earthcare conngregation program - associaton of unity church

8/7/2019 EarthCare Conngregation Program - Associaton of Unity Church

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InspireWith inspiration, our prayers and visionbegin to move into outer expression.Ministries can inspire care of the earth byincluding an earth focus in their activities,such as Sunday services, prayers, songs,and special ceremonies. The Truth thatGod is everywhere present in Creation

then becomes alive in people’s minds andhearts, and translates into daily action.

LearnIt is important to gather information andresources to educate ourselves inpreparation for future action. Further,sponsoring educational activities in our ministries opens a space for individuals--and the community—to explore, pray, anddiscern greater understanding aboutcomplex environmental topics. Such

experiences may bring into ministries thechallenging issues of life on earth andcreate spiritual connections with them.Educating people to pray first and act uponguidance fosters unity and God-centeredaction. Obvious avenues for communication include the ministrynewsletter, Sunday bulletin, and displays.

Take ActionTo express loving care for the earthrequires a commitment of time, energy,

and money. The specific actions taken willdepend on the needs and vision of thecommunity. The activities may be simple or complex, contained solely within theministry, or reach out into the broader community.

We encourage EarthCare Congregationsto express their vision and creativity byadopting sustainable lifestyle practices.The actions of the ministry can be a modeland encourage individuals to makechanges in their personal lives as well.

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ShareSharing our ideas and successes throughword-of-mouth, presentations, and newsmedia, is important for fostering the workwithin our congregations and the larger community. Networking with other groupsand programs reminds us that we are notalone in the task of caring for creation.

Unity ministries may network with localconservation groups, interfaith creationcare centers, and spiritual centers of other denominations with creation careprograms. As we become aware of thework within Unity and elsewhere, our common ground—Earth—becomes asacred home for unity. By raisingawareness of our common cause, we canunite our actions to care for humanity andthe planet that sustains us.

RenewEvery work has its seasons. There areebbs and flows in EarthCare work.However, even during a “winter” season of low energy for projects, we can maintainsacred space for creation through Sundayservices and special ceremonies. Prayer and visioning anew, perhaps annually,allows the ministry to re-assess where tofocus its efforts.

* Based on the “Path to Earth Care” from the Northwest Region of the Association of Unity Churches International,

2007. UCIE revision 2009.

Please contact us at [email protected] for more details about pursuing these

Tracks or involving your ministry inEarthCare.

Rev. 11-1-09

EarthCareCongregation Program

Overview

The EarthCare Team, a ministry team of the Association of Unity ChurchesInternational, has designed the EarthCareCongregation Program to assistcongregations in integrating an earth-oriented spirituality into their ministry.

The program consists of 3 components:

• EarthCare Covenant• EarthCare Commitment• EarthCare Congregation Certification

Congregations may choose any of thethree Tracks. They are designed withincreasing levels of commitment andactivities, from setting an intention with theCovenant, to accomplishing somemeaningful actions in the CommitmentProgram, to expressing EarthCare in allaspects of the ministry by becoming an

EarthCare Congregation.

Regardless of the option chosen, it isimportant that the ministry leadership beincluded in discerning EarthCare actionsthat are appropriate for the ministry.

We welcome questions that will help your congregation discern which component(s)of the EarthCare Congregation Program tochoose. We are also willing to support youin implementing those component(s).Please contact us at [email protected].



Tracks for EarthCare

Involvement

• Track A - EarthCare Covenant

An EarthCare Covenant is a sacred trustbetween the congregation and Spirit. Acovenant expresses a consciousawareness of our oneness with creationand a commitment by the congregation tocare for the earth as a significantcomponent of the ministry.

Congregations may choose to adopt aprovided EarthCare Covenant or createtheir own. Writing their own covenant canbe extremely meaningful for thecongregation as they develop their visionfor the work. We suggest that the covenantbe presented and signed at a ceremonyinvolving the entire community, and postedin the ministry as a declaration of their sacred trust.

• Track B - EarthCareCommitment

In this Track, the congregation and ministryleadership are invited to create a vision for EarthCare and then take actions thatdemonstrate a commitment to caring for creation.

Congregations may choose any three of the seven steps described in The Path toEarthCare and identify actions for thosesteps that are appropriate for the ministry.

There are many easy ways to begin to carefor creation. Some examples follow.

• hold a special service for EarthDay Sunday

• include prayers for creation in eachSunday service

• recycle office paper • replace incandescent light bulbs

with compact fluorescent bulbs

•

minimize waste by using washabledinnerware for hospitality• show a documentary film on an

EarthCare topic• hold a study group on sustainable

living or voluntary simplicity

• participate in activities alreadyplanned by other organizations,such as local stream/neighborhood/park or roadwaycleanup days, The NatureConservancy’s Plant a BillionTrees campaign, etc.

• Track C - EarthCareCongregation Certification

Some congregations may decide tocomplete the entire EarthCareCongregation Certification process, asdescribed here and outlined in theCertification Checklist, and then becomecertified as an EarthCare Congregation.The EarthCare Congregation Certification

track is a guide to active fulfillment of theministry’s vision for EarthCare.

Based on The Path to EarthCare theEarthCare Congregation Certification trackis a comprehensive approach to an earth-oriented spirituality that touches the entirelife of the ministry. This track is centeredon cultivating a consciousness for EarthCare that includes both spiritual andpractical actions. It is our experience that,by following this process, EarthCare can

be integrated into the life of the ministry ina way that is sustainable over time.

“The Path” to EarthCare

A conscious strategy can help us achievesuccess in any undertaking. This 7-stepPath is recommended because it recognizes spiritual commitment and visioning as essential parts of reaching our goals. Ministries pursuing a commitment toEarthCare would likely cycle through thesesteps many times as they proceed along their path.*

PrayOur consciousness of God opens the wayfor ideas, inspiration, and guidance. Tobegin EarthCare in a ministry, first create aconsciousness for the work through prayer.Prayer guides the ministry to its ownunique expressions of caring for creation.

VisionOnce a ministry discerns, through prayer, a

call to adopt EarthCare, they should createa vision for the work with the ministryleadership. This may take the form of avision statement, a mission statement or covenant to care for creation.

When developing a vision for EarthCare,the congregation may hold a prayerfuldialogue by asking questions such as:“How do we perceive God?” “What is our relationship to God’s creation?” “How canwe be good stewards of Earth?”

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earthcare conngregation program - associaton of unity church

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