all creatures great and small,all things wise and wonderful,the Lord God made them all!”
who we are
Here at First Church, we are committed to greening our church and advocating for climate and environmental justice polices at local, state, and federal levels. We give thanks for the gift of God’s creation and believe God endowed us with the responsibility to steward the natural world around us. Although the climate crisis affects us all, we know it especially affects lower income communities here in Cambridge and around the world. We believe the climate crisis is a racial, economic, disability, and gender justice issue.
Interested in connecting with us?
Email: earthstewardship@firstchurchcambridge.org
earth defenders banner on first church lawn
From September 11 to October 9, 2023, First Church is hosting a banner commemorating lives of indigenous persons who were killed for their defense of the earth’s forests, water, air, animals, and their communities’ children. The banner, already out of date, commemorates persons murdered while defending natural resources from destruction by irresponsible agribusiness, mining interests, and fossil fuel extractors. The QR code in the corner of the banner leads to further background by Global Witness, which provides regularly updated data on the killings of defenders. The banner not only honors lives, but raises questions of sacrifice. Who are those who sacrifice for others’ welfare? What are we willing to sacrifice for protecting people and nature from destructive acts by corporations and governments?
photo by Susan Redlich
from left to right: Alfred Brownell (Liberian lawyer), Lynne Cherry (children’s book author), Joia Mukherjee (chief medical officer, Partners in Health), David Hughes (Rutgers U. professor)
reflections from our faith community
First Church members, Laurie Burt, Ariel Ackermann, and Claire Hunt shared reflections inspired by scripture, their faith journey, and their social justice work during our Earth Stewardship worship service. Listen to them here.
Longtime Earth Stewardship leader, Jim Brown, wrote a reflection titled “Imagining Our Faith in the Time of Climate Crisis” for our First Church’s blog, Water in the Wilderness.
first church green history
Want to learn more about what we have been up to? Beloved member and climate justice activist, Susan Redlich, shares a brief history of First Church’s green and holy work, and calls us to continue this sacred work as a faith community.
ecofaith book group
Throughout the year, our Ecofaith book group gathers to read, listen, and learn from one another. If you would like to recommend a book or lead our next gathering, email:
earthstewardship@firstchurchcambridge.org
ACTIONS FROM YOUR DESK
(with heartfelt thanks to our friends from Old Cambridge Baptist Church for this Summer/Fall 2023 roundup of opportunities)
Massachusetts – (find your Mass. Senator and Representative)
Return Lampson Brook Farm to the Nipmuc People. The Nipmuc, who have sustainably managed the eastern woodlands for thousands of years, wish to preserve the Lampson Brook farmland and forestland in Belchertown in perpetuity. Learn more and sign on to support return of their land here.
Take Action on Mass. Power Forward Legislative Priorities. The link is updated with current bill numbers and fact sheets about key bills to advance environmental justice and climate justice. Choose one each week, and write to your MA legislators! Also see the June 6 legislative briefing on the key priorities (calendar). Invite your legislators and plan to attend!
National
NEW: Take the Climate Reality Project’s Pledge to electrify your home or house of worship. Electrifying your home, transportation, or house of worship, might seem overwhelming, but the Climate Reality Project offers resources to help you unlock a treasure trove of resources that will help you, including saving up to $1800 annually on your energy bills. Take the pledge.
NEW: The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are currently seeking public input on new national rules the agencies can adopt to better manage our public forests. Interfaith Power and Light asks you to Submit your comments today to permanently safeguard federal mature and old-growth trees and forests for our climate, wildlife, water, and future generations.
Tell your Senators to vote YES and pass The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act! Join people of faith, using the template letter from Interfaith Power and Light. This bill also represents one of the best opportunities to begin addressing the historical inequities, exclusion, and perpetual underfunding of Tribal wildlife management by funding Tribal Nations to use their traditional land stewardship wisdom and techniques to help recover wildlife populations.