EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Ten, Number Five July/August 2001 BLESSINGS INAUGURATE RENEWABLE ENERGY USE IN CHURCH On June 10, in perhaps the first gathering of its kind, about seventy people of various faith traditions joined in responsive prayers of blessing, as parish priest Rev. Charles Morris sprinkled holy water on the solar panels and a small windmill recently installed on the roof of the rectory of St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, Wyandotte, Michigan. "Today, we the people of faith are dreaming a new dream of the Earth," said Rev. Morris. "In this moment of crisis and opportunity, may we and our government leaders have the vision to choose the path to a more sustainable and creation-healing energy future. Today, we recommit ourselves to the legacy we leave our children and our children's children, to the seventh generation." Sister Virginia Pfau, President of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community in Monroe, told of steps taken by the Sisters to incorporate the use of geothermal energy in one of their large buildings. Members of the Michigan Interfaith Global Warming Campaign helped organize the special celebration, which also featured a short press conference and the release of a timely statement, "Let There Be Light! Energy Conservation and God's Creation," signed by 37 religious leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations and communities in Michigan. "This event today exemplifies our message and our work," said Kim Winchell, a Lutheran and the state coordinator of Michigan's interfaith campaign, which began in 1999. "We of different faith traditions are united in our concern about the effects of global warming; we are encouraging actions within our own communities to use energy in the most responsible and faithful way; and we call upon our nation's leaders to develop meaningful energy policies that counter global warming." For text of Blessings write Kim Winchell, Director, Michigan Interfaith Coalition for Creation (MICC), 10514 Webster Rd, Freeland MI 48623; (989) 695-2402; <kwinch5940@aol.com> Home     Table of Contents