---

Reflection: A Lutheran and a UCC Pastor Show Their Souls

The US Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt as the head of the EPA on Friday. No matter how you are feeling about his appointment, one thing is for certain, he plans to shift the focus of the EPA, leaving the first line of defense for the environment to be state agencies, not the federal government. Are we prepared, organized, equipped, and ready to show our soul to defend God's Creation in our home states? 

Two faith leaders are answering yes. One is for a fracking ban, and one for forests. 

Marty Reisinger, of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lutherville, is doing everything in his ability to rally fellow Lutherans to speak out against fracking. He's calling on Lutherans -- and all the faithful -- to join him in letter-writing, phone-calling, participate in rallies, and submit written testimony about the proposed fracking ban.

"Bishop Gohl of the DE-MD Synod (ELCA), along with his colleagues in the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council’s Leaders Group, have called on the Maryland General Assembly to pass a statewide ban on fracking.  Their statement, released in January 2017, recognizes the significant risks posed by fracking. In his recent encyclical, Pope Francis said, 'Each of us has a personal responsibility to care for creation, this precious gift which God has entrusted to us. …we are not its masters. Stewards, but not masters. …we are often guided by the pride of dominating, possessing, manipulating, exploiting…'"  (Read the rest of Marty's letter here)

Marty reminds us in his letter of a few key ways you can make your voice heard on the fracking ban:

• Call your state representatives -- even if you've done it already. Click here to look up your state representative and get their contact information. 
• Attend a rally at the Maryland Statehouse on March 2nd -- bus transportation is being provided throughout the state
• Get educated on the issues - fracking is not just a concern for western Maryland, this map shows gas basins throughout the state

Pastor Ryan Sirmons, of the United Church of Christ in Annapolis, is fighting for forests. He sat down with Del. Healey and developers to speak about shared responsibility for preserving tree canopy for future generations and will be testifying at the House hearing on the bill this Wednesday. He models how we can all walk the talk:

• Call your state representatives - click here for bill number details and other tips
• Attend the rally this Wednesday.
• Our new board member McKay Jenkins wrote an Op-Ed about forest conservation that will be published in the Baltimore Sun on Wednesday. Look for it online Tuesday or in print Wednesday, and share it on social media and with your friends and coworkers.

I don't need to tell you to care about clean water. And, I don't need to tell you of moral duty to protect future generations and those most vulnerable. You're reading this because you already get it. So, take that one step further and call, show up for rallies, and remind our legislators that you are watching. 

The EPA will have a very different scope of work under a new administrator. But, our scope of work is the same: stand up, speak out, and show your soul.   

---

One Water Partnership

We are so excited to announce our newest program - One Water Partnership for congregations in the Jones Falls sub-watershed in Baltimore City and County. This program will kick off with a series of spiritually led nature walks. Check out our web page HERE for more details and to register. For more information contact Bonnie Sorak at 443-799-0349. 

---

Prince George's County Alternative Compliance Program

Register for March 4th Workshop NOW! Thanks to Jerusalem AME Church in Clinton for hosting the first session. Prince George's County congregations can learn how to save money through the Alternative Compliance Program Options 2 & 3.  Sign-up HERE for one of the workshops offered on March 4th, April 4th and May 10th. Download and share the flyer HERE. Offered by IPC and our partner the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

---

Hurry to Sign Up - Only 6 spots left in our Vacation Bible School/Sunday School Program in Prince George's County

Thanks to Fort Washington Baptist Church, Walker Mill Baptist Church, Jerusalem AME and Richie Baptist Church that have already signed up!  And we are grateful that Mt. Ennon Baptist Church has graciously agreed to host the Training sessions.

A FREE training and curriculum for a Vacation Bible School (VBS) or SundaySchool program will be offered to churches in Prince George's County, through a grant provided by Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Prince George's County Department of Environment! Our program offers, for free:

• Email [email protected] to reserve your spot today!water-themed curriculum for 5 separate activities with materials
• training for your lead teachers, including a boat ride on the Anacostia for an in-depth experience of the content you'll be teaching
• pre-printed banner to hang outside and advertise your program
• one-on-one support for your team to help you succeed in putting on the program for your youth
• participating congregations will receive a 25% discount off their Clean Water Fee since this satisfies the educational requirement 
• More information on this flyer
• Click HERE to register for the workshops

---

Water Justice

Trinity Institute at the Cathedral of the Incarnation Baltimore will once again host the Trinity Institute Conference and this year's theme is Water Justice. Access to clean water is an essential human right, yet such access is increasingly compromised by droughts, pollution, rising tides, and flooding. These effects of climate change are most tangibly felt by the very people the Gospel urges us to look to—the marginalized and the vulnerable. This conference, infused with spiritual principles and common prayer along with science and solutions, allows us to deeply examine what connects us, and empowers us to take unified, faith-based action on the front lines of the water justice movement. Click HERE for more information or click HERE to register.

---

Journey Through Lent With Our Creation Care Calendar

Lent, which begins March 1st, is a time when Christian communities pray, fast, and share as they listen more intently for God. This year, have your church join with many others in heeding the call to be stewards of God’s Creation. Each day calls on us to take a different action and each of these actions will help to preserve God’s great gift of Creation.

May this season serve as a wake-up call to be mindful of the ways that our daily choices impact both “our common home” and all those with whom we share it, especially people living in poverty.

This year’s calendar is produced in partnership with our friends at Interfaith Power & Light and Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. We invite you to photocopy it double-sided and share with your community as a bulletin insert.

Download Lenten Creation Care Calendar for DC
Download Lenten Creation Care Calendar for Maryland
Download Lenten Creation Care Calendar for Northern Virginia