Every day should be a day to give thanks for the blessings of creation, rejoice, and work for earth’s preservation and restoration. But in the rush of life, it is all too easy to get sidetracked by tasks, errands, and to-do’s. It helps that we can agree on at least one day each year to remember, rededicate, and renew our connection and commitment to creation.

Earth Day is April 22nd. What are you doing that day?

Worship: Bring Earth Day into congregational life and worship!

• The National Council of Churches has many downloadable Earth Day resources that you can use in worship and learning.
• Get this great intercultural and interfaith book of Earth prayers: Earth Prayers from around the World: 365 Prayers, Poems, and Invocations for Honoring the Earth, edited by Elizabeth Roberts, and use the prayers in your religious education classes, committee and small group meetings, and at fellowship events.

On Saturday, March 28th, you and your congregation can vote in a world-wide election on global warming by turning off your lights for just one hour.  Earth Hour started in 2007 with 2.2 million people in Sydney, Australia making a statement by turning off their lights.  In 2008, Earth Hour went global with an estimated 50 million people around the world participating.

In 2009, Earth Hour is going to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but what planet you’re from.  Votes will be presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009, where the next steps in government policies for action against global warming will be determined.

Texas Impact presents the Texas Energy Future keynote by Van Jones.

Texas Impact brings you audio and video from Van Jones' keynote speech at the Texas Energy Future conference held at the Texas Capitol on February 18, 2009.

Click here for audio of the keynote.

Click here to watch video from the keynote

A high-quality version of the video is also available. (Note: You can download the audio and video files to your computer by right clicking the links above and choosing "Save Link As..." from the menu.)

At the Texas Energy Future Conference on Wednesday, February 18th, bestselling author Van Jones addressed a crowd of 500 Texans at the state capitol with a message of green opportunity—opportunity for clean energy, new jobs, and hope for those on the margins of society.

The youth of today can feel frustrated and powerless in the face of the impending threat of global warming, and it can be easy for them to blame older generations for "messing it up" for them.  Well, here's something they can do about it: invite them to challenge their congregations to care for Creation!

The Cool Congregations Challenge is a nation-wide contest that challenges congregations and their members to reduce their carbon footprints.  Two participating congregations will win $5,000.  And two Texas congregations will win $500! 

Here's how it works, with ideas for involving your youth group:

The challenge: congregations have a year to reduce their carbon footprints.

There are two national awards:
$5,000 for the congregation in the United States with the lowest overall emissions per congregant
$5,000 for the biggest carbon loser—the congregation in the United States that has shrunk its footprint the most (as a percentage) by the end of the year

In addition, Texas Interfaith Power & Light is offering two state-level awards:
$500 for the Texas congregation with the lowest overall emissions per congregant
$500 for the biggest carbon loser—the Texas congregation that has shrunk its footprint the most (as a percentage) by the end of the year

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER THE COOL CONGREGATIONS CHALLENGE IS MARCH 1, SO DON'T DELAY--DO IT TODAY! 

To get more information and to take the challenge, visit CoolCongregations.com.

Christians from at least eight states will gather at the 2nd annual Caring for Creation Conference at Mount Sequoyah Conference Center March 27-29, 2009.

They are coming together to embrace "creation care" as a matter of faith. They will examine the Biblical and theological foundations for the care of God's creation. They will also attend workshops designed to inspire faith communities to initiate, develop and sustain programs that protect and celebrate God's creation. "It's incumbent upon us as faithful Christians to live a life that's just and sustainable and loving of each other and of the earth", states John Hill.

For details go to www.mountsequoyah.org and click on events; call 800-760-8126 or email programs@mountsequoyah.org.

Take the Interfaith Power and Light Carbon Footprint Quiz

Enter the contest between now and March 1, 2009 for a chance to win money for your congregation:

$5,000 for the congregation with the lowest overall emissions per congregant (in pounds)
$5,000 for the biggest carbon loser - the congregation that has shrunk its footprint the most (as a percentage)

We worked to stop the coal rush here in Texas, and now we’re in the movies!  Sign up to host a discussion in your congregation and you’ll get the new version of this documentary that includes an interview with Bee Moorhead, Executive Director of Texas Interfaith Power and Light, and shows how Texans of faith made a difference.  You’ll also find resources like a downloadable discussion guide, fact sheets about coal and mercury, a guideline for writing letters to the editor, and much more.

It’s that time again—time to consider our habits and resolve to improve them in the New Year.  With that in mind, we have compiled a few simple ideas to help Texans help the environment and save some money in 2009. 

Remember, you can apply many of these tips to congregational life as well!

Use Less Electricity

• Turn off lights and fans when you leave the room.
• Plug your electronic equipment into a power strip** & turn off the whole strip when not in use.
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.**
• Set thermostats** to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.  Slowly adjust by changing one degree at a time.
• Wash clothes in cold water only.

On November 8, 2008, the Rock United Methodist Church in Cedar Park, TX completed the plumbing of a rain water harvesting system that is ready to capture the rain water from the church's roof in three large storage tanks. Three inches of rainfall will yield about 15,000 gallons, enough to fill the tanks. Depending on how the rainfall is spread out over the year, the system should provide the capture and use of about 80,000 to 120,000 gallons of water per year, reducing consumption of the municipal water supply and the related energy, and providing non-chlorinated, calcium-free, neutral-pH water that is ideal for irrigation. It will also reduce storm water runoff and erosion from the church property.