Calling environmentalists, animal lovers, Christians observing the Season of Creation, and people of all faith/spiritual traditions to learn about the amazing sensory abilities of animals in a weekly book discussion group using the bestseller Immense World: How Animals Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us. In the last decade, research on other animals’ ways of perceiving and making sense of the world — also known as “umwelt” — has exploded. With An Immense World, Ed Yong, a science journalist at the Atlantic, pulls together these findings to give us a scientifically based glimpse into how animals experience the world. You’ll never consider animals quite the same way again! Schedule for the weekly online discussion is given below. Register for this event on www.eventbrite.com.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.

Sept. 1: Introduction and Chapter 1

Sept. 8: Chapters 2 & 3

Sept. 15: Chapters 4 & 5

Sept. 22: Chapters 6 & 7

Sept. 29: Chapters 8 & 9

Oct. 6: Chapters 10 – 12

Scientists tell us that we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. That may seem like a very high hurdle. But, it translates to only a 5%/year reduction, starting now. Participants in this course will leave with a plan for at least their first 5% reduction, and knowledge of how to find the other 40%. Many participants have found easy, cost-effective reductions of more than 20%. The course was developed in response to the Walk on Earth Gently multifaith statement. Inspired by religious teachings to turn away from consumerism & to seek balanced relationships with all people and the planet, Walk on Earth Gently invites you into a journey of Living the Change that the world needs. This program focuses on making personal lifestyle changes in three areas: transportation, energy, and food but will be customized for participants. Anticipated schedule/topics to be covered are given below.  Join us in accepting the Walk on Earth Gently invitation and committing to a sustainable lifestyle, via a weekly online discussion group. Can’t make it every week? Join us as you are able. Are you ready to commit to a more sustainable lifestyle? Then join us on this journey to Living the Change by registering on www.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com.

Sept. 7: Introduction & Transport, week 1

Sept. 14, Sept. 21 & Sept. 28: Transport, weeks 2, 3 & 4

Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19 & Oct. 26: Energy, weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4

Nov. 2, Nov. 9 & Nov. 16: Food, weeks 1, 2 & 3

Nov. 30: Food, week 4 & closing

Calling environmentalists, animal lovers, Christians observing the Season of Creation, and people of all faith/spiritual traditions to learn about the amazing sensory abilities of animals in a weekly book discussion group using the bestseller Immense World: How Animals Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us. In the last decade, research on other animals’ ways of perceiving and making sense of the world — also known as “umwelt” — has exploded. With An Immense World, Ed Yong, a science journalist at the Atlantic, pulls together these findings to give us a scientifically based glimpse into how animals experience the world. You’ll never consider animals quite the same way again! Schedule for the weekly online discussion is given below. Register for this event on www.eventbrite.com.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.

Sept. 1: Introduction and Chapter 1

Sept. 8: Chapters 2 & 3

Sept. 15: Chapters 4 & 5

Sept. 22: Chapters 6 & 7

Sept. 29: Chapters 8 & 9

Oct. 6: Chapters 10 – 12

Interested to connect your Christian faith to care for the earth?  Want to learn how your church can live the faith through caring for creation?  Or, want to improve your own stewardship?  Join a free online course, Creation Care 101, and begin a journey of restoring faith, justice, and creation.  Each session will feature talks from leading theologians and scientists, inspiring stories from churches, facilitated heart-led conversation, and tools for practical implementation. Details on content/schedule are given below.  All classes will be recorded, so don’t worry if you can’t make every class.  Register at: https://creationcarecollective.org/event/creation-justice-101-fall-program/. Lisa Brenskelle will act as facilitator for the Lutherans Restoring Creation group, providing additional resources and insights from her decades of earthkeeping ministry. To join her group & get the additional resources, please indicate “Lutherans Restoring Creation” as your church/group when you register.  Note that all Christians are welcome to join the Lutherans Restoring Creation group, not just Lutherans.  Contact Lisa at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.

• Sept 8: Intro: Faith, Science & Creation Care
• Oct 13: Eating: Theology of Food
• Nov 10: Hosting: Honorable Gatherings
• Dec 8: Purchasing: Living Simply & Justly
• Jan 12: Regenerating: Soil, Compost, Waste
• Feb 9: Reframing: Water & Energy
• Mar 9: Planting: Gardens & Spaces
• Apr 13: Planning: Pulling it Together

Heat is the greatest weather-related disaster in the U.S., killing more people than any other kind of natural disaster.  And, Texas is one of three states with the highest heat-related deaths. A study found that the Houston area averaged 18 dangerously hot summer days per year from 1975 to 2010. Without any action to combat urban heat, Houston’s annual number of days hit by dangerous summer heat could rise to 80 by 2046. So, Houston’s urban heat issues are already serious and are forecasted to get much worse with the Climate Crisis. Urban heat negatively affects human and biodiversity health throughout the region, exacts a financial toll, leads to higher ozone levels, and reduces quality of life.  Heat mapping in Houston has shown that high heat is more concentrated in underinvested communities and/or Communities of Color, thereby widening historic inequalities. Fortunately, there are solutions that can be brought to bear to reduce urban heat.  Join Jaime Gonzalez of The Nature Conservancy, who led heat mapping efforts in Houston, for a discussion on the findings, their justice implications, solutions, and how houses of worship/people of faith can engage.  Learn more/register on www.eventbrite.com. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

