Eco-act 028: thankfulness, and thoughts about two traditions

With mid-November and colder weather, we anticipate Native American Heritage Month & also Thanksgiving. But in 2020, is this just “muscle memory?” After all, this month falls at a dark moment in a dark year. Holiday travel will be curtailed. Family gatherings will be smaller or relegated to zoom—or even canceled. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be a TV-only event, featuring no high school or college marching bands, no live spectators.

In all of this, we must also acknowledge the truth about Thanksgiving — that Native people showed generosity to settlers yet their treaty rights, land, and ways of being have not been honored — they have been decimated. Still, some 400+ years later, we hope that you might learn more about Native American Heritage Month and find ways to practice gratitude to the Indigenous tribes whose land we occupy. (As Kitchen Table Conversations discussed this week, often good meaning “woke” people get things wrong — it is messy. Check out this poignant, satirical play by Larissa FastHorse for more: The Thanksgiving Play).

While our present moment is one of complexity, there are still many reasons to be thankful: our health, for most of us. Our veterans. Our friends and family, resilience, the promise of vaccines, warm memories of better times. Jojo’s release. Our community’s care for food security.

living grateful

decolonizing Thanksgiving, celebrating climate wins

We can also find reasons for gratitude regarding our environment and climate change. Consider …

• Young people everywhere who are setting aside panic, indifference or despair and acting to support climate justice. And not just Greta Thunberg. How about high schooler Tseng I-Ching and her discovery of a Styrofoam-eating bacterium? How about Julia Bennett and Isabella Schaak and their efforts to remove single-use plastic from their Minnesota high school? And how about so many more young people, known and unknown to us, in school and after graduation, working to make the world a better place even before they inherit it?

• Walmart's on-track project with its partners to remove 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from its supply chain by 2030 — hopefully not just a move of corporate green-washing but of genuine commitment to our collective future.

• Apple's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030; and since the company’s own electricity requirements are already being met 100% through renewable sources, further progress will be accomplished through its suppliers.

• The growing role of wind and solar in meeting global electricity requirements

• Lyft's plan to operate a 100% electric vehicle fleet by 2030

• The efforts of Seattle/King County and other government bodies to tackle recycling and climate change more broadly

By themselves, of course, these and similar efforts will not be enough to stop or reverse climate change. Much more needs to be done — especially at the policy/institutional levels. But these developments point to a broader understanding of and response to climate change. They do give us reason to hope and call us to gratitude this month (and always).

As we plan our Thanksgiving dinners, perhaps we can also take a moment to reflect on the story of the first Thanksgiving—specifically, the fact that two groups attended. Our traditions are likely built around grandma’s cranberry sauce or Aunt Jane’s pumpkin pie, or …. But does any part of the feast honor the Native people whose food and traditions were shared — might we decolonize our Thanksgiving meals? In addition to the tips listed, note that Three Sisters Salad uses ingredients demonstrating companion planting, an earth-wise technique employed by Native American planters for perhaps 10,000 years. Food, land, history, sustenance. Something to think about as we plan our gardens for next growing season!

And here’s one final thought as we approach Thanksgiving: the following day is Black Friday, the unofficial “tradition” that kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Before we jump into it, perhaps we can take a deep breath and think about how to tailor our gift-giving (and gift requests!) with climate change in mind. How can we reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our own shopping trips, and by the UPS/FedEx/Amazon vehicles that will deliver our gifts—and handle our returns? Can we reduce the wrapping materials that would normally clutter landfills in the holiday aftermath? Can we repair/repurpose/re-gift a piece of furniture or clothing to avoid recycling or disposing of it? Can we think of recycling as the last resort? (The best case is having nothing to recycle in the first place!)

We have reasons for gratitude this Thanksgiving, personally, and with respect to climate change. Governments and corporations have begun to act in, larger, more responsible ways. A host of individuals are rising to the occasion, and each of us can contribute in a variety of ways. In fact, maybe this is the biggest thing we can be thankful for: our ability to act. What a blessing! The game isn’t over … it’s still on. Happy Thanksgiving!

