Called to Active Hope - for the Water

Water brought from all around the world was poured into a common bowl at a moving prayer ceremony to "Honor Our Sacred Rivers" held on the banks of the Anacostia River and sponsored by the Anacostia Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper and Patuxent Riverkeeper on April 28 in advance of the People's Climate March. The purpose of the gathering was to "lift our voices to demand clean water" and bring attention to the pollution in our local rivers and worldwide. The ceremony also affirmed that we are part of a worldwide effort to protect the sacredness of water, essential for life.

When we prayerfully act locally to protect our watershed, we are engaging in what Joanna Macy would call "active hope." It's acting on that which we hope for, dream of, not waiting for it to happen. She says, Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act. We belong to this world. The web of life is calling to us at this time.

Active hope for the water is manifesting right here in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed among faith communities like St. Anthony's and Greenbelt Community Church, both celebrating their projects on Earth Day Sunday.

St. Anthony's  of Padua Catholic Church was featured in an article in the Catholic Review describing Father Ty Hullinger's recent blessing of their stormwater projects: With the assistance of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, Blue Water Baltimore and grant moneys from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, St. Anthony of Padua converted a portion of the parking lot on the east side of its rectangular campus on Frankford Avenue into a stormwater bio-retention garden. By doing so they are fulfilling the stormwater goal of "slow it down, spread it out, sink it in" with the transformation of 1,400 square feet of formerly impervious surface, which will help keep pollution out of our local waters.

At Greenbelt Community Church, a 500 gallon capacity cistern was installed by the Anacostia Riverkeeper so that stormwater runoff from their roof is captured allowing the congregation to use the water for their flower gardens and grounds! After delivering an Earth Day sermon calling for their congregation to become an "earth caring congregation," Pastor Glennyce Grindstaff led the congregation outside for a blessing of the cistern. As part of the project IPC and Anacostia Riverkeeper offered a spiritual and environmental workshop addressing the faith basis for earth stewardship along with watershed literacy.

These are just a few of the examples of hope through prayerful action for our local sacred waters, indeed, responding to the "web of life calling to us at this time" for restoration and healing. 

Maryland Legislative Update

We're almost there but a few bills remain to be signed by the Governor even though they passed the House and Senate. Can you sprint with us to the finish line?

Bills that Passed – But Call Gov. Hogan and tell him to sign them! These bills passed, but we’re waiting for Gov. Hogan to sign them. He has until early May to sign them, veto them, or let them become law without his signature. Please call Gov. Hogan and urge him to sign these bills! His number is 410-974-3901.

• SB422/HB602 - Keep Antibiotics Effective Act – This bill stops the use of antibiotics on animals that are not sick. With the rise of “superbugs” resulting from profuse use of antibiotics, this bill will cut back on inhumane treatment of animals for our quick and cheap production of food, and increase the effectiveness of antibiotics for medical purposes.

• SB 386/HB 830 - Pollinator Habitat Plans – This bill prohibits the use of pesticides known to harm bees on state-designated pollinator habitats. In other words, it was great that the state designates pollinator habitats, but this bill clarified that the state shouldn’t use neonic pesticides in those habitats!

Sign up for our next ACP Workshop on May 10th. Prince George's County congregations can learn how to save money through the Alternative Compliance Program Options 2 & 3. Sign-up HERE for the workshop and download and share the flyer HERE. This program is offered by IPC and our partner the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.