Ideas for Celebrating Earth Day Sunday in Your Congregation With a little planning and a lot of passion, you can use any of these ideas to get your congregation fired up about caring for God's creation. If you're planning something, don't forget to register your congregation and event with our Eco-Justice Network so that others in your area can find you! Plan an Earth Day themed worship service. Click here to see a checklist for planning an Earth Day service. And click here to download NCC's 2006 Earth Day Sunday resource. Make bulletin inserts or handouts for congregation members. For instance, "Ten Steps to Green Your Home," an invitation to join your congregation's existing or new Creation Care Team, an Ecological Footprint Quiz, or information about local environmental concerns related to your Earth Day theme. Offer a study or discussion group after worship to talk about your Earth Day theme Host a special "Green Fellowship." Serve organic, free-trade coffee and treats from a local organic bakery; use re-useable plates, cups, silverware, and napkins, or if that isn't possible, recycled or biodegradable disposables; and post big, easy-to-read signs to educate people about what makes your fellowship "Green." Invite a guest speaker to your church for after worship to talk about your Earth Day theme with a local focus Set up a display tables in a high-traffic area. For instance, "Products to Green Your Home" - include compact fluorescent light bulbs, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, low-flow faucets and shower heads, information on energy efficient appliances, 100% post consumer waste recycled printer paper, and more. Use the day to kick-off a Creation Care Team in your congregation. Invite interested people to an inaugural meeting for about two weeks after Earth Day Sunday. One easy way to start a Creation Care ministry is by becoming an Eco-Justice Covenant Congregation. Write letters to elected officials. Set up a table with paper, envelopes, and stamps; have the addresses of local, state, and national elected officials handy; allow people to write to their representatives about your Earth Day theme, or any other topic they want. Organize an alternative transportation plan. Coordinate a rideshare, or encourage people to ride bikes or walk (and provide ample bike parking as well as water for them when they arrive). "Tag" your church building with educational signs about the environmental impacts of everyday items. For instance, put signs about how much energy can be saved by turning off lights near the light switches. Or, put signs about the proper disposal of toxic materials like paint and batteries near trash cans. Plan a community service project like a Clean-Up in a local park, along a local body of water, or near a highway. Make sure you organize carpools for transportation to and from the site. Have a Green Church workday to set up rain barrels, do native landscaping on church grounds, replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Examine your church's energy use by performing an energy audit and present your findings on Earth Day Sunday. Hold a "town hall" discussion about how your church can reduce energy use Organize a hike at a local trail, park, or natural area. Make sure you organize carpools for transportation to and from the site. Plan an Earth Day festival. Ask local environmental groups to set up informational booths. Invite local growers/food producers and artisans to set up booths to showcase and/or sell their products. Arrange for a variety of brief informational or practical workshops where people can to go learn about Eco-Justice issues (especially your Earth Day theme) or learn how to do something (like make an effective call to an elected official, "Green" their office, or start a compost pile at home) As always, NCC Eco-Justice is eager to help! For questions or support planning your Earth Day Sunday, e-mail info@nccecojustice.org.