Many #EAD2020 sponsors are offering webinars and new resources designed to help you stay connected and engaged in advocacy during the quarantine. Please see the list below:
Acting for Justice while Sheltering in Place
Restless and eager to do something for the world?
Beginning today, Thursday, May 14, #EAD2020 Sponsor JustFaith Ministries will be hosting a free event every two weeks that highlights how we can make a difference, even as we are limited by sheltering in place and social distancing.
All JustFaith Program graduates, members and friends are invited to a one-hour video-conferencing event on Zoom on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 Pacific Time) to hear from Jill Rauh from the United States Catholic Bishops’ Justice, Peace and Human Development Office. Jill is the Director of Education & Outreach and will be speaking to “The Pandemic’s Exposure of Systemic Injustice.” You can register for the event here; space is limited so please register promptly.
Future events include:
Thursday, May 28, 7:00 p.m. EDT – Matt Gross, Director of Organizing for Bread for the World (JustFaith Ministries partner organization), discussing “The Importance of Advocacy during the Pandemic.” Register here.
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 p.m. EDT – Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, discussing “Ocean Month – Honoring God’s Marine Creation.” Register here.
Strengthening Hope for US Churches
Webinars sponsored by
Christian Churches Together ~ Churches Uniting in Christ ~ National Council of Churches
Three major ecumenical groups in the United States, including #EAD2020 sponsor National Council of Churches, are coming together to invite their member communions and organizations to join in unity this May for training and support. As followers of Christ prepare for Pentecost, Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), Christian Churches Together (CCT), and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) are offering voices of hope and reconciliation. These organizations have created two webinars and an ecumenical resource sheet for all churches and Christians in the US to engage.
May 14 Webinar – “What Communities Need to Know about COVID-19 and Reopening”
Register below for the webinar “What Communities Need to Know about COVID-19 and Reopening” on May 14 at 1:30 p.m. ET. The interactive webinar will include representatives from the Centers for Disease Control interacting with ecumenical leaders.
Register here: registration closed
May 28 Webinar – “Pentecost Voices: Reclaiming Hope in the New Normal”
Register below for the webinar “Pentecost Voices: Reclaiming Hope in the New Normal” on May 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET. It will feature leading Christian voices in the US sharing about how to reclaim hope in life after the pandemic.
Register here: registration closed
Ecumenical Information Resource Sheet
We are pleased to offer an informational sheet with numerous links for articles, blogs and ways to engage in our “new normal.” The resources were collected from many faith communions and organizations. Click here to access this resource.
The United Church of Christ and Interfaith Power & Light invite you
May, 20, 2020, 1:00pm EDT to their monthly webinar:
Environmental Justice & Health Justice Featuring Senator Cory Booker
Statistics and studies have demonstrated the link between COVID-19 death rates and environmental injustice. This webinar will address this link from three perspectives: scientific research, front line experience, and government response. Senator Cory Booker will be joined by Harvard researcher Francesca Dominici and one of the frontline leaders of St. John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana.
Read a two-page issue brief on climate change, “Climate Change and Care for Creation.” This is the third issue in a new series of global issue briefs to help prepare voters for the 2020 U.S. elections called Faithful Voting and Global Concerns from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
U.S. Catholics celebrate fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home
Vatican-sponsored Laudato Si’ Week (May 16-24) includes virtual activities and Global Day of Prayer to engage faithful in caring for environment and building a better world together
Next week, Catholics around the country and around the world will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical letter Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home through prayer, education, and online activities. The document, addressed to all peoples, started an urgent conversation on how we can fulfill our duty to care for Creation and embrace the ecological, theological, economic, social, and political dimensions as an interconnected web toward that goal.
Laudato Si’ Week, May 16-24, will be celebrated with the theme “Everything is Connected.” The weeklong celebration is sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and led by a cohort of Catholic partners. Online activities by U.S. Catholic groups include participation in the Global Day of Prayer on May 24; prayer gatherings from home; small parish, group or family discussions with downloaded materials; and attending seminars on various topics such as sustainability.
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who will come after us, to children who are growing up?” Pope Francis said in his video message encouraging participation. “I renew my urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis, the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor cannot continue. Let’s take care of creation, a gift of our good Creator God.”
Activities and resources for Laudato Si’ Week
Find these and many more U.S. and global activities and resources from Catholic partners to celebrate Laudato Si’ Week, May 16-24, at www.laudatosiweek.org and at www.catholicclimatecovenant.org.
Global Day of Prayer May 24
Participate in the highlight for Laudato Si’ Week: a Global Day of Prayer on May 24 at Noon (wherever you are,) including prayer cards and other resources from the Vatican. We join with our partners including Global Catholic Climate Movement for this and many other special activities from May 16-24, including reflection, preparation, prayer and solidarity.
Virtual Laudato Si’ Program May 16-24
Catholic Climate Covenant’s Earth Day/Laudato Si’ 2020 program, Earth Day at 50/Laudato Si’ at 5: An Urgent Appeal for Action, is available for download for individuals, families and small groups to use from home. The program was designed to be used for Laudato Si’ at 5 celebrations. The program is also available in Spanish.
Daily reflections May 16-24
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers a new prayer card, an updated Laudato Si’ study guide, a one-page bulletin insert, and daily reflections for the week. Find more Laudato Si’ resources from USCCB here:http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/index.cfm
Novena prayers from home May 16-24
The Novena from Carmelite NGO is specifically designed to be used over the 9 days of Laudato Si’ Week. Download the nine-day prayer program: https://catholicclimateproject.org/activity/novena-creation-may-16-may-24
From #EAD2020 sponsor Global Ministries (UCC/DOC)
The UCC’s Environmental Justice Minister has been holding monthly webinars for almost a year. This month’s webinar is on May 20, 1pm EDT, will be “Environmental Justice is Health Justice.” Sen. Booker (D-NJ) will be one of the speakers (see above).
Global Ministries has put together a series of video Bible studies for the Southern Asia Initiative. One focuses on climate change and its effects in the region. Find it here: https://www.globalministries.org/climate_change_southern_asia_issue_video_bible_study
Global Ministries has been reporting on the impacts of the coronavirus around the world. Watch video updates from our area executives: https://www.globalministries.org/global_ministries_hosts_facebook_live_covid_19_updates and read our overall report: https://www.globalministries.org/covid_19_area_exec_report
Virtual Franciscan Ecumenical Advocacy Days Gathering
Each year, Franciscans gather at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days’ (EAD) annual conference to build relationships, hear about advocacy opportunities and take action together. Because of the pandemic, the in-person gathering was cancelled and the Franciscan Action Network hosted a virtual gathering to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Read about it and watch the presentation here — https://franciscanaction.org/virtual-franciscan-ecumenical-advocacy-days-gathering/