Lent is a time of reflection and renewal. During the 40 days of Lent, we think about the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. Traditionally, we use the time of Lent for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As we become more aware of the effect of human activity on the Earth, we can think about fasting from some of our energy use, fasting from some of the “stuff” that we don’t need and that harms the environment, and taking positive steps to restore nature. Here are a few ideas to get started:
If you want to do a carbon fast or try to do something to support creation:
- Use the PCUSA Tread Lightly calendar during Lent to take individual steps to care for creation.
- Participate in Earth Hour: On Saturday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. local time, we can participate in Earth Hour. We don’t even have to leave home. We just need to turn off the lights for an hour and think about how the healthy earth gives us good food, clean air and fresh water. We can join people all over the world in this activity – turning off the lights and talking about why nature matters. If you want to have a church-based event, you can hold a candlelight service thanking God for creation and praying for the health of the Earth.
- Consider fasting from carbon (as much as possible): Here are some resources to help you do that.
- For information on how you are doing, you can calculate your household and/or faith community’s usage of carbon with this EPA tool.
If you want to inform yourself or your church community about the environment and Creation Care:
- Visit the Women & Water in West Virginia art exhibit at WVU (March 4 through April 30).
- Attend or host a screening of an environmentally-themed film, such as The Devil We Know, which deals with C-8 contamination of the Ohio River near and downstream from Parkersburg and is showing in Huntington on March 8.
- Contact Robin Blakeman for a list of environmental movies that could be loaned to and shown in your congregation.