Countdown to Sun Day
This week’s countdown message features a weekly task about getting media coverage for your event and news about more“Sunbeam Congregations.”
Here’s your weekly Sun Day task:
Start spreading the word about your Sun Day plans! Media resources include a recording of Third Act’s first Media Outreach training, guidelines for writing a Letter to the Editor from Third Act Oregon, a media advisory template, and a social media toolkit.
Sunbeam Congregations
We heard from several more congregations this week about what they’re are planning Sun Day.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH
After a decade of reducing their environmental footprint, the congregation at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, OH, will use Sun Day to move closer to their goal of installing solar panels on their education building. On Sun Day, they will celebrate the sustainable actions they have already taken, as well as seeking donations to cover the cost of a solar installation not covered by grants and government subsidies. Built in the 1950s, the sanctuary won architectural prizes for its modernist design. Our thanks to TAF member Elliott Bush for letting us know how his church is marking Sun Day.
Niles Discovery Church, Fremont, CA
Pastor Jeff Spencer shared that Niles Discovery Church is hosting two Sun Day events. The first one, on Saturday, September 20, is for leaders of faith communities in and around Fremont, CA, that are considering adding solar to their facilities. Entitled “Our Solar Story,” the event will explain Niles’s process of installing solar panels, the financial costs of adding it, the financial savings, and what they didn't include (and why) at the time of installation. On Sunday, September 21, the church will host an EV Car Show to celebrate the unstoppable rise of clean energy.
Keene Valley Congregational Church, NY
Located in a very rural area, Keene Valley Congregational Church (KVCC) is working with other community organizations in NY’s northern region to create a “Sun Month.” Scheduled activities include the 2nd Annual Sustainability and Energy Fair in Keene and Jay on September 6. On September 20, Third Act Upstate NY’s Sun Day Wool tapestry, which is traveling from Saranac Lake to Albany via e-bikes, EVs, canoes etc., will stop in Keene Valley. KVCC will celebrate Sun Day in its morning worship on September 21, and on Monday, September 22, the church will host a quiet, contemplative and celebratory event focused on the solar equinox. The Sun Day Wool tapestry will be on display again on Saturday, September 27, at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake NY’s “Watts and Wheels” with energy exhibitors, an electric vehicle expo, and music. Thank you Katharine Preston, Keene Valley Congregational Church, and all the folks in Upstate NY!
Church of the Servant, Grand Rapids, MI
TAF Coordinating Committee member Debra Rienstra writes about her church: “We are planning a celebrative event in a church parking lot, where the church already has solar and wonderful native plantings. We're trying to gather experts and vendors to make some presentations, and we're gathering people to work on kids' activities, nature walks, and more.” Debra and her husband, Rev. Ron Rienstra, shared in our June General Meeting how their congregation observes Season of Creation, which coincides with Sun Day this year.
Share your congregation’s plans!
Read all about our Sunbeam Congregations, and if your congregation is planning something for Sun Day, email us at faith@thirdact.org, so we can share it with others!