Winter Solstice 2023

Winter Solstice Service: Making a Home in the Darkness, Waiting for the Light

The service will be a more quiet worship service blending observance of the winter solstice and Advent, with notes of light and darkness; words, images, music, and contemplative space.  Those who attend might wish to bring a candle, so that their own space and our gathered space might be a space of luminous darkness. 

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Time: 7:30 pm EST (6:30 CST, 5:30 MST, 4:30 PST)

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Susan Gilbert Zencka, with music by Danny Mitchell

PCUSA Carbon Footprint Survey

PC(USA) Carbon Footprint Survey

All PC(USA) congregations, presbyteries and synods are invited to participate in the Energy Use and Carbon Footprint survey. In 2022, the 225th General Assembly called upon the whole of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to reduce our carbon footprint. As part of this, it also directed the Presbyterian Mission Agency to conduct a survey of all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) buildings to estimate our current carbon footprint. 

This survey will require you to gather information from utility bills and should take 10-15 minutes once you have the required information. There is space in the survey to name if you have already had an energy audit, made energy efficiency changes, or if you use renewable energy. Also, there are suggestions of how to reduce energy use, so that when we repeat this churchwide survey in 4 years we can compare how much we have collectively reduced our impact—starting now! 

Complete the survey here: https://surveys.pcusa.org/s3/Carbon-Footprint-Survey

If you have any questions or need any assistance completing the survey, please contact Sean Payne in Research Services at sean.payne@pcusa.org. If you have any questions or needs for resources on how to reduce energy use, lower your personal or collective carbon footprint, or join congregational programs that assist you with reducing energy use (such as Interfaith Power and Light’s Cool Congregations Program or the EPA Portfolio Manager tool to be an Energy Star Congregation), check out resources and webinars from Presbyterians for Earth Care or contact Jessica Maudlin in Presbyterian Hunger Program at jessica.maudlin@pcusa.org.

Here are some PEC Resources to help you reduce your energy use and lower your carbon imprint:

Here are some Additional Resources to help you reduce your energy use and lower your carbon imprint:

PEC 2023 Advent Devotional

PEC 2023 Advent Daily Devotional

Presbyterians for Earth Care has a Daily Advent Devotional for 2023, featuring the writings of many PEC members and friends.  You can access and download your copy of the devotional and follow along with daily meditations, prayers, and calls to action as we consider the blessing of life on this planet during this holy season of anticipation of the birth of Christ.  

Sustainable Holidays

Sustainable Holidays: Celebrating Christmas with a Focus on Earth Care

This presentation discusses the ecological issue of world-wide deforestation, what we can do about it, and ways to lessen our impact on the earth.  A special focus will be given to One Tree Planted’s updated list of 15 ways to celebrate the holidays with more of a focus on caring for our natural environment.

Presenters: Angela Peterson, Program Manager for One Tree Planted; Jessica Maudlin, Presbyterian Hunger Program

WHAT WE DO

I Corinthians 4:1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) invites individuals and congregations to participate in the growing earth care movement within the PC(USA). PEC is a national eco-justice network that cares for God’s creation by connecting, equipping, and inspiring Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church.

Presbyterians for Earth Care cares for God’s Creation by:

Connecting members through a grassroots network of people seeking to keep the sacred at the center of earth care, advocacy and action both inside and outside the walls of the church.
Equipping members with resources, ideas and information for a shared journey toward a healthier planet by growing and sharing theological understandings and perspectives on eco-justice issues.
Inspiring members through stories of individuals and groups who have responded to the sacred call to care for the earth – stories told person to person at events, and by newsletter, email, social media and devotions.

Presbyterians for Earth Care was formerly called Presbyterians for Restoring Creation.

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