Stewardship of our Environment

"Speak to the earth and let it teach you."                               Job 12:8

Environmental Stewardship in the Diocese of Maine

The Environmental Stewardship office provides the parishes and individuals in the Diocese of Maine with educational, liturgical and action ideas to facilitate our commitment to the stewardship of Creation.  We --

• assist parishes with environmental stewardship, such as how to set up a "Green Team" 
• work with the Diocese of Maine's social justice ministries
• coordinate efforts with the Maine Council of Churches, Maine Interfaith Power & Light, the Episcopal Environmental Network (EpEN) and other faith-based environmental justice networks
• provide resources and information on environmental stewardship, including liturgical resources
• represent the Diocese of Maine's environmental stewardship program at secular and denominational meetings, including the Maine Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working Group

For more information, please contact the Rev. Martha Kirkpatrick, Missioner for Environmental Stewardship at mkirkpatrick@episcopalmaine.org

NEW: January 11, 2009 Sermon on global climate change by the Reverend Fred Small, First Parish Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Cambridge, MA.  Click here for a link to the sermon.

Serving Christ in All Creation -- The Diocese of Maine celebrates creation season.  Open the folder on the left -- "Diocese of Maine Creation Season" for resources and tools for celebrating creation in liturgy.  

Useful information especially designed for churches on how to reduce energy use and costs can be found at this link to the Energy Star Small Business and Congregations for helpful resources and tools.

Interesting things:

See  Beliefnet's St. Patrick's Breastplate joining together nature images, Celtic music and an ancient Christian prayer.

Check out the "News" tab for links to new NASA study on global climate change.

Environmental Stewardship - from the Episcopal Church

The Peace and Justice Ministries Office in the Episcopal Church of the USA focuses on Environmental Stewardship through its active participation in the ecumenical Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches and by providing liaison support to the Episcopal Ecological Network. The Eco-Justice Working Group sponsors a bi-annual conference, publishes an annual Earth Day resource, is actively involved in issues of energy, stewardship and global warming, and works with seminaries and youth to raise the issues of environmental stewardship.   The Episcopal Ecological Network (EpEN), the grassroots network of Episcopalians from around the country, is helping the Church advocate and articulate protection of the environment and preserving the sanctity of creation. The Network's current priorities include: the development of materials and activities which promote the spiritual foundations of ecological protection; helping to implement the 71st General Convention resolution calling for the greening of General Convention and Executive Council meetings, as well as work for the greening of Episcopal conference centers; and actively working with congregations and dioceses around energy conservation issues.

Other Helpful Links:

 

Earth Talk Today  National Council of Churches of Christ Eco-Justice Programs National Church, Environmental Stewardship Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Environmental Committee   For Maine State Government information on the environment, see www.maine.gov/dep For Federal Government information on the environment, see www.epa.gov

Earth Ministry Evangelical Environmental Network The National Religious Partnership for the Environment Greenfaith