I did not expect to enjoy this book. “As if being a youth pastor and climate change aren’t challenging enough without combining the two,” I thought. As I dove into chapter 1, entitled “All this pain,” I steeled myself for something academic and depressing.  What I found were stories rooted in joy and love, that make being with youth and young adults sound like the best job in the world. The book describes real people, grappling with hard questions together while being the church in everyday ways: volunteering, taking spiritual retreats in nature, evaluating lifestyle choices, finding ways ..read more

MCUSA’s biennial MennoCon and delegate sessions, will take place the first week of July 2023. The Climate Summit is distinct from the convention. It is an option for both MennoCon youth and young adults and others. Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is hosting a collaborative Youth & Young Adult Climate Summit, July 7, 2023, at the Kansas City (Missouri) Convention Center. The event will bring together experts in climate change, spiritual activism and social justice to explore the ways that young people ages 14 to 25 can put their faith to work to address the spiritual and human crisis cau ..read more

The Five-Ton Life: Carbon, America and the Culture That May Save Us, by Susan Subak Reviewed by Jennifer Schrock If you are getting tired of our solar emphasis this year, this book is for you. While the author is not opposed to renewable energy per se, she is a searing critic of green-washed single-answer solutions that don’t take a serious look at consumption across all areas: solar-powered LEED buildings designed with grand, hard-to-heat atriums and occupied by frequent flyers, for example.  Simple lifestyle has spent a decade or so in the doghouse, as our grim climate prognosis p ..read more

The climate activists at First Mennonite Church of San Francisco know how to put a spark in their work and make it sparkle. Thanks for the tips, first Mennos and for taking the time to share your news.  Engaging voters through hand-written notes With the approach of the 2020 election, the FMCSF Climate Action Group became convinced that there were few things more dangerous to our earth than politicians promoting falsehoods about the climate crisis and enacting policies based on those falsehoods.  This inspired Steve Kusmer, a participant, to organize a VoteForward letter writing grou ..read more

Along with the how-to booklet we put out in 2022, MCCN is offering two evening webinars for churches considering solar. Join us and gain valuable information and contacts. The registration form is below. MCCN Webinar: Hearing from Churches that have Installed Solar Panels7 to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan 26, 2023 This webinar brings together “solar champions” from four congregations. The panelists are Jon Rudy from Landisville Mennonite Church, PA; Heather Wolfe from Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship, VT; Clyde Schwanke from Southern Hills Mennonite Church, KS; Rob Yost from Hillcrest Mennonit ..read more

This press release from one of our congregations is a good reminder that sending a press release to your local news sources is a good way to let your neighbors know about you and your projects. They can also inspire others in your community to take similar actions. State College, PA – The University Mennonite Church (UMC) has received a grant from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) to help cover the cost of solar panel installation on their meetingthouse located at 1601 Norma Street in State College. The solar power system will consist of 56 roof-mounted panels which will pro ..read more

With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the solar-power landscape has changed dramatically, especially for churches and other nonprofits. The Biden administration’s push to reduce carbon emissions includes a 30% direct payout for nonprofits purchasing solar panels. “As the need for urgent climate action is becoming clearer each month, faith-based and charitable entities are now much better positioned to do their part,” said Duane Ediger, a solar installer, renewable-energy advocate and member of Shalom Mennonite Fellowship in Tucson, Ariz. Previously, a 30% tax credit for installing solar ..read more

An inch-high miracle. That’s what ten-year-old Natalie Lehman noticed as she was digging holes to plant new trees in Grand Lake, Colorado in July:  a tiny lodgepole pine growing on its own. For Lehman, it was a sign mother nature had brought volunteer baby pines to help the human volunteers from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) as they replanted a forest that had been devastated by the East Troublesome Fire. “I felt happy because I saw all of the new life coming up and knew that there will be a whole forest again someday,” said Lehman, recalling her time as the youngest volunteer during ..read more

Mennonite Creation Care Network’s how-to booklet for churches going solar will be posted September 30. Content sample: THIS JUST IN: Changes Due to the Inflation Reduction Act Why Churches are Going Solar How Solar Works Where do we Start? Doing Your Research Finding Funding Celebrating Your Results Other Responses to the Climate Crisis The appendix includes resources such as: Questions to Ask Solar Installers List of Solar Coaches by State The post Solar Guide for Churches appeared first on Mennonite Creation Care Network ..read more

The article below is an excerpt from Mennonite Creation Care Network’s forthcoming booklet entitled, Considering Solar? A Guide for Churches. The complete guide will be released by October 1, 2022. It has been updated in light of recent changes due to the Inflation Reduction Act. Writer/researcher Karla Kauffman, West Liberty, OH, interviewed 18 Mennonite congregations and multiple solar installers while compiling the guide. Many tips and stories from churches are included. Sign up below to receive notice when the booklet is out. Choosing, funding and installing solar panels is an intense comm ..read more