Mission 4/1 Earth

How do we count our earth care hours?

There is no wrong way to count your hours. We are all at different points in our journey towards green living and the steps you take along the path, no matter how big or small, are important. Our ultimate goal is to work together to collectively transform the way we live our lives by becoming more intentional about our impact on, and connection to, the earth. Any efforts toward that end are valuable and should be counted. There are a variety of ways to engage, but whatever you do must feel authentic to you. If you are just beginning to explore the impact of your life on the health of our planet, simply taking some time to pray and study may be what you need to do to get started. If you’re already living an earth friendly lifestyle, now may be the time to add a new discipline to help you stretch beyond greening your own life, and move in to making changes to your community or church through a new program or advocacy. If you’re a real pro, you may be able to achieve a full day of earth care by dedicating your personal habits, transportation, food choices, thoughts, and prayers to protecting the earth! So take a look at your day. If you are doing something new to protect the environment, like changing light bulbs, walking to work, or shopping at your local farm stand, count those hours. If you are making time in your day to learn more about living an earth friendly lifestyle through research, prayer, or reflection, count that time spent exploring this new area of learning. Be sure to recognize the new habits, both physical and spiritual, that you are incorporating into your life. They will add up and together our efforts will represent transformed lives and a healthier planet.

Mission 4/1 Earth Calendar – April 2013

April 6
Thermal Window Workshop, Foreside Church, 360 Foreside Rd., Falmouth, 1-4 pm

April 7
Low-emission car show (biodiesel, hybrid, all-electric), Foreside Church, 11 a.m.

April 8
Talk on Natural Gas coming to our homes, Foreside Church, 7 p.m., Falmouth Recycling & Energy Committee

April 11
Environmental Health Strategy Center lobby day, State House, Augusta,
8:15 a.m. E-mail Lalla Carothers to carpool. lcaro@maine.rr.com

April 13
Opening Day – Cumberland Community Garden at Twin Brook on Tuttle Road – cleanup and hang deer fence. FMI, karynmarden@yahoo.com

April 13 350.org 2nd statewide meeting, 9 a.m. Durham Friends Meetinghouse

April 13 Community Electronic Waste Recycling Day at USM Portland Woodbury Campus parking lot 9-1pm www.usm.maine.edu/sustainability/community-electronic-waste-recycling-day

April 17
Safe Cosmetics talk, 7 p.m. Wednesday at Foreside Church, Falmouth, with Bettie Kettell – BYO cosmetics for Bettie to check out.

April 20 Cleanup day at Congregational Church in Cumberland 8am.

April 20 EarthRite, 4-7 pm, sponsored by CHIME, at Memorial Hall, Woodfords
Church. Ritual, music, dance, for spiritual sustenance.

April 20 Potluck at Cumberland Center Church, 5:30 p.m., vegetarian
encouraged, followed by “Chasing Ice,” award-winning film about a National Geographic photographer in the arctic, and discussion 6:15, $5. Free babysitting.

April 22
BIOS Environment’s Randy Trefethen talk about reducing home energy use – Congregational Church in Cumberland, 7:00-8:30pm.

April 24 Organic Gardening 101 Gray/New Gloucester HS 6-8pm: From planning to harvest. Learn how to grow food and improve soil fertility. Adults: $15, Students: $5

April 26 Arbor Day – Plant a tree!

April 27 Climate Revival, Copley Square, Boston, 10 am to 4 pm, sponsored by the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church. Bring lunch. http://www.macucc.org/events/detail/1104

April 28
Carpool Sunday. Walk or ride your bike!  Hybrid car/bike show.

Arbor building workshop for vertical gardening – 11 am – Congregational Church in Cumberland