Sustainability and stewardship are topics circulating with renewed vigor in the Diocese of Missouri.
On Saturday, March 20, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, at Christ Church Cathedral, attend the Global Warming Cafe: from Conversation to Action. We know that global warming is a dangerous reality, one that will increasingly touch our lives, those of our children and grandchildren, and many of the poorest people on our planet. Serious consequences can already be seen in the form of floods, heat waves, more violent storms and the rise of sea levels. World Cafe is a wonderfully facilitated conversation. (Your editor has a good deal of experience with the conversation cafe movement, and when we were planning the first meeting of the online Episcopal School for Ministry book club mentioned this conversation style to Fr. Rod Wiltse, book club facilitator. Father Rod exclaimed, “Oh, Lectio Divina!”) At the end of the conversation, each participant in the conversation considers making a pledge to reduce his or her carbon footprint. If the cafe organizers are successful in their goal of 1,000 Cafés, this could result in a collective pledge of over 250 million pounds of carbon reduction. Please RSVP by March 15: bgclick@gmail.com
Have you met Sabine McDowell? Some know her as Grace-Kirkwood Rector Todd’s better half, and many others as a LEED AP and sustainability consultant. Her website, Our Green Choices, is filled with resources, including Green Choices for Places of Worship. Sabine has offered to work with any parish on energy audits, explaining what they are and why they are such a great opportunity, and updated information on Ameren specifics.
This year’s diocesan Flower Festival at Christ Church Cathedral, May 1 & 2, will be more focused on taking responsibility for the stewardship of what God has created. On Saturday a “Green Expo” is planned with information, demonstrations, displays and more about how to make your home, church, school, office and life more eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable. Flower Festival preacher on Saturday and Sunday will be the Rev. Becca Stevens. More details to follow from the festival planning committee.
Tags: Congregational Resource, Conversation, Energy, Environment, Green
