Faith in Action Newsletter

Welcome to the second GreenFaith US Faith in Action bi-weekly newsletter! See below for the latest opportunities to get inspired, mobilized, and skilled-up with GreenFaith and our partners.

This newsletter is intended for people in the United States (US). If you are not in the US, please click here to update your information with us. Thank you!

In faith,

Aly Tharp, Senior Organizer

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Spiritual Grounding

We are pleased to share this offering of poems, prayers, songs, and more to lift and sustain your spirit. Feel free to use these resources for yourself and your local Circle meetings and events. This is a powerful way to ground together in a shared practice as faithful climate activists across the US.

This week’s offering is a song: "Put Down What You Are Carrying" by Trevor Hall. Fighting climate injustice and working for a better world can feel like a lot! As you listen (or sing along) to the lyrics, think about something you’d like to put down for a while. You might imagine giving that emotional or mental weight to the Earth or handing it over to God, or something else that works for you. Notice what that feels like.

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Community Connection

GreenFaith US Monthly Community Call
Thursday, March 2, 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 CT / 5:30 MT / 4:30 PT

Our community calls are designed to share ideas, challenges, and skills, and to build connections with other climate activists around the country. For our first 2023 meeting, we will update one another on upcoming plans and actions, and think together how we can provide support to grow our local work and our national campaigns. And to close us out we will do a quick share to sign a letter to Bank of America. If you are hoping to grow your circle, feel free to invite new activists to join us! Register Here.

Circle Spotlight! GreenFaith UU Community of Charlotte Circle

Charlotte GF circle member Richard Pratt decided it was time to start a circle in his own faith community. Along with members Margie Storch and Linn Martin, he decided to host the PBS series of “The Power of Big Oil”.

The program galvanized the congregation! They voted to form a GreenFaith Circle and June Blotnick and others took on leadership roles. Then they took action first by signing a petition to protest Duke’s carbon plan, then hosting the “Align Your Money with Your Values” program by Michael Richardson, and putting up a Facebook group. Now they are calling other congregations in Charlotte to gauge their interest.  

Kudos to our newest GreenFaith Circle. You rock!! If you are interested in learning more about the film conversations Richard used, please contact amy@greenfaith.org.  
Do you want to share news from your Circle in an upcoming newsletter? Email amy@greenfaith.org

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Actions

Action Hour - From Texas to Tanzania, Stop New Fossil Fuel Projects!
Tuesday, March 7 - 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1 CT / 2 ET

This action hour will center around stopping the injustices of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) buildout in Tanzania and Uganda, as well as desecration of Texas Gulf Coast frontline communities, both caused by TotalEnergies. We will also put pressure on the Biden Administration to #StopWillow to prevent new oil drilling in the Alaskan arctic, and to declare a national climate emergency. Register here.

Bank of America Action Hour Follow-Up

The Bank of America Action Hour the other week was a great success. If you would like to host an action hour or a letter writing campaign in your congregation, we have the tools! Here are the NEXT STEPS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE:

     1. Host your own virtual action hour - copy and customize this script.

     2. Host a letter writing effort in person Bank Exec Letter Writing Party

If you have any questions, please contact amy@greenfaith.org

Th!rd Act Day of Action, March 21, 2023 – Sign the Pledge!

GreenFaith is teaming up with Th!rd Act for a national day of action to target the biggest banks in the country. If they continue to finance the fossil fuel industry that is destroying our climate, we will flex our financial power and quit these banks if they won’t quit investing in fossil fuels.

On March 21, we will gather at bank branches across the country. Join our GreenFaith grassroots leaders who are participating in San Diego, Charlotte, Boulder, Albany, New York City and more – or host an action in your city!

Learn more about the National Day of Action to Stop Dirty Banks, including FAQs and more resources for how to move your money, and Sign the Banking on our Future Pledge now.

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Education & Learning

People of Faith In Public Action–Training (virtual)
Thursday, March 16 - 7 pm ET / 6 CT / 5 MT / 4 PT

All around the country, people of faith and spirit are deeply concerned about what is happening to our earth. In this session, we will explore from the theological, social, and practical standpoints why it matters that people of faith show up in public and how to do it in a way that feels faithful. If you are shy about taking public actions or are not sure how to begin this will be especially helpful. For seasoned leaders, this is a chance to share your wisdom!   Come to learn, share your experience and get ready for your first/next action! Register Here!

Power Up Training: From Acts to Action
April 11 & 13 - 7-8:30 pm ET / 6-7:30 CT / 5-6:30 MT / 4-5:30 PT, plus on-demand content

This special training program offered by Climate Reality Project is focused on helping grassroots leaders know how to leverage the Infrastructure Act and Inflation Reduction Act to advance the transition to clean, renewable energy and green jobs in your communities. There will be two (mandatory attendance) broadcast programs on April 11 & 13th, and a robust library of on-demand content available April 6-20. Learn more and sign up here.

Sociocracy Training for Climate Activists
Four two-hour sessions, scheduled at times that work for you

Are you tired of meetings full of talk, but little action? Want to learn better ways of making decisions as a group? Sociocracy is a valuable resource for any kind of collaborative group. Sociocracy for All is offering free virtual training for climate activists. Learn more here! If you and/or other GreenFaith Circle members would like to sign up to be part of a GreenFaith learning pod, contact Aly Tharp, aly@greenfaith.org.

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Thank you for reading Faith in Action, Volume 2! Stay tuned for future editions, and contact Aly Tharp with any input or feedback, aly@greenfaith.org