African Americans and Climate Change

This two-session adult education curriculum provides information and activities to help African American congregations understand more fully the impacts global climate change will have on African American communities.

 

Climate and Church: How Global Climate Change Will Impact Core Church Ministries

Few understand the impacts that climate change will have on core church ministries such as refugee resettlement, feeding the hungry, and disaster relief. The Climate and Church report outlines how these core church ministries will be impacted.

Just Climate: Study Guide for Adult Christian Education

Climate change is a hot topic today, but not everyone understands the issue. This activity is designed to help your group better understand how our atmosphere works, why it’s heating up, and what impacts global warming is having on the planet.

Bottom Line Ministries that Matter: Congregational Stewardship with Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technologies

God calls us to care for creation, and the climate system that maintains our varied landscapes and seascapes, and sustains all of God’s people.

Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice

"Welcome to the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign's (ICEC) study guide on global warming! The ICEC is excited to offer this resource, and hopes it inspires faith-based communities to take action to curtail climate change."

It's God's World: Christians, Care for Creation and Global Warming

This resource contains five sessions designed to help Christians make some sense of the issues relating to global warming from the perspective of their faith.

Biodiversity Resources

Tending the Garden: Stewardship of Biodiversity and Endagered Species

The Creator blessed the Earth so that all creatures will prosper with great abundance and diversity. The protection of biodiversity, or the diversity of all life, is an essential part of our roles as stewards of Creation. With a better understanding of biodiversity, active citizenship, and a strong stewardship ethic we can help to preserve and promote biodiversity and protect the endangered species under our care.

Earth Day Sunday Resources

Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship (2010)

The blessings of God are evident all around us, including in the sacred spaces that make up our houses of worship. These sacred spaces are where we come to be spiritually nurtured, enriched, and recharged. These spaces become a gathering place to meet in fellowship with our neighbors, and are the center of our mission activities. Even as we are blessed as communities of faith with gathering places for our worship and ministry, we have responsibilities to be good stewards of these sacred spaces.

Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship - PC(USA) (2010)

This version adapted for use by PC(USA) congregations. The blessings of God are evident all around us, including in the sacred spaces that make up our houses of worship. These sacred spaces are where we come to be spiritually nurtured, enriched, and recharged. These spaces become a gathering place to meet in fellowship with our neighbors, and are the center of our mission activities. Even as we are blessed as communities of faith with gathering places for our worship and ministry, we have responsibilities to be good stewards of these sacred spaces.

Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship - UMC (2010)

This version adapted for use byUMC congregations. The blessings of God are evident all around us, including in the sacred spaces that make up our houses of worship. These sacred spaces are where we come to be spiritually nurtured, enriched, and recharged. These spaces become a gathering place to meet in fellowship with our neighbors, and are the center of our mission activities. Even as we are blessed as communities of faith with gathering places for our worship and ministry, we have responsibilities to be good stewards of these sacred spaces.

Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship - RCA (2010)

This version adapted for use by RCA congregations. The blessings of God are evident all around us, including in the sacred spaces that make up our houses of worship. These sacred spaces are where we come to be spiritually nurtured, enriched, and recharged. These spaces become a gathering place to meet in fellowship with our neighbors, and are the center of our mission activities. Even as we are blessed as communities of faith with gathering places for our worship and ministry, we have responsibilities to be good stewards of these sacred spaces.

Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship - ELCA (2010)

This version adapted for use by ELCA congregations. The blessings of God are evident all around us, including in the sacred spaces that make up our houses of worship. These sacred spaces are where we come to be spiritually nurtured, enriched, and recharged. These spaces become a gathering place to meet in fellowship with our neighbors, and are the center of our mission activities. Even as we are blessed as communities of faith with gathering places for our worship and ministry, we have responsibilities to be good stewards of these sacred spaces.

Celebrating and Caring For God's Creation Earth Day Sunday Resource (2009)

When we read the Bible, we often focus on the relationship between humans and God. Yet, the foundational stories of our faith reveal the importance of another set of relationships—the relationships between God and Creation and between humans and Creation. From the ancient Israelites to the early followers of Christ, caring for the Earth was an important means of offering thanks and
praise to God.

Climate and Poverty Earth Day Sunday Resource (2008)

As people of faith, addressing climate change is a justice issue. This Earth Day (2008), the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs is marking Earth Day Sunday (the Sunday closest to Earth Day) by recognizing the interconnectedness of poverty and climate change and offering a resource for worship, adult study, and youth activities.

