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ASH WEDNESDAY

Read Matthew 6: 16-21.Spend some timepraying, meditating, orjournaling about yourdecision to adoptLenten practices thatdraw you closer toGod, neighbor, andcreation.

Grab a copy of your homeenergy bill, and calculateyour carbon footprint atwww.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator. Takenote of the activities thatare the most carbon-intensive.

Laborers who harvestpalms for Palm Sunday areoften not paid a fair price,nor are they able toharvest sustainably. Learnmore and encourage yourfaith community to order“Eco-Palms” before theorder deadline:www.ecopalms.org

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Finish Black history monthby reading. about theroots of theenvironmentaljusticemovement www.ucc.org/pollinator_a_case_for_the_mother_of_the_environmental_justice_movement

Watch a naturedocumentary. PlanetEarth and Earth’sNatural Wonders aregood options. Marvel atthe miracle of God’screation.M

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If the world reduced meatconsumption by 15% itwould save the samegreenhouse gas emissionsas taking 240 million carsoff the road each year.Consider planning formeatless Mondays duringLent. Learn more and getrecipe ideasat meatlessmonday.com.

Stay cozy and conserveenergy by checking yourwindows and doors forair leakage. Make a planto caulk and weather-strip as needed. (These doneed maintenance overtime!)

The average adultreceives 41 pounds ofjunk mail annually. Thisrequires 53 million treesand 56 billion gallons ofwater to produce. Visitwww.dmachoice.org tohelp stop unwanted junkmail. Call one or twocompanies tounsubscribe from theirmailings or catalogs.

Save energy and addsome beneficial humidityto your house by air-drying your laundry.

Watch the “oldie butgoodie” 14-minute video“God’s Creation and GlobalWarming”at www.creationjustice.org/videos

Consider making a planwith others at church foran Earth Day Sundaycelebration, on April 27.(Earth Day is April 22).Resources availableat www.creationjustice.org/earth-day-Sunday

Write a note to a child inyour life who inspiresyou to sustain God’screation for futuregenerations.

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The average personspends 87% of their timeindoors, and another 6%of their time inside avehicle. Consideradopting a new spiritualpractice that makes youmore attuned to God’screation. Find ideasat www.centerforspiritualityinnature.org/practices

Carve out time for some garden-planning. Is it possible to cutback on or eliminate pesticideuse this year? What role couldnative and pollinator-friendlyplants play in your landscape?Write down one planned actionyou will take to honor God’screation with your garden in thespring. Find ideas from the USForest Serviceat www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials & www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/

Are there “energyvampires” in your homewhich you can unplug tomake a difference?Check www.smartenergy.com/energy-vampire for ideas. Then,try out a practice ofobserving the Sabbathby unplugging yourelectronics and yourself!Relish simple pleasures.

Take note of how yourchurch’s coffee hour isrun. Look foropportunities to becomemore sustainable, suchas eliminatingStyrofoam, using chinainstead of paper cups, orbuying from localvendors.

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Watch the “Story ofStuff” online video atwww.storyofstuff.org

Try not to add any items tothe landfill today. Use realcups, cloth napkins,reusable bags forgroceries, and reusablewater bottles.

If you don’t already haveone, consider ordering acopy of The Green Bible.All passages related tocare and justice for God’screation are in greenprint. It is availableonline.

Watch a naturedocumentary. PlanetEarth and Earth’sNatural Wonders aregood options. Marvel atthe miracle of God’screation.

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Give up two degrees: forevery degree thethermostat is below 68 inthe winter or above 78 inthe summer there’s a 3-5% savings in energy useand cost.M

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Do you know whatwatershed you live in?Find out, explore, andconsider connecting witha local watershedstewardshiporganization:https://watersgeo.epa.gov/mywaterway/rlist.html

For Easter baskets,consider buying Fair Tradechocolate, dried fruit, teaand coffee or small giftsmade by fair tradecooperatives. www.equalexchange.coop

Refugee displacementand hunger relate todamage to God’screation. Spend sometime reflecting on howissues of care for God’screation relate to yourfaith community’s anti-hunger, peacemaking,and refugee resettlementministries.