As people of faith and conscience, we believe elections are a referendum on the values that will shape our future. How can we renew our fragile democracy? How do we honor the human dignity of every person? Will we protect our Sacred Earth and our children’s future? What policies will prioritize the common good and confront future crises that remind us of our interdependence? Many of the defining moral issues of our time are on the ballot: faltering democratic institutions, too much wealth in the hands of a few, damage to the climate, cruel immigration policies that tear families apart, mass incarceration that devastates communities of color, senseless gun violence, and threats to global public health and security. These challenges are daunting. To move forward in a spirit of hope, and to resist despair and cynicism, join this weekly discussion group where we’ll navigate the urgent moral questions raised by the coming election, allowing you to discern your path forward. Can’t make it every week? Join as you are able, or for those topics most of interest to you. The topic for each week’s discussion is given below. All attendees receive an electronic copy of the Faithful Voter Reflection Guide from Interfaith Power & Light, plus supplemental materials provided by the facilitator. Register on www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/faithful-voter-weekly-discussion-group-tickets-384102800817?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Sept. 13: Protecting Our Sacred Earth                    Sept. 20: Protecting Democracy & Voting Rights

Sept. 27: Loving Our Immigrant Neighbors           Oct. 4: Building an Economy of Inclusion

Oct. 11: Pursuing Restorative & Racial Justice      Oct. 18: Respecting the Dignity of LGBTQ People

Oct. 25: Protecting Everyone’s Health                   Nov. 1: Creating a More Peaceful World

Scientists tell us that we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. That may seem like a very high hurdle. But, it translates to only a 5%/year reduction, starting now. Participants in this course will leave with a plan for at least their first 5% reduction, and knowledge of how to find the other 40%. Many participants have found easy, cost-effective reductions of more than 20%. The course was developed in response to the Walk on Earth Gently multifaith statement. Inspired by religious teachings to turn away from consumerism & to seek balanced relationships with all people and the planet, Walk on Earth Gently invites you into a journey of Living the Change that the world needs. This program focuses on making personal lifestyle changes in three areas: transportation, energy, and food but will be customized for participants. Anticipated schedule/topics to be covered are given below.  Join us in accepting the Walk on Earth Gently invitation and committing to a sustainable lifestyle, via a weekly online discussion group. Can’t make it every week? Join us as you are able. Are you ready to commit to a more sustainable lifestyle? Then join us on this journey to Living the Change by registering on www.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com.

Sept. 7: Introduction & Transport, week 1

Sept. 14, Sept. 21 & Sept. 28: Transport, weeks 2, 3 & 4

Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19 & Oct. 26: Energy, weeks 1, 2, 3, & 4

Nov. 2, Nov. 9 & Nov. 16: Food, weeks 1, 2 & 3

Nov. 30: Food, week 4 & closing

Calling environmentalists, animal lovers, Christians observing the Season of Creation, and people of all faith/spiritual traditions to learn about the amazing sensory abilities of animals in a weekly book discussion group using the bestseller Immense World: How Animals Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us. In the last decade, research on other animals’ ways of perceiving and making sense of the world — also known as “umwelt” — has exploded. With An Immense World, Ed Yong, a science journalist at the Atlantic, pulls together these findings to give us a scientifically based glimpse into how animals experience the world. You’ll never consider animals quite the same way again! Schedule for the weekly online discussion is given below. Register for this event on www.eventbrite.com.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.

Sept. 1: Introduction and Chapter 1

Sept. 8: Chapters 2 & 3

Sept. 15: Chapters 4 & 5

Sept. 22: Chapters 6 & 7

Sept. 29: Chapters 8 & 9

Oct. 6: Chapters 10 – 12

As people of faith and conscience, we believe elections are a referendum on the values that will shape our future. How can we renew our fragile democracy? How do we honor the human dignity of every person? Will we protect our Sacred Earth and our children’s future? What policies will prioritize the common good and confront future crises that remind us of our interdependence? Many of the defining moral issues of our time are on the ballot: faltering democratic institutions, too much wealth in the hands of a few, damage to the climate, cruel immigration policies that tear families apart, mass incarceration that devastates communities of color, senseless gun violence, and threats to global public health and security. These challenges are daunting. To move forward in a spirit of hope, and to resist despair and cynicism, join this weekly discussion group where we’ll navigate the urgent moral questions raised by the coming election, allowing you to discern your path forward. Can’t make it every week? Join as you are able, or for those topics most of interest to you. The topic for each week’s discussion is given below. All attendees receive an electronic copy of the Faithful Voter Reflection Guide from Interfaith Power & Light, plus supplemental materials provided by the facilitator. Register on www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/faithful-voter-weekly-discussion-group-tickets-384102800817?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Sept. 13: Protecting Our Sacred Earth                    Sept. 20: Protecting Democracy & Voting Rights

Sept. 27: Loving Our Immigrant Neighbors           Oct. 4: Building an Economy of Inclusion

Oct. 11: Pursuing Restorative & Racial Justice      Oct. 18: Respecting the Dignity of LGBTQ People

Oct. 25: Protecting Everyone’s Health                   Nov. 1: Creating a More Peaceful World