New from Abingdon Press

(Added March 14, 2011)

Check out the Green Church resources for Adults, Teens, and Children

For adults

List of resources

The National Council of Churches of Christ Eco-Justice Programs has a useful list of resources.

Northwest Earth Institute Discussion Courses

Northwest Earth Institute’s hallmark program is a series of discussion courses available to groups anywhere in the United States. The courses provide an enjoyable, supportive setting in which to examine personal values and habits, engage in stimulating conversation, and create meaningful community. The discussion course guides are manuals for self-facilitated courses, taken informally by small groups in a home, workplace at noon, center of faith or any place where people naturally gather. These programs emphasize individual responsibility, the importance of a supportive community, and the dual need to walk lightly on and to take action on behalf of the Earth.

Discussion courses are available on the following topics:

  • Global Warming: Changing CO2urse
  • Menu for the Future – the newest course, added in April 2008
  • Voluntary Simplicity
  • Choices for Sustainable Living
  • Healthy Children, Healthy Planet
  • Discovering a Sense of Place
  • Exploring Deep Ecology
  • Globalization and Its Critics

The Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth has partnered with NWEI. They have materials to help UUs promote the courses, and UUMFE will get a small donation from NWEI for materials ordered.

Check out NWEI’s EcoTips!

Free download of a variety of EcoTips on the following topics:

  • Moving toward zero waste
  • Buying organic
  • Reducing your car’s impact on the planet
  • Maintaining a chemical-free yard
  • Using eco-friendly cleaners
  • Taking green steps at the office
  • Reducing junk mail
  • Paying attention to plastics

Low Carbon Diet: A 30-day program to lose 5,000 pounds

Read more about it. FREE telephone-based training is available hosted by the book’s author. Find out how to register. Also, take a look at the Resources for Community Organizers for outreach tools.

If you order these books, specify NY IP&L and we’ll get a modest contribution from the organization. Thanks!

Eco-Congregations

Eco-Congregation is a program of A Rocha in the UK. We’re not in the UK, but many of their resources may be useful or may inspire some of your own. For more info…

Learn about green energy

It’s easy to sign up for renewable energy in most areas of our state, but many people aren’t sure about

  • why it makes sense to pay more for electricity and
  • how to choose among the options available.

As part of their Green Sanctuary/Green Power campaign, May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society in Syracuse, NY built a windmill and is celebrating those families who have signed up by posting their names.

Here’s information about buying renewable energy. It’s also useful to offer the information from the Power Scorecard comparing the energy choices in your own utility region. It provides a detailed comparison of the different energy options regarding their impact on climate change, ozone, acid rain, and more. It compares renewable energy options to our own utility’s offering as well as to the average offering in NYS. It provides compelling reasons for choosing renewable energy and also helps people choose which renewable energy option makes sense to them. (See our [intlink id=”81″ type=”page”]Buy Green Energy[/intlink] Guide.)

You can provide this information in your congregation’s newsletter, in bulletins, and by displaying posters, tabling during fellowship hour, handing out renewable energy sign up forms from our utility, and by just talking to people!

One important component of this renewable energy campaign is to concurrently encourage people to take energy conservation/efficiency measures – especially since the financial savings from taking these measures often more than pays for the slight additional cost of renewable energy.

Caring for All Creation: On the Road, At the Table, and In the Home

Caring for All Creation: On the Road, At the Table, and In the Home – a resource from Earth Ministry – is a three-part series of positive, priority actions for creation care. It highlights the three areas in which individuals can personally have the greatest beneficial impact on creation’s well-being: through our transportation choices (On the Road), food choices (At the Table), and home maintenance choices (In the Home).

Your congregation can take part in all three or any one or two of these components.Under each program, you’ll find tools to help integrate a creation-care priority into your congregation and into congregants’ daily lives. To receive additional information on these programs e-mail or call Earth Ministry at (206) 632-2426.

The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice

The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice published by Earth Ministry (Oct. 2003). An interfaith study guide on global warming. It includes:

  • A sermon/reflection connecting justice, theology, and spirituality with climate change.
  • quick overview of the scientific consensus on global warming.
  • A spectrum of interfaith voices addressing the theological and ethical dimensions of this crisis.
  • A spectrum of action steps people of faith can take, and policies we might support – both as individuals and as congregations.
  • A bibliography highlighting books, articles, videos, and websites

It’s God’s World: Christians, the Environment, and Climate Change

It’s God’s World: Christians, the Environment, and Climate Change is available from the National Council of Churches.

Lighten Up! A Religious Response to Global Warming

Lighten Up! A Religious Response to Global Warming is a video produced by the Regeneration Project. It seeks to engage a religious response by showing the devastating effects of global climate change and highlight why and how faith communities should respond. The twenty-minute video is an excellent resource for a workshop or other type of educational event at your congregation. It provides an overview of a faith response to global warming and simple ways to cut energy use in your congregation. Each copy of the video comes with a brief Facilitator’s Study Guide. NY IPL will loan a copy of this video to your congregation either in VHS or DVD format.

How will global warming affect life on earth?

How will global warming affect life on earth? is a resource developed by Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.

Environmental Racism: An Ecumenical Study Guide

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. This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

At the Lord’s Table

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. This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

Opening the Letter

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.This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

Our Daily Bread: Harvesters of Hope and Gardeners of Eden

EARTH DAY RESOURCE (2007): Our Daily Bread: Harvesters of Hope and Gardeners of Eden 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. This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

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

STUDY GUIDE: 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. This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

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

STUDY GUIDE: 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.” This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

Land Stewardship Bulletin Insert

BULLETIN INSERT: Land Stewardship Bulletin Insert Additional prayers and ideas for action related to land stewardship. This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

Water Stewards

STUDY GUIDE: 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.” This resource was developed by NCCC Eco-Justice Network.

Caring for Creation NOW

STUDY GUIDE: Caring for Creation NOW This resource was developed by ELCA.

STUDY GUIDE: Outlook Unsettled: A Resource on Climate Change – a project of the Churches’ Agency on Social Issues [Presbyterian, Methodists, Churches of Christ, Quakers]

For children

Earth Ministry has compiled a list of creation-honoring resources for children and youth: books, curricula, and videos.