely behind her royal status. Instead, she faced danger in order to save her people. Many of us, because of our resources, are relatively protected from the effects of a pandemic and of climate change, but others are not. “For just such a time as this,” we can use our blessings to save our people and be more just.
Pollinators—bees, wasps, butterflies—are crucial for growing more than one-third of the food we eat. They feed us—we need to feed them! Lack of four-season food sources is one of the causes for the declining bee population. (Pesticide use is the other.) Plant flowers, trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, and herbs with the goal of feeding all year long those who feed us.
In a time of minimizing runs to the grocery store, planning menus is wise. It’s also a smart way to minimize food waste, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, both carbon dioxide and methane, when discarded food ends up in landfills. Think through your food needs in advance. Drive to the grocery store less (and save emissions). Eat well for yourself and waste less for the planet.
Numerous climate justice organizations are doing excellent work. Explore them to continue to educate yourself. You may also choose to sign advocacy petitions, which will be sent to appropriate policy makers, or to support the organization's work financially, knowing that you—through these groups—will continue to make a positive difference.
Get outside! Your own experience—and research—show that spending time in nature is healing. Look closely at seedlings sprouting, blossoms opening, and the renewal of green. Vow to do all you can to help the earth heal too.
From COVID-19 we’ve learned that individual efforts are important but not enough. To end a crisis, governments and businesses must change their policies and practices. Individuals and communities need to exert organized pressure on them to act with urgency to curb emissions and move us into a clean future. Join a group. Speak up!
Safer at home orders have resulted in reducing global emissions about 25%, resulting in air and waterways clearing appreciably. When the crisis passes, find ways to continue driving less so the planet isn’t subjected to a rebound effect of increased emissions.
The pandemic has shown that if we wait until we can see the impact, it is too late. As the predicted effects of global warming manifest more and more, the time for being able to slow, stop, or reverse the trend is shrinking. Ramp up your efforts! Get others on board now to make changes to prevent the worst.
Animal lovers, did you know elephants are vital to shaping a forest ecosystem that stores carbon? Their grazing on the fast-growing, smaller trees allows slower-growing, larger trees to prevail. Those trees are a natural carbon sink, taking in carbon dioxide and giving back oxygen. Help elephants thrive so earth can thrive too! Donate to African Wildlife Foundation (awf.org).
You may need to shred important documents, but the little pieces simply fall through most recycling systems and are wasted. Instead, put them into your compost. The bugs will love them and turn them into nutritious soil.
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The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is providing these Tips as one tool churches can use to equip members to respond to God's call to care for creation and do justice with our neighbors.
For more about the UM Creation Justice Movement, send an email here.
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Visit our website: umcreationjustice.org!
You can select from the Tips from the past months too. You'll also find more information about the Creation Justice Movement
and the plans for Summit 2020.
We'll keep adding tools. You keep using them!
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