Learn where your foodcomes from. Explore theChristian food movementto learn how Christiansacross the country aremaking a differencethrough food: www.christianfoodmovement.org

Say a prayer for God’sthreatened andendangered creatures.Consider sharing anEndangered Speciescoloring book for childrento color during worship orSunday School: fws.gov/nativeamerican/pdf/endangered-species-coloring-book.pdf.

It’s World Water Day.Observed annually,today we recognize howpeople around the worldare affected by waterissues: www.un.org/en/events/waterday

Many of the actionsnecessary to care for God’screation requirecoordinated, collectiveaction. Often, governmentis the best instrument forsuch action. Check to makesure your voterregistration is current, andprepare to vote in everyelection. Find informationat www.vote411.org

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Lower the temperatureof your water heater to120 degrees.

Check the light bulbs inyour house. Are they themost efficient possible?Energy savings from LEDlight bulbs pay off quicklyfor God’s creation andyour energy bill.

Begin the process ofthinking through how togive away unneededclothes, bakeware, andother goods to peoplewho could use them, andrethink, reuse, andrecycle other items.Learn moreat www.earth911.com

We can see through thebiodiversity of all God’screation that God lovesdiversity. God loves diversityamong people, too. Yet, it iseasy to only associate withpeople most like ourselves. Goout of your way to makecontact with a person whodiffers from you by gender,race, nationality, creed, faith,economic resources, or life-style. Read Ephesians 2:11-22.

Schedule a tune-up to setyour car tire pressure tothe recommended levelfor optimal gas mileage.Practice drivingmindfully. Higher speeds(55 mph+) reduce fueleconomy.

Remember your baptismtoday. What does itmean to you to bebaptized? Spend sometime praying orjournaling about whathappens to thissacrament when theworld’s waters becomepolluted andinaccessible?

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Check out CreationJustice Ministries' blogfor all the great womenwe're honoring forWomen's History Month! http://www.creationjustice.org/blog

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Plan or plant seeds for agarden, even a windowgarden, to support a localfood system, and toremember hope and newlife in Christ: almanac.com/content/beginners-vegetable-garden

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Try a “water fast” byturning off water whilebrushing your teeth, andflushing your toilet half asoften. Around the world,many people have accessonly to the amount ofwater each day thatAmericans use in onetoilet flush.

Visit waterfootprint.org to learn more about waterfootprint. Say a prayer ofgratitude every time yousip water today.

Nearly half of all food inthe United States nevergets eaten, while one ineight people in the U.S.suffer hunger. Spendsome time problem-solving on reducing foodwaste at home and atchurch. Get ideas at www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food

Choose a reusable waterbottle and commit to usingit instead of purchasingindividual, disposablewater bottles.

Read Psalm 31. As we thinkabout Christ’s journey thisHoly Week, may werecognize the lament, grief,and despair of the worldaround us. Climateinjustice, poverty, hunger,and human suffering seeminsurmountable. May wepray and cry out to God, asJesus taught us, trustingthat God hears us.

To show love for ourCreator, we respect andprotect all of creation.Take a moment today topick up trash off thestreet, or from a localstream or storm drain.

Read Duane Elgin’sessay Choosing a NewLifeway: VoluntarySimplicity. www.duaneelgin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/choosing_a_new_lifeway.pdf

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Matthew 28:1-10 Do notbe afraid! Go out intoGod’s good world,holding onto God’ssteadfast love and joyfullyanswering the call to beChrist’s disciple.

"For where your treasureis, there your heart will be

also."

Matthew 6:21

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Burial rituals can help,rather than harm, God’screation. Learn abouthow to leave asustainable legacyat www.GreenBurialCouncil.org. Schedule a timeto talk with a loved oneregarding your feelingsabout this subject.

Read John 13:1-17, 31b-35.How does creationparticipate alongsidehumanity as Jesus institutesthe Lord’s Supper andwashes the disciples’ feet?How can we love oneanother—and God’s wholeworld—as Christ has lovedus? Write down yourcommitment to show loveto a person or a part ofGod’s creation today.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Inconfidence of God’spresence and attention,may we confess all thatwe have done and failedto do, willing to be madenew in Christ for areconciled andreconciling world.

Choose one of the practicesfrom this Lent that may bemeaningful to you to adoptfor the year ahead. Writedown your choice, andshare your commitmentwith a family member orfriend.

HOLY THURSDAY GOOD FRIDAY EASTER SUNDAY

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