Carbon Fast 2015

Maria Paula Vega, Ecuador “Pledging to protect creation has helped me better care for our common home. A pledge is a promise, a commitment that I have made to my creator and my community, and something that I deeply want to uphold. My pledge means a great deal to me.” Pledge to care for creation. Pledge to pray, act, and advocate for creation. Learn more at LiveLaudatoSi.org BLOG Rejoice! As we enter Holy Week, take a moment to reflect on your Lenten journey. Throughout Lent, you have repented of your harm to our common home and taken real steps to live more simply. Take a moment to meditate on how those actions have deepened your relationships with creation, God, and your community. Continue your walk towards living in harmony with the Creator and creation Pledge to pray, live simply, and advocate at livelaudatosi.org. When you pledge, you’ll receive resources to put your faith into action and join a global community of people who are dedicated to protecting our common home.

JoEmma Urena, United States “Singing makes me feel close and connected with everything. There is great joy and gladness in song, and part of me believes that’s because song brings us closer as a human family. I hope that the Creator is pleased by songs of praise.” Sing. Songs that praise the goodness of creation can help you connect with the joy of the creator. Sing a song about creation from your parish hymnal or family tradition. BLOG Singing to the creator is tied to the very roots of our faith. In the psalms, we find this beautiful song: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. (19:1–6) Sing along with hymns that connect you with the creator. One good option is the St. Francis Prayer.

Neil Adams, South Africa “More than 10 years ago, I took our youth on a hike from Rhodes to Kirstenbosch. Seeing the awesome beauty of Table Mountain up close and seeing that the young people were enjoying it, I knew that I could not keep this and all other hiking experiences to myself. I want to show off the beauty of God’s awesome creation with as many young people as possible, so that they can not only enjoy nature, but get to know the God that created all of this.” Help others connect. Contact your pastor to lead a nature walk or meditation in your parish. BLOG Help those around you reflect on the gift of creation. Ask your pastor or parish council whether you may lead a nature walk, plant a tree, or simply guide a group reflection on scripture or other teachings. In addition to enriching the spiritual life of the parish, these activities can be a special way to bond ministries. However you decide to share the message of hope for God’s creation, your work is a wonderful gift.

Ken Gray, Canada “In Western Canada where I live and work, we experience all four seasons. I love to take pictures as I explore and enjoy nature, which calms, excites, and inspires me. Nature speaks to me, and in photography, I respond.” Capture your joy in creation. Start a daily or weekly journal or photography project to reflect on how creation strengthens your spirit, how you see it changing, and how you will protect it. BLOG Making art inspired by creation can be a meditation on the gifts of the creator. Whether you make it to share or keep it private, your art is a way to reflect on your place in our common home. No expertise is necessary to pray with the fruits of your hands. For inspiration, please see what others have done: Photography blog Poem about creation Songs about creation

Catherine Ngangira, Zimbabwe “Creation is a gentle friend, ever present to listen and share in my joy and sorrows. It’s not judgemental but instead gives freely its freshness and prosperity. It refreshes my inner being to share the joy that only nature can provide.” Meditate on the gift of creation. Take a walk outdoors, contemplate the plants in your home, or simply close your eyes and focus on the feeling of sun and wind on your skin. BLOG Take a few minutes away from your usual routine to focus on your connection to the Creator. Here are a few ideas: Start by identifying a place where you can hear, see, and feel the natural world. Take deep breaths and clear your mind. Allow the presence of God to fill your spirit. At the conclusion of your meditation, commit to finding 5–10 minutes a day to silently pray with creation for the remainder of Lent and beyond. Seal your commitment with this prayer: O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.