Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (VTIPL) works to educate
Vermont’s faith communities about the climate crisis and the
threat it presents to our planet. VTIPL’s goal is to move faith
communities toward responsible stewardship of Creation by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions through personal and
community action. VTIPL helps people take action in their
houses of worship, homes, and workplaces to conserve energy,
use it efficiently, and increase the use of renewable energy.
Please share this newsletter with others. To submit items
or give updates, send an email to info@vtipl.org
NATIONAL PREACH-IN ON WEEKEND OF FEB. 12 -14
The national Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) organization
is sponsoring the “preach-in,” and is inviting clergy to
preach about loving creation during the Valentine’s Day
weekend (or one of the following weeks). IPL provides
resources on their website, including sample sermons.
You can get resources and register here:
http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/2009/12/february-preach-in/
CARBON FAST FOR LENT
Instead of giving up something like chocolate for Lent,
some faith communities are encouraging a “carbon fast”
- that is, they are asking their members to consider
making lifestyle changes in order to reduce their carbon
dioxide emissions. Brattleboro’s Interfaith Religion and
Ecology group has developed a 40-Day Carbon Fast for
Lent. Vermont’s Episcopal Diocese has a “Sustainable
Living Calendar” posted on its website:
http://www.dioceseofvermont.org/Resources/Environment%20Committee/Lenten...
Another carbon fast resource comes from the Iona
Community. If you’re interested in receiving one or more
of these resources, please contact VTIPL: info@vtipl.org
EARTH HOUR EVENING TAKES FLIGHT
On the evening of March 27th, when many places around
the world will be turning off lights from 8:30 – 9:30 pm for
“Earth Hour” to make a statement of concern about the
climate crisis, there will be an event happening at
Burlington’s Unitarian Church at the top of Church Street.
It will begin at 7:30 with a performance by the musician
Rebecca Padula. Following this, Kathryn Blume will read
her travelogue Flight – by candlelight – telling about her
adventures at the December Copenhagen climate talks.
Flight is an imaginative, witty, sometimes hilarious, and
colorful piece – it’s a joy to watch Kathryn present it. The
evening will end with a question and answer time. VTIPL
is sponsoring. We hope the event will serve as a catalyst
for organizing action to help get a U.S. climate bill passed
this year. Vermont’s congressional delegation will be
invited. Admission: $10 (students: $5). Please come!
To find out more about Earth Hour in this country and
around the world, click here:
https://www.myearthhour.org/home
LIVING IN GOD’S CREATION
A retreat will be held at St. Jacob’s of Alaska Orthodox
Church in Northfield Falls on Saturday, March 6 starting
at 11:30 am. The title of the retreat is “The Whole Earth
is Sanctified: Reclaiming the Christian Vision of Creation.”
Elizabeth Theokritoff, author of the recently published
book, “Living in God’s Creation: The Ecological Vision of
Orthodox Christianity,” will be the retreat leader. The day
ends with Vespers at 5:00 followed by dinner at 6:30 pm.
Donations are appreciated. To see the day’s schedule,
go to: www.stjacobofalaska.org/docs/2010LentenRetreat.pdf
SOCIAL CHANGE 2.0
David Gershon has a new book out – “Social Change
2.0: A Blueprint For Reinventing Our World.” David is the
author of the workbook “Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day
Program to Lose 5000 Pounds.” He has a six-part series
of articles running in the “Huffington Post.” Part three in
this series was recently printed, featuring VT Interfaith
Power and Light’s Vice President, Wes Sanders. It tells
about the work Wes has been doing – traveling round the
state launching “EcoTeams” – groups that use the Low
Carbon Diet workbook to reduce their carbon emissions.
Read the Huffington Post article here:
www.huffingtonpost.com/david-gershon/empowering-a-climate-chan_b_452825....
EARTH DAY SUNDAY RESOURCE
This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22.
The National Council of Churches’ Eco-Justice program
has an Earth Day Sunday (April 18) resource available
titled “Sacred Spaces and Abundant Life: Worship
Spaces as Stewardship.” You can access it here:
http://nccecojustice.org/resources/index.php#earthdaysundayresources
EARTH STEWARDSHIP IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE
The Episcopal Diocese has shown great leadership
with regard to Earth stewardship. Two years ago, they
passed a resolution at their annual convention requiring
their churches to have energy audits. Several months
ago, they sent a survey to their churches to get informa-
tion on the progress that their churches were making in
improving energy efficiency and reducing their carbon
emissions. All the results of this survey are not in yet,
but we hope to report on this in the future. The Chair
of the Episcopal Earth Stewards Committee, The Rev.
Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert, is rector of St. Peter’s Church
in Bennington and is a member of VTIPL’s board. Other
VTIPL board members who are active on this committee
include Sr. Laurian Seeber and Ron McGarvey. We are
very grateful for their good work! If you’d like to see a
copy of the survey form, contact VTIPL at info@vtipl.org.
CARBON REDUCTION CAMPAIGN: CONGREGATIONS
The Eco-Justice program of the National Council of
Churches has information for congregations on ways to
reduce energy use beginning with switching to compact
fluorescent light bulbs and installing LED exit signs and
continuing to larger steps. To learn more and join the
carbon reduction campaign, go to:
http://www.nccecojustice.org/carbonreduction/crc_congregations.php
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
1 East Village Drive, Burlington, VT 05401
Tel. 802-658-0902 info@vtipl.org www.vtipl.org
