Spiritual Resources During COVID 19
A light shines in the darkness but the darkness does not overcome it. John 1:5
While many of us are ramping up our skills with technical tools to stay connected with one another, here are some suggested ways that you can access resources for spiritual resilience, courage and creativity during this challenging time.
Read moreMessage from IPC's Executive Director
IPC's Executive Director, Jodi Rose, has a message for our congregations during this time - our work continues!
Toxic Tour Highlights Environmental Injustices
Chesapeake Bay Magazine's Cheryl Costello accompanied IPC on a "Toxic Tour" we hosted for a group of Baltimore faith leaders who are tackling neighborhood blight that makes for poor living conditions and pollutes the watershed.
Click HERE to read more
Environmental Stewardship as an Act of Faith
There is so much good going on in the world, and we were grateful to be recognized in Shared Justice's article for doing our part! Click HERE to read the article!
OWP Awarded Grant
We are excited to announce that the One Water Partnership™ program has been awarded a 3-year grant by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation! Through this program, we will mobilize 100 congregations, of which 36 will commit to deep engagement and high-impact stormwater management or restoration projects. Click HERE to read more.
Faith Leaders Support Fracking Ban
The faith community has spoken! Nine (9) bishops, conference leaders and other denominational leaders signed this letter stating they demand a ban on fracking. Our faith reminds us that we are a Creation that grows and flourishes together as one interconnected web of life. No human, plant, or animal is less rightfully a part of that web of life than another. And yet the practice of fracking leaves a few burdened with environmental pollution and health risks – an imbalance in this web of life. Click HERE to read their letter.
Briefly ...
Grant Funding Available for Congregations to Answer the Call for Healing Creation-Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Can Help Your Congregation NOW! Attend A FREE Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant Writing Workshop or Webinar. Click HERE for the promotional flyer you can share. Click HERE for more details and to register for one of 2 different dates. Click HERE to view a recorded session of the last webinar.
"Efforts to safeguard and cherish the environment need to be infused with a vision of the sacred." Carl Sagan. Read these three amazing articles just published in the newest issue of the Chesapeake Quarterly. Click HERE to learn IPC’s compelling story. Read HERE about Empowering Believers Church’s inspiring environmental journey out of the flood waters. Click HERE for a fascinating read and real eye opener for anyone wishing to have a greater understanding of the linkage between science and faith in “Crisis of Faith – The Case for Religious Environmentalism”.
Tips on Grant Writing. Click HERE to see the slide presentation from the Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant Writing Workshop. This workshop was offered free of charge through Blue Water Congregations, a program of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, Blue Water Baltimore and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Contact Bonnie at bonnie@interfaithchesapeake.org or 410-609-6852 with questions.
Save Some "GREEN"
Baltimore congregations - have you applied for your stormwater utility fee reduction? If not, please visit our Blue Water Congregations page for instructions how to get this done.
Prince George's County congregations - you need to sign up for the Alternative Compliance Program by March 15th to put your fees on hold for the following year. Click here for more information!
Great Videos
-Faith Communities in Maryland Reduce their Polluted Runoff
-Penn State University has assembled several great videos that explain some of the most complicated urban runoff problems, and what different community groups are doing about them.
Congregations Needed to Plant Trees in Montgomery & Prince George's Counties Got Grass? Plant FREE trees instead. Through Trees for Sacred Places you can have a BIG impact on your environment, host a GREAT community building and beautifying event on any faith owned property in Montgomery & Prince George's counties and throughout Maryland that can accommodate 60+ trees. If there isn't enough space available you can team up with another congregation. Don't own your property or have no free space? We can put a team of your volunteers to work. Check out our full webpage HERE.
Hands-on Opportunities for Congregations
Trees for Sacred Places - -Trees are God’s cure-all. See how your congregation can get involved with this wonderful
project. Even if your grounds are not big enough to plant trees we can find a place for your volunteers to help. Your congregation can get FREE trees, tools, planting plans, and educational/spiritual workshops. IPC is seeking congregations throughout Maryland and particularly in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties. Click HERE to read our media release with program highlights. Contact Bonnie at bonnie@interfaithchesapeake.org. See more on our program page HERE.
Blue Water Congregations is still available for communities of faith in Baltimore City and County.
But the spots are filling fast. Help your congregation save money on their stormwater utility fees while healing God’s creation. Through this program several congregations have secured thousands of dollars in grant funding to fulfill their stewardship missions. Contact Bonnie at bonnie@interfaithchesapeake.org See more on our program page HERE.
Journey of Faith by a Riverwise Steward
JOURNEY OF FAITH-by Kirvin Bonner
First I would like to acknowledge the congregation of Payne Memorial AME, Jessup, MD for planting the seed into the Water Shed Steward Academy. By planting the seed, this seed would help produce the fruits of labor to help Clear Water ministry achieve the goals to preserve God’s most precious creation in which we all must inhabit. . . Read the rest of Kirvin's heartfelt & inspiring message HERE.
