April News & Views
Use these resources for Earth Day actions, worship
“Planet vs. Plastic”: that’s this Earth Day’s theme, and our website has a list of resources to guide you. The Earth Day website explains the “Planet vs. Plastics” theme, and has toolkits for planning an action, promoting Earth Day on social media, finding events or registering your event. But there’s lots more, including downloadable worship resources from Creation Justice Ministries and Interfaith Power and Light, and a list of virtual gatherings. Third Act Communications and Membership Chair Jane Ellen Nickell has brought together a list of resources to help. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL THE RESOURCES.
Make a pledge during Faith Climate Action Week
Interfaith Power & Light’s Faith Climate Action Week is April 19 to April 28 — and IPL is asking us to make a pledge on one of those days — “to care for Creation and protect my neighbors” and to “pledge to vote and to care for every living creature and every community suffering the impacts of our changing climate.” VISIT THEIR FAITH ACTION CLIMATE WEEK WEBSITE AND SIGN THE PLEDGE.
Take action without leaving home!
A postcard-writing drive is an easy way to help get out the vote, writes TAF Coordinating Committee Member Trisha Tull, who explains the steps and points you to Third Act’s “how-to” webpage. Third Act is also now promoting a Letter to the Editor campaign to get your state to transition all its utilities to renewable energy. There are how-to tips for this, too, including Bill McKibben’s tutorial. READ TRISHA’S ARTICLE THAT EXPLAINS HOW TO DO IT ALL.
‘Sacred Right to Vote’ panel is May 7
Rev. Dr. Jim Antal’s essays in January (HERE) and March (HERE) launched Third Act Faith’s year-long focus on the sacred right to vote. Antal’s March essay offers historical context and a thorough discussion of both that concept and of how it relates to faith communities. To further explore the idea, TAF will host a “Sacred Right to Vote” panel of faith leaders on May 7, 2024, 5:00 pm PDT / 8:00 pm EDT, at its next General Meeting. REGISTER HERE FOR THIS ZOOM EVENT. | READ ABOUT THE PANELISTS.
Contemplative practice May 30: deep listening
At our first online contemplative practice this week, Mary Ann Holtz led a small group through a practice of Centering Prayer, offering restoration and connection in the midst of challenging times. Our next contemplative session will be on Thursday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. EDT/11:00 a.m. PDT. We are delighted that Stephen Posner, PhD, Director of Pathways to Planetary Health with the Garrison Institute, will guide this session on Earth-based nature awareness, in which we will engage with the practice of deep listening. SIGN UP FOR THIS SESSION HERE.
‘Asters for Ella’: Third Act Partners with Garden for Wildlife
“One of the things I rarely skip when I get to meet new people is [telling them] ‘I’m a gardener,’” writes Third Act President and Co-Founder Vanessa Arcara in her article ‘Asters for Ella’. “If that sounds like you, I have good news: this spring we’ve partnered up with the folks at Garden for Wildlife. They let you fill in your zip code to find perennial bulbs, plants, and shrubs native to your neck of the woods. And if you decide to add any to your garden, a portion of that sale will go toward supporting Third Act’s work.” Learn more about this project by reading ‘ASTERS FOR ELLA’ ON THE THIRD ACT WEBSITE.
‘Faith, environmental justice, and water’
In her April ‘Going Deep’ essay, TAF Coordinating Committee member Trisha Tull discusses her recent experience in Memphis, and talks about her new Bible study. READ HER ESSAY ‘LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN LIKE WATER.’
Upcoming Events
Apr. 22: The People vs. Citi: Confronting Citigroup’s Environmental Racism (in person in NYC and on Zoom), 10 a.m. EDT (7 a.m. PDT). REGISTER HERE.
Apr. 22: Welcome to Third Act: Let’s Get Started (Zoom), 7:30 p.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. PDT). REGISTER HERE.
May 3-12: “Faiths for Climate Justice” week of action MORE INFO HERE.
May 7: TAF General Meeting with ‘Sacred Right to Vote’ panel (Zoom), 8 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. PDT). REGISTER HERE.
May 30: Contemplative Practice: Nature Awareness with Stephen Posner (Zoom), 11 a.m. EDT (2 p.m. PDT). REGISTER HERE.
Send us your photos and stories
Please send us news items, reflections, story ideas and photos that we can use on our web pages and include in our monthly email. Send the submissions to thirdactfaith@gmail.com.
