Several public events highlighting a Christian understanding of environmental justice are planned by NC Interfaith Power& Light (NCIPL) for the week of September 20-26, 2015, coinciding with Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, DC. All the activities are being hosted by Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 8849 Ray Rd., Raleigh, NC, in partnership with NCIPL and the NC Council of Churches.
Becoming a Deeper Green Church – Sun., Sept. 20, 2015, 9-10 am and 10:15-11:15 am.
Carl Sigel, Environmental Coordinator for the Raleigh Convocation, Episcopal Diocese of NC, and NCIPL Chair, will lead of discussion on Dr. Jerry Cappel’s essay Deeper Green Churches, to explore 1) why Creation care operates only in the periphery of our spiritual and corporate lives in many of our churches; 2) why it is important to move it to a more central place; and 3) how we can incorporate Creation care into our worship, teaching, and way we think about justice.
Let Us Pray Together – Weds, Sept 23, 2015, 5:30 -8 pm.
From 5:30 to 7 pm, join NCIPL and Moms Clean Air Force for a family-focused event highlighting our moral call to protect the health of our children and the environment. The first hour will be fellowship time with food, games, activities, music and advocacy opportunities for “kids” of all ages. A time of community prayer, will be held at 6:30 pm, followed by a 7 pm ecumenical prayer vigil service, as part of a nationwide vigil coinciding with Pope Francis’ address to Congress.
As Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical on the environment, “Social love moves us to devise larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and to encourage a ‘culture of care’ which permeates all of society. When we feel that God is calling us to intervene with others in the social dynamics, we should realize that this too is part of our spirituality, which is an exercise of charity and, as such, matures and sanctifies us”.
Ecological Spirituality: Caring for Our Common Home, Sat. Sept 26, 2015, 1-4 pm.
You are invited to be an active participant in a workshop based on Pope Francis’ world-shaking letter LAUDATUM SI’ (Praise be to You, My Lord!), giving you an opportunity to explore the pope’s letter at a deeper level and its impact on our world and you personally.
If you plan to attend either of the first two events, please email cwsigel@aol.com. If you plan to attend the last event, please email janevella@gmail.com. You will receive a PDF file of the encyclical and a description of the worship.