Climate Action Team
Stewardship Vigil For Our Earth
SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2026 Anytime between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM
The Climate Action Team at First Plymouth invites you to participate in observing this year’s Earth Day by joining us in a vigil, focused on appreciating, understanding and protecting our home planet, Earth.
Your vigil would be for 30 minutes between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, at a time and place that is convenient for you, yet offers you quiet solitude for your own inner peace and encourages your inner peace and focus. We suggest you consider one of these themes or each of them: 1. Thankfulness for the bounty of creation, the skies, land, water that sustain us. 2. Praise to God, the Creator, the eternal and universal presence in our lives. 3. Seek Forgiveness, for ways we have over-used and abused God’s creation and then commit to seek ways to heal our environment and bring health to Earth. 4. Consider an ecosystem you have connection to and concern for. Offer prayer for the adoption of policies that support sustainable habitats for all living creatures. 5. Ask for guidance to support your concerns, helping you move from fear to hope during this vigil.
You might begin your vigil with prayer and then find a favorite poem or hymn that expresses your feelings of connection to Earth. These ideas are found in many hymns such as “For the Beauty of the Earth”, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” or “When I Survey in Wonder”. The writings of Mary Oliver or Wendell Berry express the honoring of Earth and our dependency upon it.
e.e.cummings might be an option~
“I thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes.
(I who have died am alive again today, and this is is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitable Earth)
How should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any ~ lifted from the no of all nothing~ human merely being doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)”
Or from our own Tom Trenney~
“May the deep blessings of Earth be with us. May the fathomless soundings of seas surge in our soul. May boundless stretches of the universe echo in our depths to open us to wonder, to strengthen us for love, to humble us with gratitude, that we may find ourselves in one another, that we may lose ourselves in gladness, that we give ourselves to peace.”
If you choose to participate, please select a time on SignUp Genius. Of course, more than one individual may sign up for a given time slot.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS EARTH DAY and for being part of a larger spiritual community offering prayers for Stewardship of the Earth. Prayer changes things by changing us.
*And consider joining the Climate Action Team. Contact Judy Greenwald jlbgreenwald@gmail.com
Advocacy 101
Recorded Jan 3, 2023
Learn to be an effective advocate for policies you care about
Engage with elected or appointed officials at the local, state and federal levels
Provide testimony for hearings
Write a letter to the editor or op-ed
Use social media effectively
Have respectful conversations with family, friends and others
Advocacy 101 Panelists
Lucas Sabalka
LES Board member and climate activist
Eric Gerrard
Lobbyist, American Communications Group, Inc.
Martha Durr
Nebraska State Climatologist and climate communications expert
Helpful Links
Action Leads to Hope!
First-Plymouth’s Climate Action Team is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a potluck and planning session at 6 pm, Mon, Aug 18. Join us for the coming year as faith guides us to protect God’s people and planet through education, stewardship, and advocacy.
Contact Judy Greenwald to RSVP and get more event details.
Members of the Climate Action Team have a passion for preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change at the individual, local, state, federal and international levels. We’re taking action in three ways:
Understanding and responding to the spiritual imperative to act
Encouraging stewardship
Advocating for positive change in our community and beyond
We meet 5:30-6:30 pm on the second Monday of the month, currently via Zoom. For more information contact Lorrie Benson
Faith To Forest
Faith to Forest has ended, but the education sessions, ideas for worship services and for service to the community, basic information about trees, and more is still on the webpages.
Sustainable tips from FP’s Climate Action Team and Sustainable Living Ministry
Washing polyester, fleece, and other synthetic fiber clothing less often in cold water on shorter cycles reduces the microfiber plastics they shed to wastewater and the environment.
Reuse Christmas decorations year after year by storing them carefully. Consider making your own wreaths or table decorations from natural greenery or recyclables from around your home.
Replace filament light bulbs with LEDs. They cost more upfront but last many years and use far less energy, so they ultimately save money.
Want to use less gas? Inflate your tires properly and keep your calm. Moderate acceleration and speed will save fuel and money.
Even one pot of flowers supports pollinators while making your balcony or porch more appealing!