This Sunday, MPC will kick off Earth Week with a special Celebration focusing on “Kinship with All Beings.” In a kinship worldview, which has deep roots in many Indigenous cultures, all living beings are seen as persons possessing their own unique gifts and wisdom. Humans are not masters over the natural world, but are simply one species among many in the interdependent web of life.
Over the past year and a half, MPC’s Climate Spirituality group has explored the ways kinship interweaves with our spiritual lives. We have shared our stories of spiritual encounters with trees, owls, deer, bobcats, mountains, and rivers. For many of us, Earth is central to our spiritual life and relationship with God, and these encounters with other-than-human beings—including companion animals—are sacred moments. Many have spoken about feeling a deep sense of belonging and oneness when in nature and among wild beings.
To continue this exploration, the Climate Spirituality group has teamed up with Poets & Storytellers to create a special Earth Week Celebration service this Sunday to honor our spiritual connection with the Earth and our kinship with all life. We have planned special music, stories and poems, and participatory elements. As we move into Earth Week, we invite you to reflect on the role kinship plays in your spiritual life. The service will be followed by a festival in the courtyard where you’ll be invited to enjoy a variety of delicious climate-friendly food, hear an Earth-centered music playlist, and take action to protect the Earth and our non-human kin. At the festival you can:
- Reduce your households’ carbon emissions significantly by signing up for 100% renewable electricity. (Please bring your PG&E bill or account number with you so you can enroll!)
- Push leaders to adopt new climate and environmental protection policies without delay.
- Learn how to replace high-carbon-emissions gas appliances with energy-efficient electric ones and access valuable rebates to save money.
- Enroll in a small-group class that will help you switch checking and savings accounts to fossil-free banks.
- Register to tour local native plant gardens and learn about the abundant wildlife that a native plant garden supports.
- Sign up for a docent-led walk at Coyote Hills Regional Park.
- Plan to join other MPCers at an upcoming “Connect with Nature” gathering.
- Enter a free RAFFLE to win exciting Earth-friendly prizes!
- Take pride and hope from MPC’s many Earth care accomplishments since the Climate Call to Action was adopted two years ago!
CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY WELCOME
to come and enjoy Earth-centered arts and crafts activities!
Earth day photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash