Creation Care on a Hawaii Beach
A United Methodist Insight Column
United Methodist resources for creation care can help congregations observe the ecumenical Season of Creation that begins Sept. 1.
For starters, United Methodist Communications has posted an excellent video documenting the beach clean-up efforts of Kailua UMC on Oahu in Hawai'i. The introduction to the downloadable video states:
"Kailua United Methodist Church is committed to creation care, both in big and small ways, as a way of living out its faith. For example, the congregation regularly participates in community projects aimed at preserving sacred Hawaiian natural areas. Members also switched from disposable to washable cups and water bottles for Sunday morning coffee and church events. Kailua UMC hosts a monthly beach cleanup which offers a special time for fellowship."
The video includes pastors and laypeople talking about why they go out to Kailua Beach monthly to sift through the sugary sand to remove bits of plastic that have washed up on the shore from around the world. The two-minute video would make an excellent "mission moment" for Sunday worship.
Women of Faith urge action
In another creation care opportunity, United Women in Faith issued a call this week for believers to solicit leaders' action on climate change. From a follow-up to UWF's recent Just Energy 4 All webinar:
Immediate Action Steps:
- Join the Healthy Air Postcard Campaign and tell your governors to support climate legislation and funding. We will be updating the postcard soon. For now, postcards for governors are still relevant. You can find the postcards and instructions here.
- Contact Congress to support the US Climate Fair Share: Emission Reductions, Climate Finance & Loss and Damage here.
- Prioritize Climate Justice link- https://p2a.co/7nDIlFr
- Link to all Climate Justice Actions- https://p2a.co/J1FJexa
Here are some other next steps to get more involved in advancing just energy for all with United Women in Faith:
- Next Just Energy for All webinar: October 18, 3 – 4:30 p.m. ET
- Next Just Energy for All Working Group: Wed Sept 6, 3–4:30 p.m. ET Register here.
- Pray! We are looking for volunteers to offer prayers for our next few Just Energy for All sessions. Email climatejustice@uwfaith.org if interested.
- Sign up for climate justice updates from United Women in Faith here.
Maui Fire Graphic
Courtesy of California-Pacific Annual Conferencd
Pray, give for California-Pacific Conference
United Methodists were encouraged this week to pray for and give to relief efforts in the California-Pacific Annual Conference. Barely a week after wildfires swept across the island of Maui in Hawai'i, southern California was hit by Tropical Storm Hilary, which dumped extreme amounts of rainfall over the drought-parched land, causing floods and mudslides.
The conference posted several versions of a graphic encouraging giving to relief efforts, and other U.S. conferences such as Western North Carolina are inviting their churches to use the Cal-Pac graphics.
Climate havens? Not a chance
This summer's extreme weather -- from excessive heat, flood-causing rains and horrific wildfires -- have some folks succumbing to the temptation of moving to a touted "climate haven" city. However, the so-called "climate havens" such as Burlington, Vt. and Madison, Wis., are anything but safe according to an article on The Conversation website.
Scholars Julie Arbit, Brad Bottoms and Earl Lewis write:
"An analysis of federal disaster declarations for weather-related events puts more data behind the fears – the average number of disaster declarations has skyrocketed since 2000 to nearly twice that of the preceding 20-year period.
"... Some of the most cited “havens” in research by national organizations and in news media are older cities in the Great Lakes region, upper Midwest and Northeast. They include Ann Arbor, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; Minneapolis; Buffalo, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and Madison, Wisconsin.
"Yet each of these cities will likely have to contend with some of the greatest temperature increases in the country in the coming years. Warmer air also has a higher capacity to hold water vapor, causing more frequent, intense and longer duration storms."
Read the full story on The Conversation.
Media Mentions as of Aug. 19, 2023
Dallas church founded by freed slaves celebrates 150th anniversary – The Dallas Morning News
35 years of service: CCMO volunteers sustained by a love for people – The Times and Democrat
A pastor finds her place - The Examiner
Churches on either side of Methodist schism share much in common – Chattanooga Times Free Press
An OKC church wants a second chance to vote on leaving United Methodist Church – The Oklahoman
The United Methodist Church split in the Dakotas could be about more than LGBTQ+ rights – Argus Leader
Disaffiliation vote fails at First United Methodist Church of LaGrange | LaGrange Daily News
Still united: Three Isle of Wight Methodist churches will stay with UMC amid denominational schism – Smithfield Times
Generations of believers Say goodbye, Hume church closes its doors | The Prairie Press
First United Methodist Church to host free children's clothing giveaway events - InForum
Judge says Church of the Servant must get second vote in exit dispute - The Oklahoman
East Africa Bishop wants pastors to possess university degrees - The Standard
Making home away from home better for Ukrainian refugees - Global Ministries
The Peoples Church gives a warm welcome to MSU students - WILX
Disaffiliation Votes Hold Special Risks for Rural Churches, United Methodist Pastors Say – The Daily Yonder
Panora United Methodist Church donates equipment funds to Midwest Missions' Jefferson location – Greene County News Online
Manzanola United Methodist Church receives National and State Grant Funding – La Junta Tribune Democrat
Aurora Methodists accepting donations for Maui wildfire relief - Daily Herald
Aurora church caps science camp with chicken-egg crash tests - Daily Herald
Canton First Veterans Ministry donates $300 to Purple Heart organization | Religion – Cherokee Tribune
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An award-winning religion journalist who has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" forms part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of some 500 news outlets around the world committed to enhance climate coverage. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.