Dear Ones,

Every week in worship we recite our Mission Statement, which includes naming ourselves – as a congregation and as individuals – as stewards of the natural world.
 
Today is Earth Day, created by the late Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI), and first celebrated in 1970 with a series of “teach ins” around the United States. Back then the ecology movement was for cleaner air and water. The work of many activists has resulted in measurably cleaner air and water, with the establishment of limits placed on auto emissions as well as limits on what corporations could spew into the air – and dump into our rivers and lakes.
 
In our discussion after last Sunday’s worship service, we talked about this and about newer environmental concerns. Fifty years ago, we were not yet talking about global climate change – today this is a primary concern as we see glaciers melting and weather patterns changing.
 
We live in an area of great natural beauty, which is vulnerable to sea level rise due to climate change. We must remember to act not just as stewards of the natural world, but as activists for the environment. I’m so proud of the work our local chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby is doing, and for all our members do individually when we reduce our consumption, reuse what we already have, and recycle as much as we can.
 
Whatever you do – lobbying, phone calls to representatives, remembering to take your own shopping bags to the store – keep doing it! And, maybe, find one more thing you can try to do this Earth Day, to care for our planetary home. Earthday.org has a few suggestions you can find here: https://www.earthday.org/take-action-now/

Be well, and stay safe everyone!

Blessings,
Rev. Lori Hlaban