Submitted by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is delighted to announce that this year on Earth Day Sunday, April 24, the Reverend Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Ph.D., will deliver a special guest sermon at the 10:00 a.m. service. All are welcome to participate in this unique opportunity to reflect together on the spiritual dimensions of working for a more sustainable environment.
In addition to delivering the sermon, Reverend Bullitt-Jonas will offer an Earth Day–themed adult education forum immediately following the service, entitled “A Spirituality of Creation Care.” In today’s fast-paced, hectic, urban society, many of us feel out of touch with—even alienated from—the natural world. Reverend Bullitt-Jonas will explore why connecting with nature is an important part of our spiritual life. What spiritual practices and theological perspectives open our eyes to encounter God in nature? How can reverence for God’s creation sustain our efforts to protect the web of life? The forum is free and open to the public.
The Reverend Bullitt-Jonas is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, author, and climate activist. After 25 years in parish ministry, she now serves as Missioner for Creation Care in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Her most recent book, Joy of Heaven, to Earth Come Down (Forward Movement), is a collection of daily meditations for Advent/Christmas on the sacredness of the natural world. You can learn more about Reverend Bullitt-Jonas at www.revivingcreation.org.
“Margaret Bullitt-Jonas is one of the most thoughtful speakers about the spiritual dimensions of environmental stewardship and climate justice,” said St. Paul’s rector, the Rev. Christopher Wendell. “Her visit to St. Paul’s is a wonderful gift both to our parish and to all those curious about the intersection of the spiritual life and the movement for more sustainable living,” he added.
St. Paul’s celebration of Earth Day Sunday is just one the many ways that St. Paul’s has deepened its commitment to creation care and environmental sustainability in recent years. Last summer, St. Paul’s installed a 12-kilowatt solar panel array on their south-facing parish hall roof, which has already generated over 7 megawatts of power since it was activated. For six weeks this past fall, St. Paul’s and First Parish Unitarian-Universalist jointly offered an adult learning series to read Pope Francis’s recent environmental encyclical. Over the past five years, St. Paul’s has received two “Green Grants” from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to replace old windows with more efficient windows, and has also installed LED parking lot lights and re-zoned their heating system for greater efficiency.
To further promote creation care at St. Paul’s, last summer the church formed a “Green Team.” This group helps to discern ways church operations can become more environmentally sustainable and encourages parishioners to make similar commitments to environmental stewardship in their own lives. In addition, the Green Team advocates for environmental causes within the community and encourages a love and reverence for the natural world.
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 100 Pine Hill Road in Bedford and on the web at www.stpaulsbedford.org. Weekly services with Holy Communion are offered at 10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. in the summer). They welcome all people, regardless of faith or background, to all services and programs.
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