Prayers of the People: November 8th, 2020

Prayer written and prayed by Dave Machemer, based on "the Lord's prayer”, his prayer outline for almost 10 years.

Our heavenly Father, you created the entire cosmos—
it is the work of your hands, and its immensity and exquisite beauty and genius display your glory. 
And yet, from within the limitless breadth of that creation, you take special notice of human beings,
calling us your sons and daughters and inviting us to call you Abba! 
May all your handiwork reflect your glory and conform with your purposes,
even the dark spaces of this world, still living defiantly outside your will,
especially humankind, whom you had designated as the crucial link between you and the world you established! 

In this season of elections, we acknowledge that as important as it is to be informed and vote from our faith and convictions,
ultimately we must not anchor our trust in human beings at all;
parties, platforms and candidates in this world are neither our greatest hope nor our greatest dread;
nor do we presume that you are on in league with any of them. 
Rather, we pray for your rule to come to fruition—
that rule that was forecasted by John the Baptist and then proclaimed by Jesus at the inauguration of his ministry—
the divine rule that was demonstrated in Jesus’ teachings and signs,
and powerfully vindicated by his resurrection from the dead! 
Your kingdom that will ultimately break forth in a transformed heaven and earth. 
That’s the anchor of our hopes.
It’s also our certain inheritance and our blueprint and inspiration as we seek to align our lives and the gifts you’ve given us with your will. 
May that divine will take deep root in our lives and be put into action
as a foretaste in the world around us here and now according to your heavenly plans.

Father, we ask that you send laborers into your harvest field. 
As our brother Chris suggested some months ago,
we ask that you give us eyes to see the true nature and breadth of that harvest and how you want each of us to contribute. 
For as our brother Darrel also pointed out, we are your witnesses,
and we need your Spirit in that endeavor in order to be, to do and to speak of the hope of resurrection—
of Jesus as the first fruits, and next, of all of us
together with the transformation of creation. 

But Father, we feel so unequal to this awesome calling and so ill-equipped. 
So we ask you to equip us now with the gifts, the skills and the wisdom we need, day by day. 

We also ask for your mercy because we find it so easy to lose the plot and fall short of your plans for us. 
Forgive us
and let our own frailties make us a contrite church, enhancing our ability to show mercy on those who injure us—
even those whom we are tempted to feel “do not deserve” our forgiveness,
because you have never been one to give us what we deserve! 
Instead, make us merciful as our Father is merciful. 
And make us, your church, into agents of your mercy. 

Dear Father, these days our land is divided, and many relationships have been strained or broken. 
But we are your church. 
Empower us to be the people who step forward and lead the way by example,
in repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation in our society and culture. 
To this end, we pray fervently for our president—
for his good health, for a calm heart, for a sense of your peace that frankly he has not demonstrated to date. 
We pray for him, Lord, because he has evidently not experienced the kind of unconditional love and acceptance that you have lavished on most of us. 
Raise up around him right now real friends,
the type who stand out when the chips are down, and the world turns away. 
The type of friends to talk him off the ledge. 
We pray for your grace, your peace and your acceptance to envelop President Trump. 

And I for one repent of any gratuitous sentiments I felt or shared in my extreme relief yesterday. 
Especially at this time, when the stakes for a peaceful transition are so high,
we as your people need to do better than that. 
Forgive us and empower us to be your agents of mercy.

We also pray, Father for our president-elect Joe Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris. 
As they begin the transition to governing, we pray for their protection and good health,
and also for peace, for wisdom, for prudence and for humility
that they may govern this nation justly and help facilitate our healing as a unified society. 
May our leaders be strengthened and blessed in every just endeavor
and may your people, your church, uphold them in our prayers and hold them accountable to their charge
that the body of Christ might be the conduit of your peace for our divided society—
sowing in peace and raising a harvest in righteousness.