Our Daily Bread: Harvesters of Hope and Gardeners of Eden (2007)

Explore the process of putting the Spirit of God back into the life-giving acts of producing and consuming food. Our Daily Bread: Harvesters of Hope and Gardeners of Eden is a study, worship, and action guide from the National Council of Churches, which includes background material, a bulletin insert, sermon starters, ideas for youth and adult study, and suggestions for personal and congregational action. It also introduces faith-driven principles for a more just farm policy and an opportunity for direct action with your elected representatives.

Through the Eye of a Hurricane: Rebuilding Just Communities (2006)

Hurricane Katrina was a tragic and painful event that touched the hearts of many Americans. The effects left many communities displaced and unearthed the presence of many toxic substances into the land, air and water in poor communities of color. This guide allows congregations to study how to rebuild communities through environmental justice and provides opportunities for action.

S.acred O.ceans S.eas (2005)

"As God's stewards, we are called not only to enjoy the oceans, but also to care for them as a sacred gift from God. Because we are people of God, we are to maintain the bounty of the oceans' waters and the integrity of oceanic systems that contain beauty and support an adundance of life."

2005 Bulletin Insert

Additional prayers and ideas for action relating to the 2005 Earth Day theme.

Life-Giving Breath of God: Protecting the Sacred Gift of Air (2004)

"The following resource highlights a number of ways individuals and congregations can celebrate and protect this integral part of God's creation. We have included some basics on the state of the world's air quality; worship resources including a sermon starter and bulletin insert; and ideas for personal, congregational, and community action to protect the air we breathe."

2004 Bulletin Insert

Additional facts, prayers, and ideas for action relating to the 2004 Earth Day theme.

Environmental Health Resources

Healthy Spa Workshop: Guide and Toolkit for People of Faith

Learn more about how to make safe personal care products and how to host a
Healthy Spa workshop with your own faith community.

Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics

The choices we make for our families and the way we care for God's Earth are intricately related to human health and the health of all Creation. Toxic chemicals can contaminate our water, our land, our personal care products, and children's toys. Some contaminants can cause health problems ranging from asthma to cancer, especially in children. Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution, and Toxics is an education and worship resource that gives congregations the hope and the tools to protect the sacredness of our bodies and all Creation.

Massachusetts Healthy Kids, Healthy Churches, Healthy Communities

The Massachusetts Council of Churches, in partnership with the NCC, is pleased to bring the Healthy Kids, Healthy Churches, Healthy Communities curriculum to the churches of the Commonwealth. We hope and pray that these activities and study sessions will help Christians in Massachusetts live out a faithful witness of health and wholeness, love of creation, and love of neighbor.

Made in the Image of God: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (Two-sided flyer)

Everyday we use personal care products such as soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, shaving products, cologne, or makeup. These products can contain toxic chemicals because of weak government regulation. As people of faith our faith tradition provides guidance on why our choices for personal care products are a matter of justice and bodily stewardship.

Cleanliness and Godliness: A Gathering Guide for Green Cleaning

A green cleaning activity at your church or in your home is an opportunity for fellowship and becoming better informed. It will build support in your church and community for environmental health and justice issues.  As a host, you can help facilitate these goals by setting concrete expectations for yourself and by following the steps below.

Cleanliness and Godliness Toolkit

There are many good reasons to us non-toxic cleaning products. They are safer for you, much safer for children, and are a part of hospitality. They are generally less expensive, widely available, and may involve less packaging and advertising. Also, they are quite effective. Experiment for yourself!

Mindful Living Gathering Guide

Host a two-hour Mindful Living Gathering to learn more about environmental health and toxics. This guide has tips on how to organize a gathering and activities to motivate your faith community to act as stewards of Creation and human health.

Environmental Justice Resources

Environmental Racism: An Ecumenical Study Guide

In the U.S., and around the world, more people of color live and work in unhealthy, polluted environments than white people do. This guide explores the definitions of environmental racism and defines a set of environmental justice principles from which people of faith can work. Based on these principles, this guide provides activities for personal and congregational reflection, study and action.

Food and Farming Resources

At the Lord's Table: Everyday Thanksgiving

Eat mindfully--mindful of the farmers and rural communities, the rich soil and clean water, and God's plentiful provision--without which our tables would be empty. Doing so instills thanksgiving and calls us to right relationship with all of creation. Explore and celebrate the blessing of every bite with this guide for study, worship, and action.

Sacred Food: Sunday School and Group Activities for Youth

Food is not merely fuel for our bodies. It is nourishment for our bodies and our souls. When we consider food as more than a commodity, as a miraculous result of the mingling of sun, rain, soil, and seed, we are swept into the deep mysteries of life and begin to recognize and appreciate the interdependence of all of God’s creation. These lessons are intended for use in Sunday School classroom or as youth group activities.

General Eco-Justice Resources

Opening the Letter: A Congregational Guide to God's Earth Is Sacred

Teaching about God’s Creation can be exciting and fun. This new theological resource can be used with adult education classes to teach about the principles in the 2004 ecumenical environmental statement, God’s Earth is Sacred. This guide uses hands on learning, reflection and scripture to explore these principles and the mysteries of creation.

Green Building Resources

Building a Firm Foundation: "Green" Building Toolkit

A practical resource guide to building with energy efficient technologies and sustainable building techniques. This is a great companion guide to the Bottom Line Ministries That Matter report.

Earthkeeping Ministries: A New Vision for Congregations

Designed as a congregational toolbox, this manuel provides very basic theological reflections about earthkeeping, presents in detail organizational ideas for starting or enhancing a ministry, and offers practical suggestions, instructions, and resources for implementing earthkeeping projects.

Land and Wilderness Resources

Out of the Wilderness: Building Christian Faith and Keeping God's Creation

The wilderness is deeply woven into Christianity and other faith traditions. They were central to the spiritual journeys of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. This new resource will help us in our modern day efforts to reflect peacefully and reconnect with the Creator through study, worship and congregational action.

Rooted in God's Word and Lands: A Celebration of the Earth That Nourishes Us

"Like tree putting down roots in the soil, we are deeply imbedded in the land–physically, culturally, and spiritually. Sharing the land with our neighbors and with creatures gives us a sense of place and belonging within our communities and the whole of creation. Experiencing the solitude and beauty of wilderness reminds us of God's power and grace in our lives."

Land Stewardship Bulletin Insert

Additional prayers and ideas for action related to land stewardship.

Opening the Book of Nature

An Arizona specific resource designed to creatively educate congregations and people of faith on the connections between their faith and protecting and caring for the wild parts of God's Creation.

Water Resources

For I Was Thirsty: A Resource for World Water Day

For the Christian community, water is symbolic of our relationship with God,
carrying the image of renewal, promise, and hope. It is through water that we are baptized into the community of the church. Furthermore, water is essential to all life on Earth, and it links human life to the rest of God’s Creation.

For I Was Thirsty: Bulletin Insert

It is through water that all of Creation is gifted with life, and life, in all of its forms, is not possible without water. The protection of water for use by the rest of Creation, future generations, and those living in poverty is the responsibility of all of God’s people.

Water Stewards: A Toolkit for Congregational Care of Local Watersheds

"The purpose of this Water Stewards guide is to provide Christian communities with a simple manual that suggests ways to contribute to watershed protection. In this guide we provide tips and resources to enable your congregation to discuss what wise choices and positive actions you can make to help restore your watershed for this generation and those to come."

Stewards of the Bay: A Toolkit for Congregations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

This Toolkit is designed for Christian communities living in the Chesapeake Bay region. It includes a guide for hosting a regional training event and worship resources.

Stewards of the Bay: Sacred Waters

A 5-week adult Christian education session by Beth Norcross

Stewards of the Bay: Lifestyles of Stewardship

This toolkit empowers congregations (primarily in Maryland) to take action to care for Creation in the Chesapeake Bay. Learn how to install rain barrels and rain gardens. Discover ways to improve the energy efficiency of your buildings. Explore alternative energy options for your congregation. Learn how to find funding and technical support to help implement your congregation's projects.

Stewards of the Bay: An Affirmation for Eco-Justice

As a congregation, make a commitment to healing and defending God's Creation. Track your progess, and access tools to enable you to communicate your efforts to members of the congregation, the community and your judicatory. This resource includes an affirmation to be signed by church leaders, progress tracking forms, sample judicatory reporting sheets, and outreach materials including bulletin eco-tips, a sample press release, and a sample newsletter.