Sunday, October 16, 2022
First Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA
This event offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of MassIPL, WCCEJ, and our many co-sponsors.
Approximately 60 people gathered at First Unitarian Church of Worcester on October 16th, with scores more online, for an inspiring and spirited multi-faith worship service organized by Rev. Fred Small.
Combining prayer, song, meditation, reflections from many traditions, and a rousing sermon by Rev. Vernon Walker, who exhorted, “Climate Change is real. Let’s all work together for climate justice!” Our sung reply: “Yes, we can!”
Check out the video recording of the service livestream below.
(Order of Service in the YouTube description.)
Worship Leaders
Rabbi Valeri Cohen, Temple Emanuel Sinai, Worcester
Rev. Sarah Stewart, Minister, First Unitarian Church of Worcester
Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director, CREW (Communities Responding to Extreme Weather)
Athene Wilson, Vocals
Rev. Fred Small, Director of Faith Action, Mass Interfaith Power & Light
Rev. Dr. Marcus Hill, Ass’t Chaplain to Protestant Students and Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) Ministry, Holy Cross College
Preeta Banerjee, Hindu Chaplain, Tufts University
Rollins Ross, keyboard
Brett Maguire, organ
Michael Herzog, Dharma Holder, Boundless Way Zen Temple
Following the service, in person attendees enjoyed refreshments and four different one-hour workshop options to help build skills and engagement for climate action and resilience.
Jim Nail, President of MassIPL, presented on Charting a Path to Net Zero for houses of worship and introduced MassIPL’s 24 Questions of Environmental Stewardship that could guide your efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Click to view Powerpoint Presentation.
Fred Small, MassIPL’s Director of Faith Action, and Margot Barnet of Worcester Congregations for Climate & Environmental Justice led a session modeling how to conduct a one-on-one meeting, the building block of community organizing.
Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director of CREW, presented on why climate change is the greatest existential threat to our communities, the need for climate resilience hubs to prepare for the threats of climate change, and how your faith community can become involved in building a climate resilience Hub in your community. Click to view Powerpoint Presentation.
Local activists from 350 Central Mass, Mothers Out Front Worcester, and Worcester Congregations for Climate & Environmental Justice discussed the most effective things their groups have done or are planning to do to advance climate policy at the local level.
This event offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of MassIPL, WCCEJ, and our many co-sponsors:
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Take a look at our new digital home, built around Pray, Act, Mobilize.
Nearly 50 congregations surveyed, a new website coming soon, and August office hours — a look at what the MassIPL team accomplished this summer.
