Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina“In many faith traditions the love of God/Divine and the love of our neighbors are core beliefs and practice,” he said. “It is difficult to love our neighbors if we are polluting the rivers upstream from them or spoiling the soil from which they grow food or taint the air where their children play.
Clergy Retreat- Resilient Hearts and Communities Reconnect and Restore in the Mountains:
Clergy Creation Care Retreat: Inspiring Your Congregation to Care For God’s Creation Sign up Here
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Norman Wirzba, Duke Divinity School
Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology; Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics
Laura Lengnick, Cultivating Resilience and Story Sharing
Deke Arndt , Climate scientist and Editor of State of the Climate Report
Retreat Cost is $55 on or before November 30th and $70 after. REGISTER HERE
Sponsored by Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina and the Food, Health and Ecological Well Being Program at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
Questions? Contact Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director of the Creation Care Alliance of WNC, at Scott@creationcarealliance.org or 828-258-8737 ext. 217.
Before the Flood Film in Morganton
Before the Flood Documentary Viewing
Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
November 11, 2:30pm
Morganton Public Library
204 S King St, Morganton, NC 28655
Free Admission
Hosted by Grace Episcopal Church and Burke County Public Library
STRAWS MOVIE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS TO SHOW IN ASHEVILLE
STRAWS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS TO SHOW IN ASHEVILLE
7:30 PM on Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave
ASHEVILLE, NC – With colorful straw history animation narrated by Oscar winner Tim Robbins, STRAWS (30 minutes) leaves audiences with a clear understanding of the problems caused by plastic pollution and empowers individuals to be part of the solution.
It’s estimated every day 500,000,000+ plastic straws are used once and tossed in the U.S. alone. Ocean Conservancy ranks straws as the #5 most found litter item on beaches. They’re non-recyclable, so they wind up in landfills, litter streets and add to the estimated 8.5 million metric tons of plastic debris in oceans annually.
Director Linda Booker interviews Jackie Nunez, founder of The Last Plastic Straw, restaurant owners with “Straws by Request Only” policies, renown marine biologist and author Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, researcher Dr. Jenna Jambeck and Drifters Project artist Pam Longobardi. In Costa Rica we meet Turtle researchers Nathan Robinson and Christine Figgener, PhD student, Texas A&M University, who rescued and filmed the removal of a plastic straw in a sea turtle’s nose that went viral in 2015. That story inspired middle school aged student Max Machum to start #NoStrawChallenge #SinPajillaPorFavor and join a movement around the world that’s making a sea of change, one plastic straw at a time.
This award-winning film that has been sweeping the nation will be shown at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave, in Asheville. A discussion of the issue follows the movie. The showing is free but a $5 donation is suggested. Sponsored by the Creation Care Alliance of WNC, EARTH Team of Grace Covenant Presbyterian, and Toward Zero Waste. Download a flyer here.
Contact: Jane L. Laping; 828-277-7342; 828-772-0379; janelaping@sbcglobal.net
Find the Straws Facebook Event
Faith in (climate) crisis: Why Asheville should vote yes on renewable energy/ OPINION
CCA Director, Scott Hardin-Nieri, offered a Guest Editorial with the Citizen-Times on the eve of the City Council Vote on the 100% Renewable Energy Resolution.
“And just as I know it is necessary for faith communities to take bold, lasting steps to create a legacy of love for future generations, it is necessary for City Council to demonstrate bold leadership to avert climate chaos. That’s why I encourage Asheville City Council to vote yes on a resolution to transition city municipal operations to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.”
Creation Care Alliance Pre-Gathering Celebration!
Collaborators, Supporters, Volunteers, and Friends join us for the
Creation Care Alliance Pre-Gathering Celebration!
