EARTHCARE - A SPIRITUAL PATH
Of Unity's five basic principles, the 5th calls us to bless our world with our actions. EarthCare in Unity is one expression of this principle.
Through spiritual prayer and special ceremonies, practical actions like conserving energy and recycling, and joining with others in our communities, Unity ministries in the Northwest Region are joyfully serving humanity and caring for our Earth home.
We envision all Unity ministries, collectively and individually, responsibly caring for God's Creation through cooperative prayer, thought and action.
Won't you join us?
Gardener's Creed
I believe in the creative energy of sun and soil,
rain, and spring days giving way to heat.
I believe in seeds, those miraculous containers
of rebirth, a whole garden sprouting
into being from a few paper packets neatly
stamped with planting dates. I believe in the
healing power of sowing, weeding, and harvesting,
the complex tangle of my day giving way to the
immediacy of ripe snow peas hiding beneath
their sheltering leaves - waiting to be found.
--Danna Faulds
HOW TO START - The Path to EarthCare
We recommend a Path for inviting EarthCare into a ministry. Through this path, each church community can discover what Spirit calls them to do to care for our Earth home.
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The Path to EarthCare
Pray Vision Inspire Learn Share Act Renew
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These Unity programs, based on this Path, can help you start:
Unity EarthCare Program
Choose the level that's right for your congregation:
Track A: adopt a Covenant for earthcare.
Track B: make a Commitment to three of the Path steps.
Track C: become an EarthCare Congregation.
For more information, contact Unity Worldwide Ministries' EarthCare team at earthcare@unity.org or visit their webpage at www.unity.org/bethechange/ .
Thriving In Unity
This program includes benchmark activities for earthcare, such as completing a green assessment of your church facility, adopting an earthcare covenant, and holding an Earth Day Sunday service. Go to www.unity.org/thrive/ to learn more.
Unity Northwest Region
Our PHOTO GALLERY and RESOURCES sections have a wealth of ideas from Unity churches in our region. And explore our SUGGESTED WEBSITES (see left sidebar) for more inspiration!
Questions? Contact us at unityearthcare@yahoo.com.
Thank You for Caring for Creation!
PHOTO GALLERY -- Featured Activities
Churches in the northwest region have found many ways to care for the earth.
 
Faith communities visit peace poles during Spokane, WA's "11 Days of Global Unity."
 
"Undrivers" pledge to use alternative transportation at Unity of Bellevue, Washington
 
Unity Church of Truth picks up trash at the 2008 Spokane River Cleanup, Washington
  
The Northwest Region celebrates the Gathering of the Waters annually at our regional conference
 
Unity Church of Corvallis, Oregon, maintains a community hiking trail
 
Unity Church of Bozeman, Montana, hangs prayer ribbons each year
 
Unity Church of North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene, grows a garden with their congregation
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Pledge to Care for Creation
By signing a pledge for yourself, or as a congregation, you join with other hearts and minds in caring for this beautiful world in which we live, move, and have our being.
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EARTH CARE RESOURCES to download
Instruction sheets for several activities, as well as lists of recommended resources, selected articles, and sample activities from Unity "green teams" in the Northwest Region, are available here for download. (In PDF format unless otherwise noted.) Watch for postings of new activity sheets in our WHATS NEW box, and in the LATEST ITEMS box on the HOME page.
Vision (Starting a team)
Why Care for the Earth?
Path to Earth Care
Beginnings of Unity Earth Care Northwest
Pray and Inspire
Daily Word Prayers
Dance of Life by Mary O'Malley - shared with permission
Taize Services for Earth by Marilyn Muehlbach - shared with permission
Native American Spirituality - wisdom of the four directions
Services for the Four Elements / Four Seasons:
Water: Gathering of the Waters Ceremony
Earth: Healing Earth Service
Air: Prayer Ribbon Ceremony
Fire: Burning Bowl Service
Learn
Sacred by Design by Jim DiPeso - shared with permission
The Compassionate Universe by Marilyn Muehlbach (WORD docs) - shared with permission
Take Action
Pledge to Care for Creation
Saving Energy and Money
A Moving Guide to Earth Care by Unity Church of Portland, OR - shared with permission
Earth Care Newsletters:
Summer 2010 Eco-Theater, EarthCare Certification, and Unity's third principle
Spring 2010 Unity of Bandon's "Water is Life" project and Unity's second principle
Winter 2010 "Awakening the Dreamer" Symposium and Unity's first principle
Autumn 2009 Spokane's "Walks for Peace"
Summer 2009 Unity of Bellevue's "Green Festival"
Spring 2009 Programs to Green Your Ministry
Winter 2009 Special Services for Creation
Autumn 2008 Spokane River Cleanup
Summer 2008 Coeur d'Alene community garden
Spring 2008 Earth Day activities around the Northwest Region
Winter 2008 Issaquah habitat restoration project
Autumn 2007 Portland area projects
Summer 2007 Unity of Corvallis projects
Renew (Resources)
Suggested Ministry Activities
Suggested Websites, Books and DVDs
A Note of Explanation:
Environmental concerns for our planet home are complex and diverse, as are the many views regarding potential courses of action. Some of these resources reflect how world consciousness is expressing in the physical realm of today. We know at the level of Spirit all is well and whole, and at the same time there is more unfolding to do in the expression of this Spirit of wholeness. We believe it is valuable to be aware of what is happening in the world and what people think about these events. We do this so we can discern the steps we want to take to be part of the healing. |