Finally, holy Father, protect us, deliver us and continue to restore us into your divine plan
for living into the fullness of our calling and all that you designed us to be in your everlasting kingdom
in a renewed heaven and earth!

Amen

Eco-Act 027: Gifts that Ripple

It’s the day after the election, with many of the results still pending. What is clear, is that regardless of the outcome, we need to continue acting with hope, purpose, and solidarity to care for the most vulnerable parts of Creation — human and non-human. Chances are high that thinking about eco-faith holiday gifts is probably low on your list of priorities, or even what you have the attention for right now. So let’s keep this short!

Green Gifts

of the Spirit

As we continue with our segment on planet/people-conscious gift-giving this holiday season, we invite you to think creatively about what kind of gifts you might give. Specifically, could you support organizations or creatives stewarding right relations with our (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, poor) communities, God, and all of Creation on behalf of your loved ones? As a reminder, climate change most and first impacts Black, Indigenous people of color, LGBTQ+, poor, and other underserved communities. Supporting individuals and orgs that seek to center these groups is part of practicing eco-faith and ensuring that all human and non-human relations flourish.

Beyond limiting consumerism, how cool to think that our generosity and giving to our loved ones could go farther and positively ripple out to other parts of our communities this season. Consider planning with your gift receiver (or make it a surprise!) and support some hardworking orgs or folks with a one-time or ongoing gift. Here are a few ideas to get your creativity moving:

• Sunrise Movement: “Sunrise is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. [They’re] building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people.”

• Community Alliance for Global Justice: This Seattle-based education and advocacy group focuses on food justice, agriculture justice, and trade justice, in order to “support…the movements for healthy local food economies here and everywhere.” Their program specifically works with many BIPOC farmworkers to ensure better working, living, and market conditions for the communities who grow so much of our food.

• Black Farmers Collective/Yes Farm: We’ve already covered this Seattle-based, Black-led farm collective (and other Black farmers!). Support their efforts toward a more “sustainable, equitable future for communities of color [by] eliminating food scarcity and undoing the commoditization of the food industry.”

• Art: Creative expression through various art mediums is a critical, imaginative part of our collective liberation! Consider donating to cultivate the arts in our region. Read more about Acts on Stage’s upcoming screening of 12 Angry Men. Also, check out the important work that Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery is doing in Burien to center Latinx artists and community events. Finally, consider supporting the Wing Luke Museum for Asian American Pacific Islander histories, especially in the Seattle area.

And remember, support doesn’t always have to look like pure donations. You can purchase produce, craft goods, services, and other experiences from these communities to sustain their businesses and creatively liberative offerings.

Do you have any particular artisans or companies that you like to donate to or purchase from? Share your favorites in the comments!

Pre-Election Pastoral Word from James B

I have a pastoral word for us:

That word is Vote—as believers we are called not to be of the world but we are to be in it. To be in it means we live in relationships, care for others, enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, care for the environment, make and appreciate beauty, participate in the production of goods and services, make homes, and much more including being responsible citizens. That means when there is an election, we educate ourselves, engage in civil discourse and we vote.

But we vote not first as citizens of the United States but, as we see in Paul’s letter to Philippians, and as Kaeli reminded us, we live as citizens of Heaven. We are not of this world—in other words our vote/our choices are not based on dominant culture values or even what your parents, friends or you have always done. Nor are our choices made for personal gain and especially not out of fear.

Our political choices are to be made the same as all our other choices are to be made: in response to the Living God revealed in Jesus Christ who was crucified and rose again—for us –for all of humanity. We vote as disciples of the One—who calls us to seek the good of the community, to bring good news to the poor, to set the oppressed free, to partner with the Spirit so that it may be on earth as it is in heaven.

To be “not of the world” is to live realizing that salvation doesn’t mean you are going to heaven “full stop” but because you are going to heaven, you live with a freedom to love your neighbor, consider one another better than ourselves, and seek justice even if it costs us personally.

We do not base our vote on one or two issues because our vote supports or ignores many issues. We need to think widely. For sure there are watershed issues and these need to weighed heavier but not in a vacuum. Some issues can become like idols that conveniently obscure other issues of great importance as well—or they can be issues that government is not well suited to deal with and cause us to diminish the ones that government can help.

Healthy churches do not have pastors who tell the congregation how to vote in terms of who and what. The “how” we do speak is the process. How do we vote? Consider Jesus. What is his character? What is his mission? Who does Jesus champion? What idols does he expose among the religious? Jesus promises to be with you always—what freedom does that give you for others?

I have one more word I want to mention: fear. As record gun sales, outbursts of violence, and attacks reveal, there is a good deal of fear rising in our polarized nation. And that is not likely to go away regardless of who is elected president. I am not a sociologist nor a psychiatrist, I don’t even play one on TV, but I am fairly confident that most fear is rooted in loss. We are afraid we will lose power, position, money, freedom, comfort, our life or the lives of loved ones. As followers of Christ we are not immune to fear but we are equipped by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and promises of God’s Word, not to give into it. Unless Jesus comes back real soon, there is going to be a November 4th and addictions to outrage and diminishing the value and rights of others will continue out of fear. Our families, our neighbors, and our country needs us to not be afraid, even if, especially if, this election brings unrest. You know the One who brings peace that surpasses all understanding. That means we can listen to the fear around us and not play into it but absorb it and dispose of it on the cross. We can be people of empathy seeing how people who differ from us feel the way they do. We can be salt and light by our presence that trusts in a Living God and loves our neighbor and speaks words of truth, grace and hope.

So our pastoral word to you: consider Christ, fear not, pray, love your neighbor and vote. 

T&J Edition 11: Presence & Prayer

Dear Union family,

Below is a reflection by Nichelle, a prayer for this upcoming election, and ways to remain engaged and prayerful in this uncertain and challenging time.

Pressing towards justice.

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A Reflection

There is no denying that we are living through one of the most challenging times of the last 100 years. The prolonged period of quarantine and isolation related to the pandemic, the social unrest, the changing climate and wildfires, and the uncertainty around the upcoming election is a recipe for anxiety and fear. I feel it. My chest is tight. It feels hard to take a deep breath. I'm a little edgier and testier with my kids and husband. My thoughts are racing and weird dreams plague my sleep. How are you doing? Are you feeling this time viscerally in your body?

This morning I picked up my phone and casually started to browse the news, and came across articles that immediately increased my anxiety. My heart began racing, and my stomach clenched up tightly. I practically threw my phone down, and had this realization that I need to approach this time in a different manner. Constantly marinating in the media and shocking headlines is only contributing to my anxiety. Do I unplug for the foreseeable future? Head to the mountains? Develop my family's escape plan if everything goes sideways next week? I find myself trying to escape, forget, or pretend this isn't happening. And then I feel God calling. Do you feel God calling? Most of the time I would say I hear God calling, but as those words appeared on the screen, I realized there was truth in those words. In those same parts of my body that feel anxiety, there is a deep feeling of God's presence, a knowing that God is calling me to be present in my body, and in my relationships, and in my community. This is not the time to escape, but rather to be seeking God's justice and wholeness and restoration.

Sometimes, actually often, I don't really know what is next after experiencing God's calling. So I took time over the last couple of days to seek wisdom from leaders that are actively seeking God's justice, wholeness, and redemption. I looked on Facebook and Instagram, and the blogs and websites of people like Austin Channing Brown, Lisa Sharon Harper, Eugene Cho, Brenda Salter McNeil, Bryan Stevenson, and Dr. John M. Perkins. I was blessed beyond measure as I perused their sites. This anxiety and fear that I feel? We are all feeling it, I am not alone. But more than that I was encouraged and reminded of the determination and commitment to be seeking God's justice every day, regardless of what news story is grabbing the headlines today or next week.

