Venue to be announced

It’s been a couple of years since the Clean Energy Days sponsored by environmental groups in Kansas, which Kansas IPL was part of and which brought hundreds of concerned Kansans to the Capitol. There’s a very busy legislative schedule this session and environmental issues aren’t really on it. But our elected representatives still need to know that there are many people of faith from all over Kansas who care about our environment and a clean energy future!

The Steering Committee of Kansas IPL will be going to the Capitol building on the morning of February 7 to introduce ourselves to our legislators and share with them some of the issues of most concern for us: incentives for renewables; low-interest loans for energy efficiency improvements for homes, businesses and houses of worship; extending net metering to rural electric coops and BPUs, and more. Our Advocacy Committee is developing the talking points now and will share them with participants before the event.

If you care about these issues and want to help Kansas IPL build a presence in Topeka, advocating for the issues that are vital to us and to the environment, please make plans to join us on “Legislator Education Day”. Send an email to Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber (rebmoti<at>kansasipl.org) letting him know you’re interested in coming, and we’ll make sure you’re kept in the loop before the event.

This year’s National Preach-In on Global Warming will be over Valentine’s Day weekend, February 10-12, 2012. Clergy of all religions, lay leaders, and green team members from across the country are invited to participate, and when you sign up to preach, teach, or host an event, we’ll make a variety of support resources available in January, including:

• Denomination-specific liturgical and thematic notes to help in the preparation of sermons, reflections, devotionals, Bible studies, and youth activities
• Ready-to-go sample sermons on global warming
• Global warming fact sheet and bulletin inserts
• Valentine’s Day postcards for policy makers
• Preaching for the Planet 30-minute film in DVD format

All materials are free-of-charge to those who wish to give a sermon or hold an activity. Resources will be sent in January to those who register. Simply fill out the form on the national IPL website. Download the Preach-In on Global Warming Flyer to print and share with others.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Delaware Street Commons Meeting House, 1222 Delaware Street, Lawrence.

WHO: Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby, will lead the presentation/training to give concerned citizens the tools they need to make their voices heard by decision-makers in Washington. Lynate Pettengill will lead the Lawrence group.

WHY: As the saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Likewise, many people talk about the looming disaster of climate change, but few are working to enact policies to reduce the greenhouse gases causing the problem. We need a national policy to put a price on carbon that will speed the transition to a clean-energy economy. The political will for such a policy is currently lacking. Therefore, it is time for citizens to reclaim their democracy and overcome the powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry. We must do this to secure a safe and sustainable future for our children and our grandchildren. Learn more about Citizens Climate Lobby at www.CitizensClimateLobby.org .

RSVP: Lynate Pettengill, 785.331.0625.

WHAT: A presentation to organize and launch the KC Metro Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (sponsored by the Kanza Group of the Sierra Club and the Heartland Renewable Energy Society)

WHEN: Tuesday, November 15, from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  (Space is limited so RSVP!!)

WHERE: Cedar Roe Library, 5120 Cedar St. Roeland Park, KS
Map

PRESENTER: Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), will lead the presentation/training to give concerned citizens the tools they need to make their voices heard by decision-makers in Washington. Craig Wolfe will lead the Metro KC CCL group.

WHY: As the saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Likewise, many people talk about the looming disaster of climate change, but few are working to enact policies to reduce the greenhouse gases causing the problem. We need a national policy to put a price on carbon that will speed the transition to a clean-energy economy. The political will for such a policy is currently lacking. Therefore, it is time for citizens to reclaim their democracy and overcome the powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry. We must do this to secure a safe and sustainable future for our children and our grandchildren. Learn more about Citizens Climate Lobby at and their FAQ.

PLEASE RSVP: Craig Wolfe,  or 913-299-4474.  (Space is limited)

Colloquy Highlights

We open the Peace Colloquy Friday, October 21, at 7:30 p.m. with the presentation of the 18^th annual Community of Christ International Peace Award to the visionary author, naturalist, and environmental activist, Terry Tempest Williams.  To learn more about Williams, the Community of Christ International Peace Award, and the 2011 Peace Colloquy go to www.cofchrist.org/peaceaward/default.asp.

Additional guests include:

The Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith: Interfaith Partners for the Environment. He is an Episcopal priest, educator, writer, and preacher dedicated to the healing of the environment. Rev. Harper teaches and speaks throughout the U.S.A., inspiring and assisting faith communities to work toward greater environmental stewardship and justice. To learn more about Rev. Harper and GreenFaith go to www.greenfaith.org.

Rabbi Moti Rieber, Coordinator of Kansas Interfaith Power & Light, will be offering a workshop entitled: “Keeping Faith With the Earth,” http://kansasipl.org/.

Peter Mayer, musician and songwriter, is our special guest for Saturday, October 22, “Concert for the Earth.”  Mayer writes songs about our journey as a community, an Earth community!  His music tells stories of ecological and social interconnection, beauty, wonder, and mystery about our little blue planet.  Mayer’s songs are lively, humorous, and offer deep reflections of human interconnection to all of creation. To learn more about Mayer and to listen to some of his songs go to www.petermayer.net.

Additional Workshop Information

http://www.cofchrist.org/peacecolloquy/workshops.asp

Additional Colloquy Opportunities

Begin your Peace Colloquy experience with the Prayer Retreat’s “Earth Prayers: Wonder, Weep, Walk Lightly.” The Prayer Retreat will be from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm on Friday, October 21, at The Rhapsody event center in Independence, MO (http://www.therhapsody.com).

On Saturday, experience a variety of workshops. During the weekend Jr./Sr. Highs will participate in a youth retreat with the theme, “Diggin’ Dirt for God!” On Saturday, children in grades 1-5 will enjoy their special program, “Eco-Peace Kids.”

For more information and to register visit: http://www.cofchrist.org/peacecolloquy/.

The keynote speaker is Rev. Fletcher Harper, the executive director of GreenFaith and a nationally known speaker on environmental stewardship and justice.

The workshop will focus on aspects of environmental work that would most affect pulpit clergy, including: seeing creation stewardship as a theological calling; energizing the mission of your faith community through creation care; challenges and successes of faith-based environmental efforts; and effective strategies and practical tools. There will be plenty of time for discussion and sharing from the participants.

The price for the event is $20 ($10 for seminarians), and reservations are being taken at silwance@gmail.com.

Kansas Expo Center
1 Expocenter Drive
Topeka, Kansas 66612

Congregation Ohev Sholom
5311 West 75th Street
Shawnee Mission, KS 66208

All faiths have as one of their core principles the care and responsible stewardship of God’s creation. A growing number of congregations of all faiths – locally, nationally, and around the world – are becoming involved in the work of protecting Creation by lightening our impact on the earth.

Kansas IPL is at the forefront of these efforts, and partners with houses of worship to take practical steps to reduce energy usage, to teach and preach about Creation Care, and to work for public policies that will help protect our neighbors and those less fortunate from disruptions due to the impact of human activities on the environment.

Come learn about Kansas IPL, about the challenging issues facing our environment, and what people of faith all over the state and the country are doing about it!

This presentation will be led by Rabbi Moti Rieber, Statewide Coordinator of Kansas IPL.