Bruce Hunn: Christian Stewardship in Action–How Solar Power Sustains Our Church and Mission

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Bruce Hunn, a member of IPL-New Mexico El Paso’s Cool Congregations Committee (which addresses energy efficiency and solar power), wrote a great opinion piece in the Sandoval Signpost, published on Dec. 13 Bruce is a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Rio Rancho.

Here is an excerpt.

As faith leaders, we carry the responsibility not only to guide our congregation spiritually, but to care for creation and to be good stewards of church resources provided by our Creator. It’s a delicate balance—making sure the lights stay on, while ensuring every dollar is spent with purpose.

“There’s something profoundly symbolic about a place of worship being powered by the sun—by God’s source of life itself. It reminds us that we are all part of something greater, that we are called to care for God’s creation…

Read the full article

 

Michigan IPL Helps 15 Food Providers in Detroit Become ‘Climate Resilient Hubs’

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The Michigan chapter of Interfaith Power & Light is partnering on a $20 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant, awarded to EcoWorks to help 15 food pantries and soup kitchens across the city of Detroit become “climate resilience hubs.” Solar Faithful is another collaborator on this historic project.
“When a community-serving organization becomes a climate resilience hub, it means their building is better prepared to operate during the harsh the conditions of our destabilized climate: storms, flooding, extreme temperatures, and power outages,” said Leah Wiste, executive director of  Michigan IPL. “It can generate and store its own power (often using solar panels, battery backup and generators) so that it can offer continuous services to the community when the power grid is down. It might be a refuge for community members seeking warmth or cooling, or a place where people can charge their cell phones or operate medical devices when they don’t have power at home.”
Added Wiste: “We are so proud that we get to help bring federal resources to the grassroots level, including to some of our most vulnerable neighbors: people experiencing food insecurity. We look forward to sharing more about these projects and stories as they unfold over the next 3 years.”
Here articles in  The Detroit News and WXYZ

Please Contact Our Leaders to Protect The Caja del Rio

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A request from Rev. Andrew Black, an IPL-NM/EP board member and coordinator of Earthkeepers 360 He is also a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe.

Dear New Mexico Spiritual, Tribal and Faith Leaders,

Please join me in calling on President Biden, Secretary Haaland and the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to make the Caja del Rio a National Monument. The Caja del Rio is one of the most remarkable cultural, spiritual, archaeological and ecological landscapes in the southwest. To learn more about the Caja del Rio check out this film. An op-ed I wrote on Caja del Rio is HERE. In calling for a national monument, we will be joining the All Pueblo Council of Governors, Santa Fe County Commission, and Santa Fe Mayor.
As spiritual, tribal and faith leaders, I am asking you to SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER. 
The deadline to sign on is Wednesday, December 18th. Also I’ve attached the letter. Please feel free to share this letter with other spiritual, Tribal and faith leaders you work with and encourage them to sign on as well.
For those interested in extra credit, please call Senators Heinrich and Lujan and Representatives Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury and Vasquez offices and ask them to support President Biden designating the Caja del Rio as a National Monument.
Thank you and feel free to reach out if you have any questions,
Reverend Andrew Black
EarthKeepers 360 and First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe
For more about our work at EarthKeepers 360 and to sign up for our weekly reflections please visit: https://earthkeepers360.org