How are you feeling the presence of God right now? What has been an encouragement for you to continue seeking God's justice? We would love for you to share with the Union family!

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A Prayer from Bread for the World

Dear God, our Creator, through our elected leaders and our government, you sustain all you have made.

We pray especially for people who are seeking election to political office in our country. Grant them integrity and wisdom to focus on matters that strengthen our government and protect the most vulnerable among us.

Give us courage to challenge candidates to address issues of hunger and poverty. As we prepare to cast our votes, may we be guided by your vision of justice and mercy.

In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

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Opportunities to learn, advocate and act. This is a long list, so just choose one or a few things that you can realistically do!

LEARN

• Stretch your understanding of God's love by participating in a Bible study led by Civil Rights and Social Justice icon Dr. John M. Perkins. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage to find 25 different studies with various Christian leaders.

• Join Foxy and Jason Davison in the next Love Not Fear discussion group on December 5 @ 3PM where they will be discussing HOUSING. In preparation, read The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. Register here.

• Sign up to receive the upcoming T&J Advent series and hear the stories of how those in our community are wrestling with justice.

• Save the date! Union will be hosting a socially distanced screening of "12 Angry Men" and a time of discussion about race and equity on November 22nd @ 4PM.

ADVOCATE

• Sign your name to this petition that asks the 2020 presidential and congressional candidates to commit to protecting and boosting anti-hunger programs so that all families have enough to eat during this crisis.

• Send candidates and elected officials emails, letters or other correspondence and tell them how you would like to see them pursuing justice in their work.

ACT

• Be sure to vote by November 3rd @ 8PM! Look here for your nearest ballot drop box in King County.

• Join Union in Prayer for Racial Justice on Saturday November 21st @ 10AM.

• Food insecurity is only increasing! Please donate your time or money to your local food bank, or join the Union burrito-rolling team on Saturdays (Sunday this week). Contact Adrienne for additional details.

• Tutoring is available at 415 every weekday. Contact Kaeli if you would like to be a tutor/mentor or have a child that could benefit from a 1:1 connection.

Truth & Justice Studio MISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA.

Eco-Act 026: Eco-faith in the holiday season

Before we begin, we remind you to vote! You’ve likely heard enough about this but we want to recognize the importance of voting (especially for initiatives/candidates who will fight for environmental justice!), as this is our last post before next Tuesday, 11/3. Also, feel free to join us 10/29 for our first ever eco-faith discussion on gardening. Now, to continue with our regular programming:

Today we begin exploring ideas for living into our eco-faith, purposefully and hopefully, as we prepare for and enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas. Welcome!

Let’s start by acknowledging three hard realities that co-exist with the holiday season:

Christmas icons and climate change: Many of our holiday traditions are rooted in the notion of a cold, snowy northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, a Smithsonian Magazine article identifies several important seasonal symbols under climate attack:

• Northward-receding habitats have put reindeer populations at risk.

• Drought, heat, and flooding have made Christmas trees more difficult to grow—and more expensive.

• Global warming threatens to make white Christmases a quaint memory.

• Extreme weather conditions challenge cocoa and maple syrup production and increase their price.

• Santa’s North Pole home base and workshop will sink or face relocation as the polar icecap disappears.

Holiday feasting and food insecurity: According to the National Turkey Federation and the University of Illinois, U.S. turkey consumption has almost doubled since 1970, with nearly 90% of Americans surveyed eating turkey on Thanksgiving; roughly 46 million turkeys are downed that day, followed by 22 million more at Christmas. But in this pandemic year, turkey farmers worry about reduced demand, even as a “new study from the University of Washington estimates statewide food insecurity is at 30%.” Hmmm …. Too much and yet not enough.

