June Tips
“For everything there is a season…”. – Ecclesiastes 3:3-8)
And thanks to the Creator, what a wonderful season June is!
June beckons us outside to see God at work! For yourself, family, and friends speak aloud the connection of this ordinary yet spectacular experience in nature to the Creator. Pray your praise and gratitude.
Weddings, graduation celebrations, holidays, get togethers—all are important. Make them an opportunity to celebrate, be sustainable, and influence friends and family. Choose service ware that can be washed and reused; collect compostable food waste. Show by your example.
Decorate with home or locally grown seasonal flowers, resulting in fewer transport emissions and less likelihood of poor treatment of farm workers—a justice issue. After the event, deliver the flowers to a hospital, nursing home, or to someone you love or who needs a lift. Compost any flowers that have withered.
Creation Justice ident
Give party favors that give back. Look for something plant-able, like herbs, succulents, seed packets. Or display a sign that you’ve made a donation in your guests’ honor, such as planting trees or caring for endangered wildlife. Invite additional contributions and follow up with the amount raised and a thank you for caring for God’s creation.
As in the biblical story of Joseph, June is often a time of plenty, but the hot, dry months are coming. Be intentional about conserving water. Install a rain barrel, low-flow toilets, and shower heads; wash the car using a bucket and just a quick rinse off; pay attention to ways you can care more for the gift of water.
Whether for a cookout, potluck, or everyday meals, go meatless or at least beefless. Raising livestock is much more water intensive than growing plants or turkeys, for example. Learn how land use impacts climate change.
It’s vacation time! Enjoy the mountains or beaches. Carry with you gloves and collect the trash you see. You may feel the task is overwhelming, but others will see you and are likely to be more thoughtful about not littering. Your actions can be a catalyst for change.
Start complaining! You can be nice, but firm. When you see a practice at home, at church, in your workplace, in a restaurant, at a grocery, or other business that is harmful, speak up. Write a letter. Be a squeaky wheel—ask for change. Be sure to choose and compliment those providers that have more sustainable practices.
Call your lawmakers regularly. You don’t have to talk directly to them or for more than a minute or two. The recording or the staff person will add your yay or nay to the tally column to give the lawmaker a sense of support or opposition to an action. Do state that you are both a constituent and a person of faith.
Join organizations that marshal the many for the greater good. Individuals can’t do all, but all—together—can. Choose your group(s) to support in some way. Learn about your chosen area and speak up for positive action. What gifts, know-how, and opportunities can you contribute?
VIDEOS: "A MINUTE FOR MOTHER EARTH"!
A series of very short videos will help your congregation recognize God's call in the midst of climate-related issues. Each "Minute" is based on the curriculum, Wake Up World, A Curriculum on the Climate Crisis for Faith and Community Groups (available free on the website and in print form from Cokesbury). Access the complete series of "Minutes" free at www.wakeupworld.earth.