Wednesday, October 24, 5:00-6pm Just before the Mountaintrue Fall Gathering
New Belgium Brewery (outside at the Liquid Center) 21 Craven Street
Wednesday, October 24, people will come together for the MountainTrue Fall Gathering, friends of Creation Care Alliance are invited to a special pre-event at the New Belgium Liquid Center just a little bit before the larger gathering so we can celebrate together the work of compassion and love that continues to grow. Come hear good news stories, say hello to CCA Steering team and friends, then if you are planning on heading to the MountainTrue Members Gathering at 6pm we will walk over together to the Brewhouse to continue the celebration with the greater MountainTrue community. Come just to the CCA Celebration or stay for 2 celebrations. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
Mission Earth in the News “Teaching youth the value of God’s creation”
The Creation Care Alliance and Asheville Youth Mission collaborative project Mission: Earth was highlighted in the Hendersonville Blueridge Now Paper. By Amy B. McCraw
http://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20181005/teaching-youth-value-of-gods-creation
Letter of gratitude and encouragement to AVL City Council regarding new City Manager
The Asheville City Council is discerning the best candidates for the next City Manager. The CCA Director wrote a letter of gratitude and encouragement to the Council.
September 25, 2018
Dear Council Members, As you seek to hire a gifted and qualified City Manager, I am writing to offer gratitude and encouragement – gratitude for your leadership in working toward a hospitable, equitable, and vibrant city, and encouragement to hire someone whose values aligns with your expressed commitment to a resilient and sustainable future.
First, the gratitude.
In reading the strategic leadership opportunities for the City Manager candidate I see a particular concern for children, people of color, and those facing chronic and acute economic challenges. Thank you. I share those values as well. As a clergy person within the Christian tradition, I lean into a practice of loving God and my neighbor as myself.
The encouragement.
Beyond the social, economic and community opportunities expressed in the brochure, the City has a history of investing in sustainability and caring for creation including a 31% reduction in the city carbon footprint since 2008. My hope is that your finalists for the City Manager position will all align with your priorities of sustainability, as well as your economic and social aspirations.
Specifically, may you seek a candidate who will elevate and integrate the Office of Sustainability in order for Asheville to be a more hospitable place for the both anticipated new neighbors to Asheville while ensuring that none of our current neighbors are left behind.
May you seek someone who has experience in climate resiliency, who has a clear understanding of sustainability and who will help end our dependence on fossil fuels while moving us toward a future of clean energy innovation and collaboration.
As the Director of the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, I have the privilege of listening to faith communities share what they deeply care about. I hear them speak not only about their own faith community, their neighborhood or their city; they seek to create a beautiful world for future generations and for all of creation.
As you hear the stories and qualifications of the candidates, may your heart quicken when you hear visions of creative leadership around sustainability. May you lean in more closely to listen to the candidates who are both brilliant and tenaciously compassionate.
It will be a difficult discernment. I can imagine you will get many well-qualified candidates to help lead this wonderful city. May the best shine in you as you seek the best in others.
Thank you,
Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri
Director, Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina
Fast and Prayer for Climate Nov. 12-21
Posted on by Scott Hardin-Nieri
Rev. Laura Collins offered prayers on Monday to support Dr. Steve Norris in his Thanksgiving fast for people and creation as we face climate change. He plans to fast for 10 days and will be present at Vance Monument from about 7:30 am to sundown each day. Please consider joining him for conversation and/or to offer solidarity. You may also plan to fast or pray from where you are and let him know you are with him. Each day at noon there will be a blessing read or prayer offered.
You can see News coverage of the first day as reported by WLOS
“Gandhi fasted when he became desperate about what happened in India. I feel desperate about climate change,” Organizer Dr. Steve Norris said of the reasons behind the fasting and prayers.
Norris said his concerns have been growing as he watches natural disasters worsening.
You can learn more by contacting Steve at earthsun2@gmail.com
Category: CCA in the News, Educational Resources, Prayers & Meditation Practices, Public Comments & Testimony, Uncategorized Tags: 100% renewable, activism, Church, climate activism, climate change, climate science, Creation Care, faith, fasting, gratitude, inspiration, meditation, social justice, spirit, Spirituality, Thanksgiving