As 2022 draws to a close and we celebrate the accomplishments of a busy year, we at Hope for Creation are asking for your support. Our impact depends on the time, talents, and treasure of people of faith and conscience who believe in the importance of creation care and climate justice, and we invite you to close your year with a donation in support of our work.

Saturday, October 15, 2022

by Rev. Jerry Duggins of Westminster Presbyterian Church

By Cybelle Shattuck

Fall is in the air, the season of pumpkin spice, bright leaves, and elections. As we prepare to participate in one of the most vital acts of citizenship, voting, it is important to locate information that can help us make informed choices. For those seeking information on environmental and justice issues, here are some useful resources.

Pastor Ruth Moerdyk offers us a review of the thought-provoking Rooted & Rising where editors Leah Schade and Margaret Bullitt-Jonas collect insight from various faith leaders, climate activists and scientists on climate change and how we can face our reality:

While enjoying the abundance of the season (find below your invitation to the upcoming Abundance in Community Celebration on August 27), we would like to bring to you new exciting thoughts and events from Hope for Creation!

Now is a great time to join in the work of Hope for Creation!

We are a grassroots effort led by dedicated volunteer representatives of congregations across greater Kalamazoo who have worked together since 2014 to galvanize the local faith community around issues of environmental sustainability and climate justice. Over the last couple of years, Hope for Creation has solidified an organizational structure that includes a planning group, seven working committees and several part-time paid staff. We are also connected with the national Interfaith Power & Light movement as the first regional chapter of its Michigan affiliate.

Greetings and happy June!

With June comes the opportunity to tour several local congregational gardens as part of Hope for Creation’s annual Congregational Garden Tour. We had such a great time on last year’s three-stop tour (see a fun 2-minute slideshow here) that we’re back with an expanded four-stop tour on June 18. Our goal is to build connections between gardens and their faithful gardeners, whose enthusiasm will no doubt encourage other congregations to think creatively about how they steward the green spaces around their own buildings.

What are some sustainable choices you can make to support our ongoing fight for the environment? Here are a couple different ways you can create sustainable opportunities for your congregation (and beyond)!

Starting locally, there are several shops in Michigan that can provide needs for your community.

Did you know that this April was 4 degrees cooler than average and tied for the cloudiest April ever? We’ve waited so long for spring in 2022, and now – finally – there’s an explosion of green growth all around.

Hope for Creation wishes you an April full of meaning and action. If you’re looking for suggestions, here’s our 2022 list of ways to observe Earth Day.