Below you will find sermons, talk, and devotional gatherings organized by faith that you are free to use during the Preach-In and beyond. Most are in Acrobat (.pdf) format. A few are audio clips. They have been graciously donated to this website by clergy and leaders of many faith traditions. If you have suggestions for this page or a sermon you would like to share, please email it to andree at interfaithpowerandlight dot org. Thank you. If you have trouble expanding these menus, see this page.
The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham Global Warming Sermons
Christian Sermons Healing That Affects Us All What would Jesus Do About Air Pollution? The Power of Water Getting Clean Valentine from God Good Friday / Earth Day Call to Discipleship: Building a Cottage of Straw and Mud Gardens and Vineyards Choose Life to Live You have heard of old, but I say to you Brother Sun, Sister Moon Ask Seek Knock Transfiguration Sunday – Lent C Homily Practice Love A Call to Action The Earth Is the Lord’s Let Everything that Breathes … The Great Connection Changing the Focus on Non-Renewable Energy and the Stewardship of the Environment Christ in All Things Noah An Earth Day Sermon
Our Neighbor Earth
The Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon
Friends Congregational Church, UCC
College Station, TX
The Rev. Shirley Oskamp
Church of the Wildwood; Tinmouth Community Church
Chittenden, VT; Tinmouth, VT
Pat Hoerth
Perry First United Methodist Church
Perry, OK
The Rev. Nancy Rockwell
The Congregational Church in Exeter, UCC
Exeter, NH
Stephen Miller
Cristo del Valle Presbyterian Church
Albuquerque, NM
Gladys Gifford, ALP
South Park United Presbyterian
Buffalo, NY
The Rev. Nick Utphall
Wisconsin IPL/ St. Steven’s Lutheran Church
Monona, WI
Pat Hoerth
Perry First United Methodist Church
Perry, OK
The Rev. M. Lise Hildebrandt
Holy Cross Episcopal Church
Weare, NH
Jan Trulock
First Christian Church
Glendale, AZ
Fr. John Coleman
S.J., Associate Pastor
St. Ignatius
San Francisco, CA
Rev. Michael P. Mernagh, M.A.
Anamchara Faith Community
Louisville, KY
By Meighan Pritchard, MDiv
United Church of Christ
Mira Vista UCC, El Cerrito, CA
What does the reign of God on earth look like, and what can we do to bring it about?
By Father Charles Morris
Catholic
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Wyandotte, MI
From the mountain top, we see with a different lens the work to be done to heal creation.
By the Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham
Episcopal
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
Through our faith, we can practice love of the earth by changing our behaviors, by working for peace, and more.
By Reverend Bob Wohlfort
Lutheran
First Trinity Lutheran Church
Washington, D.C.
We have much to confess about our role in global warming, but that also means there is much we ourselves can do to make a change for the better.
By Reverend R. Charles Grant, D.Min.
Presbyterian
Bon Air Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA
What does global warming have to do with Christian faith? Everything. We are stewards, not owners. Earth is the arena for both God’s grace and God’s judgment.
By Kirk Nave
United Methodist
River Road United Methodist Church, Richmond, VA
The science of global warming paints a stark picture. Our actions can change the predictor models. We can praise the Lord through wise choices.
By Bass Mitchell
United Methodist
Ivy Creek United Methodist Church, Charlottesville, VA
Texts: Psalm 24
July 16, 2006
We are all connected and must take care of our neighbors, including the plants and animals.
By the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, D.D., Bishop of Washington and Dean of Washington National Cathedral
Episcopal
November 6, 2004
We have destroyed pristine landscapes and violated our sacred covenant with God. We must reclaim our covenant and teach it to the next generation, and we must work to heal God’s creation.
By Rev. Nancy G. Wright
Episcopal
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mount Vernon, WA
Text: Colossians 1:15-20
April 25, 1999
God, in Christ, is holding the world together. This belief teaches us several things about how we are to live in relationship with God and with the rest of creation.
By Paul Amrhein, Human Concerns Minister
Catholic
St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Richmond, VA
God wanted Noah’s help to save creation. Can we be modern-day Noahs?
By Steven Whitney
Episcopal
St. Steven’s Episcopal Church, Seattle, WA
Texts: Genesis 2:15, 9:8-11 and Job 12:10, 38:1-7
April 21, 1996
Creation is a “manifestation of God in our midst.” To whom does creation really belong? What is our role in it?
Jewish Sermons Rosh Hashanah Sermon 5768 Guardians of the Earth Notes for Jewish Faith Leaders
By Rabbi Laura Geller
Reform Judaism
Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills, CA
Texts: Rava; Genesis 1-2; Midrash Rabba 3:1; Deuteronomy 20:19-20; Mishna Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars 6:8-10; Sefer HaChinuch 529
Caring about the planet is profoundly Jewish. This congregation can do something by taking the Green Pledge to reduce carbon emissions individually and as a congregation.
By Rabbi Mark Kaiserman
Reform Judaism
Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, Livingston, NJ
We are Shomrei Adamah, or guardians of the earth. We must model the behavior of creating a greener environment and guarding our precious planet
Themes:
• Tu B’Shat Tie-Ins and Resources
• Jewish Environmental Resources
• Jewish Climate Education Resources
• Texts to Inform a Response to Climate Change
Unitarian Universalist Sermons Grounded in Resilience: Born for the Storm Out of the Depths
Rev. Kurt A. Kuhwald
For First Unitarian Church of Oakland
Rev. Dr. Clare Butterfield
A Service for Earth Day
For Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Islamic Sermons Readings by theme from the Holy Qu’ran: Dr. Hamid Mavani Maintaining Balance in Multiple Places
• Do no mischief on the earth
• Stewards of the earth
• Keep earth in balance
Download – Notes for Islamic Religious Leaders
Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California
Temple Beth El, Berkeley, CA
God offered to heavens, earth, and mountains the trust of creation. Only humans were willing to take on this task. We must do a better job.
Metwalli B. Amer
Founder and Executive Director
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims
Sacramento, CA
These materials will assist individuals in Bahá’í communities to incorporate themes of environmental stewardship and justice into three ‘core’ activities – devotional gatherings, children’s classes and jr. youth groups – which are open to all.
2013 Selected Readings for Bahá’í Gatherings
Includes:
• Bahá’í Sacred Writings – Protecting the Most Vulnerable
• Excerpts of statements of the Bahá’í International Community
Download 2013 Baha’i Materials for Preach-In
Brilliant Star Highlights for Children/Youth:
These linked pages are extracts from the March/April 2009 issue of Brilliant Star titled “Caring for Our Planet” which won the 2010 APEX Award of Excellence for Green Writing. The issue was produced in observance of the “UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014.”
“Caring for Our Planet” March/April 2009 (Download pdf files)
p. 4 Happy Earth Day song (Pair Unity lesson)
p. 5 How Big is Your Footprint (Pair w/Justice lesson)
p. 7 Spring Fling Fun (Pair Service lesson)
p. 10 Message in a Bottle (Pair Kindness lesson)
p. 20-21 Forest Expedition (Pair with Service lesson)
p. 28 Living in a Green House (Pair any of the lessons)
Notes for Buddhist Faith Leaders
Themes:
• Outline of a talk on Care of the Earth
• Six principles of Dharma
• Buddhist Environmental Care Book List
• Buddhist Environmental Care Online Resources
Download – Notes for Buddhist Faith Leaders