Dear Friends,
The Season of Creation is upon us, from September 1 through October 4, and this year's theme is Living Water: an invitation to reflect on the rivers, seas, and watersheds that sustain all life. Water is a sign of blessing and renewal across so many faith traditions. This season we give thanks for water, even as we hold in our prayers those suffering its loss, from the families struck by the recent flooding in Nepal to communities closer to home.
Each month we gather links and resources for the many ways faith communities and people of good will across Massachusetts are praying, acting, and mobilizing for our climate. We offer this list as an invitation to renewal and action on behalf of our shared home.
With hope and gratitude,
The MassIPL Team
Sustainable Faith: An Interfaith Season of Creation Series from MassIPL
Weekly reflections from MA interfaith leaders / MassIPL
This week, MassIPL launched our Interfaith Season of Creation series. Each Sunday for the next six weeks, we'll share first-person essays from faith and ethical leaders across Massachusetts, each writing personally about how their tradition connects to climate and our common home. You'll hear from Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist voices.
In our series introduction, Executive Director Michael Reed tells the story of being taught, as a young evangelical, that this Earth is "just a clean bus stop." He makes the case that our faith traditions can, and must, tell a better story about caring for creation.
Read the introduction, meet the upcoming authors, and follow the series in your email inbox or at massipl.org/sustainablefaith.
More Ways to Enter the Season of Creation:
Moving Beyond Plastics in a Throwaway Culture
Thursday, September 10, 7:00 PM / Online / Catholic Climate Covenant
Part of a series on Franciscan eco-spirituality for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, this session brings together author Judith Enck (The Problem with Plastic) and student advocates to explore the spiritual and systemic dimensions of plastic pollution. Open to all. Register here.
Is a River Sacred?
Online course, Tuesdays, September 15, 22 & 29, 7:00 PM / Creation Justice Ministries
Explore the sanctity of creation through Biblical tradition and Indigenous ways of knowing, in a new course based on Robert Macfarlane's book, Is a River Alive? A rich opportunity for faith leaders and activists asking what it means to protect the Divine in nature. Register here.
Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador Training
Saturday, September 26, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM / Online / Free / Blessed Tomorrow
Are you a faith leader who wants to speak and act on climate but isn't quite sure how to start? This free, live training gives you hands-on experience and practical tools to engage climate in your home, congregation, community, and beyond. A worthwhile three hours for any faith leader in our network. Register here.
Grounded Resistance: Faith in Place Environment & Spirituality Summit
September 28–29 / Online / Free / Faith in Place
Our sibling organization Faith in Place gathers four speakers to explore how to engage the world from a place of deep grounding, collective support, and sustained resistance, with Bill McKibben as keynote. A gift for anyone who needs roots and renewal in their climate work. Register here.
Four Thursdays beginning September 3, 6:00–7:00 PM / Online / Sierra Club
Each of these action hours focuses on a key priority in the Massachusetts energy bill. Participants spend the first half hour learning about the issue, then use the second half to contact legislators, neighbors, and friends. Sign up for one or all four:
Sept. 3: Utility Accountability
Sept. 17: Data Center Regulations
Oct. 1: Alternative Compliance Payments
Oct. 15: Nuclear and Biomass
Comment by September 4, 5:00 PM / Massachusetts / MA Attorney General's Office
The Massachusetts EV Rebate Program (MOR-EV) is being revised, and the public has until September 4 at 5:00 PM to submit written comments. Expanding clean transportation access is a justice issue: lower-income households and environmental justice communities stand to gain the most from a strong rebate program. Faith communities are encouraged to weigh in.
Submit comments to Morgan.Bowler@mass.gov (subject line "2026 MOR-EV RULEMAKING COMMENTS") | Overview from Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 PM / Online / MassIPL
Join MassIPL and friends for a solar webinar that can make a difference for your building and budget, as well as our planet.
Did you know your house of worship may still qualify for a federal "direct pay" incentive covering up to 40% of the cost of a solar installation, sent to you as a check? That window closes in 2027, so now is the time to act. Every registrant receives a free preliminary solar evaluation from New England Clean Energy. Register here.
Saturday, September 26, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM / Lawrence, MA / MassIPL
MassIPL and members of other houses of worship invite Merrimack Valley residents to plant trees in Costello Park in Lawrence. Join in as we build community, get our hands in the soil, and learn together as people of faith what it means to care for the environment. This is a MassIPL event, and we'd love to see you there! Learn more and sign up.
Thursday, October 8, 6:00 PM / Online / JCAN-MA
We have the chutzpah to protect the people and places we love. This fall it's all hands on deck to build people power for our climate, our democracy, and a livable future. JCAN-MA is partnering with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action and others in this phone banking event. Open to all people of faith. Learn more and register.
Multiple dates, August 15-26 / In person, across Massachusetts / Elders Climate Action
During the August Congressional recess, Elders Climate Action and partners including the Sierra Club, Third Act, and the Climate Action Campaign are holding a series of visible, joyful climate actions across Massachusetts, with five events right here in our state. On the calendar:
See the full event map and RSVP.
Friday, August 15 / 2:00 PM ET / Online / Points East / PLAN-NE
A new fossil fuel pipeline, the Constitution Pipeline, is being proposed for the New England region, and its potential impacts on our communities and climate deserve urgent attention. Join Cathy Kristofferson of the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast and Rosemary Wessel of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team for a presentation and community discussion. Registration required. RSVP here.
Through August / Online / MassIPL
Our Houses of Worship survey is still open, and for every congregation that participates, MassIPL's Executive Committee will donate $10 to your faith community. It takes only a few minutes and helps us understand where faith communities across the Commonwealth are on their climate journey, so we can do a better job advancing our mission for faith and climate. Take the Survey.
September 21-30 / Statewide / Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW)
CREW, a program of the Better Future Project in Somerville, is inviting community groups to host or join events during Climate Preparedness Week. This year's theme is CommunityMaxxing: Think Globally, Act Locally. Events can look like book clubs, emergency-kit workshops, pollinator-garden plantings, or heat-and-health discussions, and houses of worship are a natural fit. Fill out the interest form | Download the toolkit.
Comment by September 30 / Massachusetts / Charles River Watershed Association
The MWRA and the Cities of Somerville and Cambridge have submitted a draft plan that would continue dumping raw sewage into the Charles (Osebequin) River for decades to come. A public comment period is open. Edit the Charles River Watershed Association's template with your own thoughts and send it to our leaders by September 30; you can also sign up to host a yard sign. Send your comment.
Final Thoughts from MassIPL
In case you missed last week's announcement, MassIPL has a new home on the web. These emails also have an updated look and feel to match our new website. Come look around, and join us in the movement for a just and livable future. Visit massipl.org.
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Introducing 'Sustainable Faith: An Interfaith Season of Creation Series for MassIPL.
Highlights from a month of faith and climate action, from our Youth Ambassadors in Lawrence to a new geothermal success story, a refreshed website, and an upcoming solar webinar.
