The Value of Pastoral Renewal Leave
Rev. Matthew Smith recently returned from a renewal leave. He explains that it is more than a vacation; it is a time to deepen one's relationship with God.
Location: Euclid Avenue UMC, 405 S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park
**POSTPONED**
With the Spread of the Delta virus variant and the decision of the community to require mask and social distancing, the Northern Illinois Conference Eco-Sustainability Taskforce has decided to postpone the September 11th Summit until some time in 2022.
September 11, 2021
9 am - 2 pm
On Earth Day, April 22, 2021, 11 general agencies of The United Methodist Church pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. ‘Net-Zero’ describes the process by which human-caused greenhouse gas emissions can be ‘netted out’ and drastically reduce climate change. The group said it was “called by our faith, informed by science and led by our relationship with impacted communities to respond urgently…we are embarking on a new course of action to match the urgency of the moment.”
To address this urgency, the NIC Board of Global Ministries will be hosting a Renewable Energy Summit at Euclid Ave UMC, 405 S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park on Saturday, September 11.
The Rev. Jenny Phillips, Senior Technical Advisor for Environmental Sustainability at Global Ministries, will be talking more about what this effort would mean for our Conference and its churches. Jenny said, “We made this commitment as a first step in saying we are committed to making a plan and living into it…one thing that can be done immediately is better energy efficiency at many United Methodist churches. Going renewable will often free up money that can be used to grow missions. We need to dialogue, build, and share our long-term creation care efforts.” This is what this Summit hopes to accomplish.
“Caring for creation is a Biblical directive, God’s very first charge to humans in Genesis," said Harriett Jane Olson, United Methodist Women General Secretary. “When we fail to care for creation, women, and children on the margins are most at risk in terms of their health and livelihoods”
Joining Rev. Phillips will be Jake Barnett from Wespath Benefits and Investments. Jake will talk about their net-zero commitment work to encourage low carbon funds, regenerative agriculture, and circular economy investments.
The Renewable Energy Summit will be held Saturday, September 11 from 9 am to 2 pm. Besides the presentations and dialogue, there will be solar and geothermal tours, resource tables, and a lunch. Bishop Hopkins will open the Summit.
To make a reservation, click here. For questions email Richard Alton at Richard.alton@gmail.com, Northern Illinois Conference Co-Chair Eco-Sustainability Task Force.