Area faith communities mark Earth Day

| The New Mexican

4/19/2008 - 4/19/08

People of faith in Northern New Mexico do not divide the spiritual and the physical when it comes to taking care of the environment. Earth Day celebrations are marked at area faith communities and people of faith are joining the wider community in celebrations.


From 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Unity Santa Fe, join ecologist and author Ningay Sing for an eco-inspirational talk and book signing, as she interweaves songs and enlivening experientials into her sharing of Mother Earth's living body and Mother Earth's wisdom. Inspired by the book Conversations with God, Sing's Conversations with Gaia is the feminine voice of the divine as expressed by Mother Earth.

The event is free. A free-will love offering will be accepted.

This is an inaugural Unity Coffee House event at the church, 1212 Unity Way. For more information, send an e-mail to unitysf@newmexico.com or call 989-3643.


Earth Day is the theme at the 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. services at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe, a concerned group of UUs will conduct the service. They will focus on the crisis stage of climate change and how individuals can make the lifestyle and political changes necessary to avoid future ecological disaster.

All this is in keeping with Unitarian Universalism's Seventh Principle, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

Religious education for preschool through high school takes place at the same time as the 11:30 a.m. service. Nursery care is available during both the 10 a.m. and 11:30 services.

The church is at 107 W. Barcelona Road. For more information, visit the Web site at uucsfnm.org or call
982-9674.


The Rev. Mother Carol Calvert and the Rev. Mother Gail Newbury will preside at the Sunday Earth Day Mass at the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch — Malabar Rite's celebration of Holy Eucharist. They will discuss "Honoring Our Earth Mother" Special music will be performed by Baruch Gerard. Sacred dance will be performed by Jenni Walker. Special meditation music will be performed by the Antioch Earth Tones — Doug Walker, Rahmaneh Meyers, Carolyn Burns, Sarah Cutler and Carol Calvert. Poetry will be recited by Tomas Meyers and David Cloutier.

The church meets Sundays at the Loretto Chapel, 207 Old Santa Fe Trail. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Meditation begins at 8:45 a.m. Mass is celebrated from 9 to 10 a.m.

The church combines a blend of ancient ritual with progressive spiritual dialogue. All are welcome to take communion and all faiths are honored. The church is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, the Church holds a weekly prayer and healing service at the church chapel and rectory at 111 W. Cordova Drive.

For more information, call 988-4244.


"Want to know about God's kingdom?" Jesus asked his disciples. "Then look to the birds of the air and the grass of the field."

That's the message at the United Church of Santa Fe this Earth Sunday in both the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services, as well as throughout the morning in educational offerings for all ages.

"Say the words 'kingdom' or 'realm,' and palaces, castles, and thrones come to mind," said the Rev. Talitha Arnold. But when Jesus spoke of God's kingdom, she said, "he pointed to all creation. It's a core message in the Christian faith."

The United Church of Santa Fe has incorporated caring for creation as part of its church covenant since the church began in 1980. Its original sanctuary includes an adobe tram wall as well as an acequia to provide natural cooling and heating. In an expansion several years ago, the church used as many recylced and environmentally friendly materials as possible. Recently, the congregation installed cisterns to use rainwater for irrigation around the xeriscaped property. In addition, the church incorporates caring for creation as part of its education programs for all ages.

The Early Morning Choir, directed by Jacquelyn Helin, sings at the
8:30 a.m. service. Both the adult Sanctuary Choir and the Youth "Que" Choir sing at the 11 a.m. service. Also at the
11 a.m. service, children's ministry and youth ministry are offered for young people through the 8th grade. Older youth are invited to share worship with the adults.

In the 9:45 a.m. Adult Forum, the series on Faith and the Environment continues with a focus on Water Issues in Santa Fe and beyond with Pam Homer of the State Environmental Department and other experts in the field. A second Adult Forum, "Christian Practices," led by Cheryl McChesney, focuses this Sunday on "Saying Yes and Saying No."

The United Church, part of the progressive United Church of Christ, is open and affirming of all persons. It is at 1804 Arroyo Chamiso, at the corner of St. Michael's Drive, near St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. For more information, call 988-3295.