Climate Vigil Lanterns!
An Easy Intergenerational Earth Day Activity
By the Rev. Jenny Phillips
Important dates:
April 22: Earth Day • May 12: Climate Vigil at General Conference 2016 • VOLUNTEER!
The Pacific Northwest Conference is hosting an evening prayer vigil for the climate at General Conference in May. We are inviting United Methodists worldwide to make or decorate paper lanterns representing their prayers for God’s creation and for communities impacted by climate change. These lanterns will be carried by delegates and visitors at General Conference.
Decorating store-bought lanterns with colored tissue paper is an easy, fun way to start a climate conversation in your church.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Gather supplies: paper lanterns, tissue, paint brushes, scissors and glue.
2. Cut tissue paper into pieces.
3. Use a paintbrush to apply watered-down glue to lantern.
4. Stick the tissue to the lantern, then apply another coat of glue.
5. Add a tag with your prayer for the climate.
6. Mail it to Nancy Kuch at the Conference Office, P.O. Box 13650, Des Moines, WA 98198.
Need more content? A discussion guide is available at the climate vigil website: www.pnwumc.org/climatevigil.
Want to think bigger? We need large-scale lanterns! Love to sew? We have ideas for hand-sewn lanterns! Like to make things out of found objects? Awesome! Find tons of fresh ideas on our Pinterest board! http://ow.ly/YmMz6
The lanterns are a terrific tool that all churches can use to raise awareness within their membership for creation care.
A recent article in Yes! Magazine by fellow United Methodist Bill McKibben gives excellent information supporting divestment from fossil fuels:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/life-after-oil/why-we-need-to-keep-80-percent-of-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground-20160215