Climate Change and the Church

Pilgrim Congregational Church is fast becoming a "earthwise" congregation of the United Church of Christ.  A year ago our Social Justice Ministry declared Climate Change as a priority concern.  Throughout this year the congregation has embarked on several important efforts to reduce carbon footprints--both by the congregation and by the utility companies that serve Duluth.

Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Peace UCC, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church began collaborative conversations. They, along with several other Duluth communities of faith, have formed an Arrowhead Chapter of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light.  MNIPL is an interfaith organization that brings together faith communities for education and action related to climate change.

An informal "green team" led by Bret Pence caulked most of the church windows this past winter and changed more than 300 light bulbs from incandescent and CFL's to LEDs.  Minnesota Power has been a supportive and encouraging partner is making the conversion financial feasible for the congregation.

Worship at Pilgrim has lifted up climate change and stewardship of the earth on a regular basis.  In October, the congregation celebrated World Communion Sunday with the theme, "Breath for the Planet."  In February, the congregation participated in a national teach-in related to Climate Change and showed the movie Chasing Ice.  In May, Dave Zentner preached on caring for water resources and the importance of individual efforts.   On June 15, Diane Desotelle will preach on sustainability.

Food waste from the church kitchen is now regularly recycled into WLSSD's compost program.  The church collects "shiny paper" for New Page and the money supports the congregation's music ministry.  Print and toner cartridges are recycled through the Funding Factory.

In both spring and fall, the Social Justice Ministry sells bulbs and garden plants and in the last two years has donated native shrubs and trees to UMD for planting.

There have also been several educational events at Pilgrim related to the complexities of mining and the impact of oil exploration and transportation on the environment.

Within the next year, Pilgrim will apply for status as an Earthwise Congregation of the United Church of Christ.

Gay Marriage--a matter of Religious Freedom

The United Church of Christ has a long tradition of working for social justice and last week it's most recent advocacy effort caught national media attention.  Two years ago, North Carolina not only banned gay marriage; the law makes it a misdemeanor for an officiant to perform a wedding ceremony without a license. Last Monday, the United Church of Christ filed suit against the state of North Carolina, contending that the legislation is unconstitutional because it infringes on the rights of clergy to religious freedom.  Melissa Harris of msnbc summarized the social justice history of our denomination as an introduction to an interview with Ben Guess, our denominational minister for Local Church Ministries.  You can watch the summary piece at www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/faith-based-action-oriented-toward-justice-246227523719.  The interview and discussion of the current lawsuit can be found at www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/faith-based-argument-for-marriage-equality-246241347575

Sunday School Students Feed the Hungry

This past fall Pilgrim's 4th-8th Sunday school class began to study issues of food justice.  They learned about food production and food waste.  They also learned how differently people eat in various parts of the world.  They were surprised at the cost of processed foods in the United States.  They heard about local hunger issues and some of them visited places in Duluth where meals are served.  They wanted to do something to alleviate hunger and chose to work with an organization called Kids Against Hunger.

Kids Against Hunger packages single servings of a highly nutritious meal and distributes the packets to refugee camps or places where people are living in the wake of agricultural disasters.  Pilgrim's Sunday school class set a goal for themselves--to raise $2500, enough to package 10,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger.  On February 2, the Sunday School class and their teachers presented information to the congregation.  During the coffee hour, they accepted donations which amounted to more than $1800!  When they have reached their fund raising goal, they will make arrangements for a packing event to which they will invite members and friends of Pilgrim.

World Communion October 6

We live in a global community.  At Pilgrim, we remind ourselves that our lives are intimately connected to, and dependent upon, all who inhabit this planet with us.  We believe the created world is a treasure God has entrusted to us and we are given responsibility to care for it, protect it, and pass it on to our children and our children's children.

We are keenly aware that the lifestyle and conveniences to which we have become accustomed are exacting a horrendous toll upon the planet and upon many who live on it. There are no quick and easy solutions to the planet's pain or our neighbor's plight.  But at Pilgrim, we are working at raising our own awareness, making what changes we can, and encouraging each other to think about earth's sustainability.

Volunteers deliver food waste produced on our premises to WLSSD or a nearby collection point.  We collect and recycle glossy paper to support our music program and ink and toner cartridges.  We are studying the results of a recent energy audit and implementing recommendations as we can.  Twenty households in the congregation took advantage of a home energy audit offered through the congregation and Duluth energy and efficiency program last year.

One of our Sunday school classes is studying food waste as part of a Food Justice unit.  Our Social Justice Ministry is committed to examining climate change as a priority in our understanding of mission.

On October 6, we celebrate Holy Communion, knowing that as we share this sacrament with Christians around the world, we all breath the same air, drink from the same waters, and live under the same sky.  The Social Justice Ministry will show the film Taking Root at 11:20--the film is the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai and her efforts to build a national program of tree planting in Kenya. Children and youth are welcome to view the film with adults.

Getting the Rhubarb Ready

One week after Grandma's, Duluth celebrates a Rhurbab Festival! In addition to being great fun, it's an excellent fundraiser for CHUM. This Saturday, June 12th, folks will be chopping rubarb and freezing it for pie making, sauce making, and even ice cream flavoring. Here's an invitation from CHUM.

Rubarb cutting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the kitchen (lower level) of Peace Church (11th Ave. E. & 11th St.) and lasts until 1:00 p.m. However, people are invited to take part for whatever length of time they have available. Cutting rhubarb goes best with song, story, and conversation so come with the expectation of good fellowship and time well spent for a great cause.

Romero Remembered

Today, March 24th is the 30th Anniversary of Oscar Romero's assissination in El Salvador. Romero was Archbishop at the time, and is remembered for his work on behalf of the poor. On Thursday, March 25th, the movie Romero will be shown at Pilgrim Congregational Church in commemoration of his work. The public is invited.

From the Social Justice Ministry

Racism: the assertion of superiority by one racial group over another. It is the exercising of power that abuses or disadvantages people on the basis of their perceived racial difference, while the dominant group maintains privileges and advantages through racist and discriminatory practices.
Racism is perpetuated at the individual level, but the accumulated effect of centuries of white racism have left it deeply entrenched at the systemic and institutional levels.
Racism cannot be reduced to an individual psychological phenomenon. It is a historical development.
Racism had a beginning and it can have an end.
S. Kardash and S. Lamble, 2003