Christmas gifts, greenhouse gas emissions, and landfills: Gallup data suggests a COVID-driven decline in Christmas spending this year. But the pandemic makes online shopping more appealing—with negative consequences for the environment. Most delivery trucks generate exhaust fumes, after all. And a less obvious factor is the ease and convenience of gift returns: those items require transportation too—and The Guardian reports that much of what is returned “ends up in landfills. Each year Americans return about 3.5 billion products, and five billion pounds of returned goods ended up in US landfills.” The article continues “… data shows that 88% of consumers think that returns go right back on the shelf and are resold to the next consumer…. But in reality, the majority of returned items cannot be resold as new. …the landfill waste from returns alone contributes 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere…. Clothing sales have a particularly high return rate, between 40 and 50%. That’s because, as one market research firm puts it, ‘the bedroom is the new fitting room.’”

Wow. So how might we respond to these realities? We could let them diminish our holidays. We could settle for less comfort and joy. We could just plow ahead and allow some guilt or resignation to dampen our spirits.

Eco-Faith

& the season before us

Or we could mindfully, intentionally seek ways to adapt our holiday traditions to today’s environmental realities. We could enjoy all that’s good and important and meaningful about the holidays at the same time that we care for our environment. For example …

• We might buy a live Christmas tree or, if we choose a cut or artificial tree, plant a live tree as well.

• We could make it a point to donate food as a way of sharing our blessings and reducing food insecurity.

• We could think long and carefully about the gifts we give—and ask for—this year. Are they really needed? Must the gift be purchased new, or could it be a used item? Could something be repaired or repurposed and thus transformed into a welcome gift? Could our pre-loved items be donated to those who would appreciate them? Could we give experiences instead of things? Could we shop with a view to minimizing packaging and same-day deliveries? Could we re-gift items instead of returning them?

Together, let’s choose this much more purposeful, hopeful second path! Let’s set aside our eco-anxieties and take one—or a few—earth-friendly actions that might just add to the warmth and joy of the season. Our goal over the next few weeks will be to offer some ideas for you to consider as we all look for ways to care for the earth as we care for each other.

Eco-Act 025: Re-capping Waste

Waste. It’s been a joy to explore this summer but as we take our cue from the seasons and transition into fall, we want to explore some of the things we’ve learned since July.

Here are a few reminders from our journey through waste:

• Where does it go?: The City of Seattle has excellent resources when it comes to waste. Have a question about disposing of an item? Check out their accessible site!

• Recycling: According to Seattle Public Utilities, our city does a great job, though there’s always room for improvement.

• Trying Ridwell: We’ve heard of many Union folks trying this waste subscription company! Though I (Adrienne) had an experience working as a driver that raised some questions, I would affirm that the company does channel all the waste where it needs to go.

• Swaps: There are many ways to switch out single-use plastic, look for alternatives, and support zero-waste (local) stores!

• Join the Circular Economy: What ways are you participating in creating less waste, sharing more, and giving items new lives?

Waste

is what you do with it

• Food Waste to Security: We have more than enough resources to feed those who are food insecure. In addition to the above link, check this post out for more volunteer opportunities.

• E-Waste: Learn more & proceed intentionally.

• Heart Posture: Beyond simplicity and resisting consumerism, we can and must frame our actions and our hope from the lens of justice. Often communities left out of the dominant culture’s centering of care are the first and most impacted by climate change.

• Small acts are communal: beyond supporting the county’s plans (SCAP), we as individuals can make adjustments in our everyday lives that have huge impacts.

So what has stuck for you? Hopefully, you can take one or a handful of these ideas and put some of them into practice this fall. Creativity abounds with every plastic yogurt container: be it in the creation of sculpture art or as a new indoor garden of seedlings.

To bring it back from our first post in July, waste (in all its forms) means a lot for Christians. As waste continues to have devastating impacts for our global neighbors who receive legal or illegal waste generated by the US, for sea creatures and ecosystems, and for the land/air in general that gets polluted with industrial toxins, we’d point to the Gospel according to Matthew:

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (7:12), and

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (22:39)

And that should be reason enough. Do you have any more waste tips or tricks to share, or any new ideas you learned in this waste deep dive? Let us know in the comments below or email Adrienne!