Climate Change Sabbath Toolkit
Plan a Climate Change Sabbath a Sunday after Easter near Earth Day or Arbor Day to unite our efforts to preserve our planet and our very way of life (food production, ecosystem and species survival, property and health preservation, protecting vulnerable populations), and to inspire action toward that goal. Theological perspectives and worship resources offered in this toolkit help make the case for action on the moral imperative for action on climate change. Our suggested educational events, discussions, and speakers can enhance your congregation’s understanding of this intimidating issue, while action and advocacy options presented will contribute in little and large ways towards slowing the effects of climate chaos.
Virtual Worship Service
Can’t plan your own Climate Sabbath at this time? Join us for a virtual worship service! The service will be designed for April 18th/25th, 2021 but it can be used at any time.
Creation Justice
Find other resources to guide your congregation into being a more climate friendly community
A Just World for all
Find resources on church designations and our 3 Great Loves: love of neighbor, children, and creation
Why Faith Communities are Uniquely Equipped for this Work:
Offering Visions of Hope and Opportunity
Worship offers visions of hope and opportunity for building fellowship and community through working and learning together on issues related to our faith. Faith communities are especially suited to offer hope for positive change and allowing persons to imagine ‘what could be’ and what we are called to do as people of faith.
Caring for the Poor and Vulnerable
We know that whatever happens with the climate patterns, it will first and foremost impact ‘the least of these’ – the poor and the vulnerable globally, nationally, and in our own communities. People of limited means and limited personal power have the least amount of capacity to prepare, adapt and survive the natural disasters and food shortages anticipated in our future. As people faithful to a God who calls us to care for the least among us, any action to slow climate change is action not on our behalf, but on theirs.
Support from the National UCC
The United Church of Christ, as well as many other denominations, has long been on record supporting action on Climate Change. Green Faith links to many faiths and denominations and what they have to say and do about climate change.
Addressing climate change has great potential to strengthen our economy. Working to stop climate change can drive economic growth, while unchecked climate change is expected to have dire economic consequences. For example, Citibank estimates the costs of unchecked climate change at more than $40 trillion by 2060. Meanwhile, more than 4 million Americans now work in wind, solar, energy efficiency and other clean energy jobs — far more than the 160,000 who work in the coal industry — and experts estimate that investing in revitalizing water infrastructure in the U.S. could generate 1.3 million more jobs.1 If we resolve global warming, we also create a new and green Third Industrial Revolution. In fact, the 2019 General Synod of the UCC passed a resolution endorsing the ‘Green New Deal’, a congressional proposal laying out a plan for tackling climate change through economic growth.
Action Over Apathy
Lastly, action is always preferable to apathy. The discouraged person asks, “Why bother?” But the wise person’s response is always, “Why not try?” For this situation, there is no downside to trying. Why not try? And what are we waiting for?