Eco-Journey
About this blog
Eco-Journey is the blog of the Environmental Ministries Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It will include a wide array of environmental topics: upcoming environmental events, links to interesting articles and studies, information on environmental advocacy, eco-theology topics, and success stories from churches that are going “green.”
Recent posts
- Earth Care as Lenten Practice
- Lenten Devotional from Presbyterians for Earth Care
- Lenten Earth Care hymns
- GreenFaith calling for Fellowship Applications
- Sharing from another Earth Care Congregation
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- Eco-Justice (218)
- Congregations (182)
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- Events (131)
- Climate Change (116)
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Earth Care as Lenten Practice
On the verge of Ash Wednesday, have you thought about how God calls you to remember your "dust-ness" in this holy time? Might there be a practice you could take on during Lent in order to deepen your care for, and relationship to, God's good earth? Click here to read more thoughts of "Earth Care as Lenten Practice."
February 17, 2012
Lenten Devotional from Presbyterians for Earth Care
Once again, grassroots network Presbyterians for Earth Care has produced a timely, thoughtful, and helpful resource to help us think and pray about creation care as part of the Lenten season. This 2012 Lenten devotional resource is called "Feasting on God's Gifts; Fasting in Sorrow," and includes reflections for Ash Wednesday, for each week of Lent, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
This Lenten devotional can be downloaded from the PEC web site. Reflections also will be posted on the PEC blog before the holy day or holy week that the reflection represents.
February 16, 2012
Lenten Earth Care hymns
Presbyterian pastor Carolyn Gillette was commissioned to write a new set of hymns for Lent by The Presbyterian Outlook magazine. (They have posted the new hymn texts on their web site.)
The hymn for the first Sunday in Lent is based on Genesis 9, with its creation care themes. Carolyn gives permission for free use this hymn to any congregation that supports PCUSA Environmental Ministries.
Thanks to Carolyn for this wonderful music ministry!
February 15, 2012
GreenFaith calling for Fellowship Applications
GreenFaith has an 18 month national, interfaith training and education program for religious leaders caring for the earth. Interested parties can apply through June 1st. A webinar to introduce the Fellowship will be hosted in early March. For more information about this interfaith organization and this particular opportunity, click here.
February 15, 2012
Sharing from another Earth Care Congregation
Highlighting the story of another PCUSA Earth Care Congregation, I invite you to celebrate with me Montreat Presbyterian Church's creative idea to have an earth care theologian in residence! Click here to read about this new program.
February 14, 2012
Loving God and Loving God's Earth
Today, as love is celebrated, what ways can we better love and serve God by loving and caring for the earth?
One thing I'm aware of is the "I Love Mountains" campaign, people from all across appalachia asking for alternatives to Mountain-top Removal Coal Mining. Folks from Kentucky have made today (Valentine's Day) an "I Love Mountains" Day and Louisvillians are taking buses over to the state capital for a rally of hope and love for a better future and an end to this kind of mining.
To learn more about current faithful efforts around Mountaintop Removal Coal ...
February 13, 2012
Reformed Churches and Nuclear Energy
The World Communion of Reformed Churches, of which the PCUSA is a part, has shared the news that some of its member churches are asking hard questions about nuclear technology, nuclear energy, and our care for God's creation. A controverial energy source in our time, nuclear energy has few greenhouse emissions (so won't contribute to climate change) yet its radioactive toxic waste is highly dangerous and hard to dispose of safely.
Asian churches particularly highlighted the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor incident and are compelling all churches to consider more theological reflection and action on energy issues. To ...
February 9, 2012
Sharing the Story of an Earth Care Congregation
Story-telling encourages us, inspires us, gives us hope, and helps us risk creative vision. In that spirit, I'd like to share with you, as I'm able, some glimpses of the stories that PCUSA Earth Care Congregations are creating in their congregational life.
Earth Care Congregations vary in their interests, their geographical location, their church size, their leadership, and their current projects. Yet they all have stories to tell about what it is like to be following God's call to tend and keep the "garden" (Gen 2:15) in their part of the world.
I invite you to ...
February 9, 2012
Congregational Food Audit
Listing one of the PCUSA Earth Care Congregations (Maryland Presbyterian Church in Towson, MD) as a success story, GreenFaith has just announced a new faith-based food guide called "The Good Food Toolkit." Available as a free download for those who register with Green Faith, this resource includes a food audit for your congregation, planning tools, teaching tools, and success stories. To learn more about GreenFaith, an interfaith organization that equips and develops faith leaders caring for the earth, click here.
January 31, 2012
Tread Lightly for Lent
As part of the season of Lent, Environmental Ministries is offering "Tread Lightly for Lent," a simple, daily calendar that encourages Presbyterians to reflect theologically about ecojustice and to take action on issues such as water, land, air, people, and other species. Each of the 40 days of Lent has a topic to think about, or do some movement towards, eco-justice. Resource can be used individually as well as in a congregational setting. To download this 2 page resource (if printed back to back), go to: