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"The world is in a climate emergency – a code red for humanity”~ UN Secretary-General "The concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere is wreaking havoc across the world and threatening lives, economies, health and food. The world is far from securing a global temperature rise to below 2°C as promised in the Paris Agreement. The Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2020 finds that, despite a brief dip in carbon dioxide emissions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is still heading for a temperature rise of over 3°C this century. The good news is we have solutions now. According to the UNEP is: "It is possible to stay below 2°C aiming for 1.5°C temperature rise as set out in the Paris Agreement using existing solutions. They include renewable energy, green hydrogen, and modern bioenergy — and government subsidies and support could be directed to push towards low-carbon and green policies. Scaling up green transition efforts and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fivefold is critical." UNEP's Six-sector solutions are: Energy Industry Transport Nature-based Buildings & Cities Food & Agriculture Explore the interactive website UNEP Six-sector solution to a carbon-free future. Read about the UNEP Programme of Work and Budget for 2022-2023 United Nations Work With Faith Communities United Nations Environmental Program's (UNEP) Faith for Earth Initiative is "committed to inspiring and empowering faith organizations and their leaders to advocate for protecting the environment, working alongside dedicated strategic partners to green faith-based organizations’ investments and assets and provide faith organizations with the knowledge and networks to effectively communicate with decision-makers and the public. The Faith for Earth Coalition strategically addresses local, regional, and global climate and environment-related issues with faith leaders, communities, and organizations towards enhanced environmental stewardship. While focusing on the three overarching goals: Strengthen partnership with faith-based organizations’ leadership for policy impact Green faith-based organizations’ investments, operations, and assets Establish an accessible knowledge-based support system. United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (UN-IATF) - In 2010 the United Nations created UN-IATF, which today includes more than 20 UN agencies. Its purpose is to provide policy guidance around engagement with faith-based actors, deepen UN system staff’s understanding of the intersections of religion and the UN pillars of development, human rights, peace, and security, as well as provide strategic policy guidance. United Nations Multi-faith Advisory Council (MFAC) - In 2018 the UN IATF established MFAC, an informal and voluntary entity that consists of 45 religious leaders and heads of faith-based organizations (FBOs). The composition reflects the diversity of religions, regions, and nations; they cover different thematic areas that mirror the UN’s mandate.

The Whitehead & Teilhard: Convergences, Divergences, and Integration Conference will take place at Villanova University with programs a these times: September 21 @ 1;45 p.m. - 4 p.m. PDT September 22 @ 6 a.m. - 1;15 p.m. PDT September 23 @ 6 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. PDT "This conference draws together Whitehead and Teilhard scholars to advance the possibilities and relevance of process philosophy and theology through an integrative encounter between these two foundational figures." From the conference website: "The respective work of Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) and Pierre Teilhard De Chardin (1881-1955) continue to inspire distinctive trajectories in modern process philosophy and theology. Although contemporaries for a time, both men were unable to benefit from each other’s vast visions of reality. Yet a shared indebtedness to Henri Bergson’s temporal metaphysics and a commitment to incorporate new advances in the sciences—evolutionary biology and quantum and relativity theory in particular—would stimulate deeply resonant vectors in their thought." "Whitehead and Teilhard continue to be mainly studied independently of each other’s contributions. The time has come to fill this scholarly lacuna with deliberate efforts aimed at creative mutual transformation. What results when Whitehead and Teilhard meet? What do they each offer the other such that a mutual deepening might take place? "This conference draws together Whitehead and Teilhard scholars to advance the possibilities and relevance of process philosophy and theology through an integrative encounter between these two foundational figures." The Center for Process Studies (CPS) is "driven by the principle of relationality and commitment to the common good." Center for Process Studies "works on cutting-edge discourse across disciplines to promote the exploration of interconnection, change, and intrinsic value as core features of our world." The Center for Christogenesis "seeks to deepen Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s integration of science and spirituality by providing insights and practices to enkindle awareness of love at the heart of reality." "Religion has not kept pace with the rapid rise of technology and the impact of technology on human personhood and society." ~ Ilia Delio

Blessed Tomorrow will join partners of many faiths in support of the campaign launching October 4, 2023. One Home One Future is a multi-faith campaign to strengthen vitality, relevance, and community connection across generations in local congregations nationwide. Join faith communities across the nation to empower youth and other leaders, and deepen your commitment to care for creation and our shared home. You can view the recording from the August 9, 2023 Informational webinar and register here for the national launch. The One Home One Future resource hub holds 100+ resources to help you, your congregation, and your community to care for creation. Each of the below actions has all of the resources you need to get inspired

I recently watched the 1997 movie Contact, which I thoroughly enjoyed for the third time. The movie has a subplot about an evolving relationship between two characters and their perspectives - Dr. Ellie Arroway (science) and Father Palmer Joss (religion). Jodie Foster's character represented the persistent pursuit of truth solely through reason, measurable evidence, and data, while Matthew McConaughey's character also valued profound, personal, subjective experiences that could not be put into words. Ultimately these different approaches came together as Ellie expresses in awe: "They should have sent a poet... I had no idea.!" Palmer Joss later asks Ellie: Do you love your father? Can you prove it? Fundamentalists, whether scientific, religious, or political, are sure of their perspectives - they are certain, fixed, and dogmatic in their static beliefs and can be combative in their attitudes if someone disagrees. They are not open to a healthy evolution in a new understanding. If their identity is tightly bound to their beliefs they become defensive, and unable to appreciate another's experience. It is my hope that science and spirituality (if not individual religions) can come together in a new third story if both are understood as "evolutionary" - open to change and transformation. Optimally science is constantly changing with new information, but it has little to say about kindness, compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, consolation, inspiration, patience, friendship, humor, beauty, art, and creativity, which are more in the domains of spirituality or religion. To come together, science needs to accept the validity of certain personal spiritual experiences of the ineffable rather than dismiss them as misguided delusions. On the other hand, much of the problem with science accepting what is unprovable or unexplainable is the insistence by some religious believers on magical, mythical, or supernatural explanations of subjective phenomena. Religious institutions too must evolve and embrace truths supported by evolving scientific evidence. 100 years ago Pierre Teilhard de Chardin coined the term the Noosphere. This evolving planetary mind is due to technological improvements in communication and higher levels of consciousness. We are in the midst of a Major Evolutionary Transformation (MET), as profound as abiogenesis, eukaryogenesis, sexual reproduction, multicellularity, and consciousness itself. Technology is augmenting our bodies into cyborgs and hybrid-humans. Ilia Delio sees humanity evolving to hyper-personal, "posthumans" that are gender fluid, racially neutral, and interspiritual - second axial conscious persons who are at home with networked relationships, horizontal vision, and virtual reality (Re-Enchanting the Earth, p.218-9). "We are becoming increasingly wired together and in the not too distant future, our electronically embedded lives will be integrated circuits of seamless connections, the singularity predicted by Kurtzweil." Is it possible to have an evolution of religion with a new understanding of "God" more as an activity or process (a verb), a becoming, the energy of love, an integral reality rather than an ontologically distinct "other" (a proper noun)? And as Ilia Delio asks: "Can we envision a new type of religion in a hyper-connected world without institution?" "Christianity was originally a new religious sensibility centered on being a person in community, a religion without institution." ~ Ilia Delio .In her August 13, 2023 Rebirthing Religion blog post Ilia Delio writes: "Teilhard de Chardin clearly saw the problem of religion in relation to science over a hundred years ago. He turned religion on its head by seeing religion as the inside story of the universe, that is, as a natural and essential aspect of evolution. Religion is as important to the flow of evolution as are the mechanisms of Darwinian evolution. Matter is bifacial and religion and science are two aspects of the same whole grounded in an irresistible power of love."

The film 2040:The Regeneration is "an innovative feature documentary that looks to the future while focusing on what is happening now." The film, which is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Vudu or Amazon Prime Video, looks at the effects of climate change over the next 20 years and what technologies that exist today can reverse the effects. "Film Director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embrace the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shift them into the mainstream. Structured as a visual letter to his 4-year-old daughter, Damon blends traditional documentary with dramatized sequences and high-end visual effects to create a vision board of how these solutions could regenerate the world for future generations." What is Regneration? This 5-minute YouTube film below is "a rousing call to action to join a global movement of Regenerators who are working to heal our ecosystems. The film features climate action leaders like Jeff Bridges, Paul Hawken, Christiana Figueres, Kate Raworth, Damon Gameau, Juma Xipaia, and other Regenerators from around the world." What does the concept of regeneration mean to you? What stands out when you envision a regenerative future? Lush green cityscapes, powered by community-driven renewable energy? Revitalized biodiversity, harmonizing with ancestral wisdom? Or perhaps igniting local renewable energy initiatives? Restoring our planet's vibrant web of life?

November 17-19 2023 - Human Energy is sponsoring the N2 Conference – The Noosphere at 100: The Future of Human Collective Consciousness at the International House at the University of California, Berkeley. The Conference is an international, interdisciplinary conference fostering creative collaboration for intentionally and ethically steering the future evolution of global consciousness. Register here. “N2” signals the exponential pace of the evolution of the noosphere and the reality that the next century will far exceed the last in rapid and radical change to the global mind. “N2” also suggests how the noosphere amplifies our access to human understanding - beyond the individual “n of 1.” Major Conference themes are: Science & Technology of the Noosphere Philosophy of and Ethics for the Noosphere Global Affairs & the Noosphere Theological & Spiritual Engagement with the Noosphere Dissemination, Representation, and Creative Expression of the Noosphere Education for the Noosphere N2 is part of a year-long program celebrating the centennial of the theorization of the noosphere, identified by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 100 years ago. Human Energy is collaborating with partners: ProSocial World; Stanford University’s Boundaries of Humanity Project; Department of Anthropology at the University of California Berkeley; Fordham University; Centre Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Center for Christogenesis; and Saint Mary's College School of Liberal Arts. Human Energy is a non-profit research, media, and educational organization dedicated to introducing the noosphere as a Third Story of the universe that can provide a source of meaning and hope for future generations.

Kate Sheehan Roach, Director of ProSocial Spirituality sees "the reunification of science and spirituality as one of the hallmarks of human evolution." ProSocial spirituality builds on a "convergence demonstrated in the work of 20th-century outliers like Albert Einstein, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jane Goodall, Thomas Berry, and other polymaths," Evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson, co-founder and President of ProSocial World, helped pioneer the study of religion from an evolutionary perspective with his 2002 book Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society. Wilson describes himself as an atheist but says "Science and Religion Need Not Be At War" and he sees his 2019 book This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution, as an update of Piere Teilhard de Chardin's The Phenomenon of Man, ProSocial Spirituality explicitly merges the work of Elinor Ostrom and Wayne Teasdale as they ascribe to the Nine Elements of Universal Spirituality (above). ProSocial Spirituality focuses on behaviors rather than beliefs or dogmas They define prosocial behavior as "any action that benefits another person or group of people. It is behavior that promotes the welfare of all" - the opposite of anti-social. ProSocial World offers a ten-session Spirituality Active Group Engagement (P-SAGE) program at no charge to participants as part of a ProSocial World research initiative.

Photo: Unsplash/Sandie Peters The World Water Week Conference 2023 is currently being held in Stockholm, Sweden, and online August 20-24, 2023. The theme is Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World. "If water solutions are to be sustainable, it’s crucial that all voices are heard and valued. A more inclusive World Water Week is better placed to capture the bigger picture and provide a wider range of thoughts, reflections, and ideas." In 2023, online participation is free. Register here.

Synopsis: The documentary Living in The Time of Dying is "an unflinching look at what it means to be living in the midst of climate catastrophe and finding purpose and meaning within it." "Recognizing the magnitude of the climate crisis we are facing, independent filmmaker Michael Shaw, sells his house to travel around the world looking for answers. Pretty soon we begin to see how deep the predicament goes along with the systems and ways of thinking that brought us here." The film features: Jem Bendell, Catherine Ingram, Dahr Jamail & Stan Rushworth Jem Blendell and Rupert Read are authors of Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos (July 19, 2021) Jem Bendell is Professor of Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cumbria and the originator of the Deep Adaptation movement. Rupert Read is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, a Green Party campaigner, and a former spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. "Stan Rushworth, a Native American Elder, brings an especially enlightening viewpoint to these questions. It becomes clear that climate change is going to ruin our way of life but this then opens up a whole new set of questions: How did we get here? How do we choose to live and what actions make sense at this time?" "The people interviewed in the documentary, all highly regarded and well-known spokespeople on the perspective, argue it's too late to stop catastrophic climate change but in no way too late to regain a renewed life-giving relationship with our world."

Bruce Epperly, author of Process Theology and the Revival We Need (March 29, 2023) sees ‘revival’ as "the emergence of a deep and passionate spirituality that changes us and the world, grounded in reclaiming Jesus as a companion, challenger, and guide. In the YouTube video above, recorded August 10, 2023, Dr. Epperly discusses "why Christian process theology needs to open to creative transformation so that it can transform the spiritual landscape of our times. Believing there is good news of Jesus beyond the academy, Epperly shows how Christian process theology must join its theological vision with spiritual practices of healing and wholeness, integration of contemplation and action, and a rediscovery of an affirmative vision of Jesus." Bruce Epperly is a professor, pastor, and author of over seventy books in the area of process theology, spirituality and mysticism, healing and wholeness, scripture, and ministerial spirituality and wholeness. Process & Faith is a multi-faith network for relational spirituality and the common good. Join the Process & Faith community: Process & Faith was founded in 1983 as a program of the Center for Process Studies at Claremont School of Theology, Follow P & F on Facebook

Margaret J. Wheatly encourages us to not respond to looming existential threats with fear, but from a place of understanding. Wheatley asks us to be "Warriors for the Human Spirit", leaders, and citizens who stay engaged, choose service over self, stand steadfast in the midst of crises, and offer our reliable presence of compassion and insight no matter what." On August 3, 2023, I attended a Zoom webinar where Peter Block spoke with Meg Wheatley about the newly-released second edition of her book, "Who Do We Choose to Be? Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity." He asked: How do we lead as an Island of Sanity, creating the conditions for people to be generous, creative, and kind? Last year in December 2022 Meg. Wheatley offered a webinar We Have to Talk About Hope: An Invitation To Explore Our Dependence On Hope. She said: "We reach for hope as the antidote to despair, but actually hope is the cause of despair. The problem with hope is that it’s bipolar. Every time we rely on hope, we always bring in fear. Buddhist wisdom teaches that hope and fear are two sides of the same dynamic." "Too many of us good people dedicated to creating change have become addicted to hope. We feel despair for the destruction of the planet, peoples, species, and the future. Yet we still need to make a difference, so we grasp for hope to motivate and energize us." "It’s time to be aware of this cycle and liberate ourselves from the 'drug of Hopium'. It never gives us the energy and motivation we need to contribute and persevere." "As we free ourselves from the cycle of hope and fear, we don’t become useless, hopeless people. Instead, we become people who can see clearly how to contribute in meaningful ways. We discover work that makes a different difference. We contribute meaningfully within our sphere of influence to a person, a community, or a local cause." Meg offers an Intervention in three steps: Step One: Facing Reality. Withdrawing from the drugged haze of hopium, we can see reality clearly. We comprehend the scientific and social dynamics already in motion for the planet, people, and societies that cannot be changed by human will or unified global efforts. Step Two: Discovering Meaningful Work. We cannot change the world at the level of scale that is needed. This is the tragic reality of our time. We still want to make a difference and we can. We learn to look within our circle of influence, in our community, team, and family, and ask new questions. We keep asking these questions with genuine curiosity. We are available to offer our skills and heart wherever we’re needed. What is needed here? Am I the one to contribute to this need? Step Three: We take our place in the family of beings. The antidote to despair is not hope, it is love - love for the beauty and harmony of life even as we despair for the destruction caused by us humans. "We give up control or saving the Earth and join the family of all beings as willing, humble participants. Opened by awe and gratitude, we feel held, supported, and loved in return. We belong here." ~ Meg Wheatly About Meg Wheatley and the Berkana Institute I first became familiar with Margaret J. Wheatley through her earlier books: Leadership and the New Science: Learning about Organization from an Orderly Universe (1992); Turning to One Another (2002); The World Cafe: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter (2005), and Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Darin to Live the Future Now (2011). There has been a lot of change in the last decade so I am looking forward to reading Meg's latest book, Who Do We Choose To Be?, Second Edition: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity (June 6, 2023) "Margaret Wheatley began caring about the world's people in 1966, as a Peace Corps volunteer in post-war Korea. In many different roles-- speaker, teacher, consultant, advisor, formal leader--her work has deepened into an unshakable conviction that leaders must learn how to invoke people's inherent generosity, creativity, and need for community. As this world tears us apart, sane leadership on behalf of the human spirit is the only way forward." "Her work now focuses on developing and supporting leaders globally as Warriors for the Human Spirit. These leaders put service over self, stand steadfast through crises and failures, and make a difference for the people and causes they care about. With compassion and insight, they know how to invoke people’s inherent generosity, creativity, kindness, and community--no matter what’s happening around them." She is co-founder and president of Berkana Institute a 501C3 non-profit "concerned with the flow of beings into their new forms through gentle, penetrating, and pervasive action. To promote blossoming, Berkana requires the qualities of modesty, patience, fairness, and generosity:" There are five aspects to Berkana Institute's work: Pioneering a New Paradigm for Leading Change Advancing Community Engagement Processes Sponsoring Trans-Local Learning Invoking Women’s Leadership Summoning Warriors for the Human Spirit" Her website is designed as a library of free resources as well as information about products and her speaking calendar." The YouTube video above, from Michael Dowd's TheGreatStory channel, is a June 2022 "post-doom" conversation between Michael Shaw and Margaret J. Wheatley, titled Finding Solid Ground in 'The Age of Threat..' You might also want to watch the May 2020 YouTube conversation between the late Terry Patton and Meg Wheatley on Michael Dowd's TheGreatStory channel.

Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, The Elders is "an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice, human rights, and a sustainable planet." They work on existential threats to humanity that require a collective response - the climate crisis, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and conflict - a threat in itself and a risk factor for other threats." Explore Nelson Mandela's vision and legacy. The Elders utilized the southern African concept of 'Ubuntu' - the awareness of our shared humanity. Ubuntu is translated as meaning "I am because we are" or "humanity towards others." The Elders offer publications, speeches, live-stream panel discussions, webinars, a newsletter, press releases, and news commentaries. View their latest social content on Facebook and sign up to get their newsletter. Humanity has a rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future. We have less than a decade left to hold the global temperature rise to 1.5°C and avoid irreversible effects on the planet. The climate crisis is hitting the most vulnerable hardest, and accelerating the biodiversity crisis: we need to halve emissions by 2030 and restore nature." The impact The Elders seek regarding the climate crisis is: "The planetary emergency is contained and the most vulnerable protected through revitalized global cooperation." Specifically, they want to see action on the following priorities to solve the climate crisis: Countries must implement the climate commitments they have made. Lack of political will is the main barrier to making domestic policy changes at the speed and scale needed. While the UN remains the most important multilateral climate space, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), G7, and G20 must also deliver finance and emissions reductions at scale. Big emitters must be held to account for policies that align with the 1.5°C limit and the global nature goal, and accelerate just transitions. Global solidarity mechanisms strengthen the resilience of those most vulnerable. Public and private finance must be aligned with global climate and nature goals. Voices of women and youth leaders must be heard and create the political space for more ambitious action. Learn more about The Elders’ work on the climate crisis.

October 4, 2023 at 4 p.m. is the online national launch of Blessed Americas's One Home One Future movement. Hear from Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, a UCC denominational leader, climate activist, public theologian, and chair of Blessed Tomorrow’s Executive Committee on the importance of One Home One Future. Then listen to what many faith leaders are saying about One Home One Future. All congregations are invited to sign-on, whether new to creation care or quite seasoned. Clergy and faith leaders, especially youth are encouraged to learn more and join the One Home One Future movement. Free banners will be given to the first 1,000 congregations who join the campaign. One Home One Future provides 7 pathways for action for congregations and faith leaders of all ages. Resources from many faith traditions are provided for each pathway from a full resource hub. Everyone who joins will be invited to join a private, online community platform called Mobilize for sharing ideas and inspiration, resources and opportunities, and connections with people of faith from across the country. Register for the launch now.

"Love is the most powerful and still most unknown energy in the world." ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Here's a brief list of online and Rogue Valley in-person activities that may be of interest to you. Check back as this post will be updated as we get additional information. August 1, 2023, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's Talent Team will meet at the Talent Public Library, 101 Home St., Talent, OR. This group will work to develop a Strategic Plan focused on accomplishing climate actions in Talent. SOCAN Calendar Event. - Contact Eleanor@SOCAN.eco August 3, 2023, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's Ashland Team will meet in the Gresham Room in the Ashland Public Library. "Current projects include Compost, Electrification (School buses), and Small Engine Conversion. We will continue to plan actions related to these projects as we discuss ways we can help the city of Ashland move forward on action to address climate change. SOCAN Calendar Event. Contact Kathy@socan.eco. August 4, 2023, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. PDT via zoom - SOCAN's Medford Team will meet to "focus on supporting the Medford Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Planning (CCARP) and other activities to support Medford's efforts to address climate change." Click here for a link to the draft plan. SOCAN Calendar Event with Zoom link - Contact Alan@SOCAN.eco August 8, 2023 at 5 p.m. PDT - The Shift Network presents a seven-week live stream course with Matthew Fox and Brian Thomas Swimme on Science, Spirituality & the Noosphere: Hope for Humanity’s Future. Join the live stream, or stream later to watch at your convenience. Register here for $349. Register by August 4 to unlock a limited-time bonus. Module 1: (August 8) - Explore the “Mind” of the Universe to Expand Your Capacity to Consciously Create a New Form of Cosmological Intelligence. Module 2: (August 15) - How Human Creativity & Cosmological Intelligence Intersect to Birth Divinity and a Unified Humanity Module 3: (August 22) - Discover the Nervous System of the Earth & the Cosmic Dimension of Humanity That Exists in Symbolic Language Module 4: (August 29) - Recover the Sacredness of Earth, Her Creatures & Humanity as an Antidote to Climate Change & Extinction Module 5: (September 5) - Experience Unity Through Symbolic Language — a Spiritual & Scientific Tool That Catalyzes Noospheric Consciousness Module 6: (September 12) - Take Part in the Birth of a New Renaissance & Civilization to Reclaim a Sense of Meaning in Your Life Module 7: (September 19) - The Noosphere, the Rebirth of Humanity & the Healing (Tikkun) of Mother Earth to Empower Your Neotenic Nature August 9, 2023 - IRAS will present a webinar with Rabbi Igael Gurin​, ​TBD August 10, 2023, at 11 a.m. PDT - Richenda Fairhurst's Climate Cafe "gathers for something new - jumping into a ‘summer reading’ vibe with an uplifting book read: Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken." Register. August 17, 2023, at 4 p.m. PDT on Zoom - Faith in Place is having a webinar: Leveling the Field: Sustainable Agriculture & Climate Justice. On this monthly call you will learn more about the role of sustainable agriculture in the climate justice movement, and how we can take action to reduce carbon emissions, increase food access, and promote ecosystems and human health through advocacy. Register here. August 20, 2023 - Sustainable Rogue Valley is continuing its film/conversation series - next up is Symphony of the Soil. August 20, 2023, at 4 p.m. PDT - Deeptime Network is offering a free book celebration of Jeanne Clark's, ALL THE WAY IN: A Story of Activism, Incarceration, & Organic Farming Registration is required here. August 22, 2023, at 4 p.m. PDT - UU Ministry for Earth Climate Justice Action-Reflection is having their Climate Justice Action Reflection Circle - "a place where we can take risks, make mistakes, learn together, and deepen our engagement of justice work, spiritual growth, and the connections between the two. If you are engaged in climate justice, join with other UUs on a regular basis to reflect on your actions, restore, build resilience, and connect in community." Register here. August 29, 2023, from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN's monthly meeting will return in August with an in-person program at the Medford Public Library on the alarming demise of Douglas fir trees in the region. Other Summer Eco-Spiritual Events September 5, 12, and 19, 2023 - Water Action Community events at the Bellview Grange. September 7, 2023 - IRAS will present a webinar with Ursula Goodenough, TBD September 21-23, 2023 - The Center for Process Studies, Center for Christogenesis, and Villanova University in Pennsylvania are presenting a conference on Whitehead & Teilhard: Convergences, Divergences, Integrations. "This conference draws together Whitehead and Teilhard scholars to advance the possibilities and relevance of process philosophy and theology through an integrative encounter between these two foundational figures." A virtual-only registration ticket is $100, which grants virtual, simulcast access to the conference and edited recordings. Deadline for Registration: August 10, 2023 Register here. September 28-29, 2023 - BTS Center is hosting Convocation 2023: Kinship: Re-Weaving the Great Web of Belonging. The gathering will be held in person at Hallowell, Maine with a hybrid, hosted, live-stream option for some of the Convocation sessions. Presenters will include: Victoria Loorz, author and co-founder of the Wild Church Network: John Bear Mitchell, musician; and storyteller; and Rev. Liz Fulmer, a queer pastor and musical storyteller ritual; Register here. September 20, 2023 - Deeptime Leadership & Wellbeing (nine-month) Program: Life and Leadership that Start with an Evolving Universe starts Sept. 20, 2023. Presenters included: Stephan Martin, Brian Thomas Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Jennifer Morgan, Matthew Fox and adjunct faculty. An installment program in three modules is offered. More information here. October 10, 2023 - OLLI at SOU is having a 3-session, weekly, online class taught by Anita Dygert Gearheart on Making Sense of the Climate Crisis. Registration for unlimited OLLI classes for the next three semesters is $150 October, 2023, - IRAS will present a webinar with Bradley S. Artson, Sinai, Stars, & Synapses: Science and Judaism As Partners In Wonder November, 2023, IRAS will present a webinar with Frank Schaeffer, artist & theologian, TBD

Project Drawdown is having a webinar: The End of Normal: Understanding and Correcting Earth's Troubling Climate Trajectory, on August 23, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. PDT Register here. "Join Dr. Kate Marvel, Senior Climate Scientist at Project Drawdown, as she draws on her own experiences as a scientist and vocal advocate for climate solutions to explore the science behind current climate changes and future projections. They will discuss the science of attributing extreme weather events to our warming climate, the different ways humans affect climate, and the things science doesn’t yet understand. This webinar is part of Project Drawdown’s new monthly Drawdown Ignite webinar series. Drawdown Ignite provides information and inspiration to guide your climate solutions journey. "Project Drawdown is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions." Their mission is "to help the world stop climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible." Updates on future webinars can be found by visiting drawdown.org/events

Programs in Earth Literacies and Imogene Drummond will be presenting Art Sparks' Cosmic Creativity & Well-Being Program on twelve Tuesdays - Sep. 5 to Nov. 28, 2023, from 12 Noon - 2 p.m. PDT "Tap into your hidden potential and ignite your personal creativity while connecting to the Universe! In Art Sparks’ 12-week holistic program, you are invited to explore and develop your creativity through artwork embedded in the context of the Cosmic Story. By aligning your imagination with the larger whole, the program helps you experience the joy of accessing your inner artist." Registration is $275 before Aug. 15 (Early Bird Price).

The BTS Center is offering an eight-week online course EcoSpiritual Leaders: Encounters with Wholeness on Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 p.m. PT from April 20, 2023 - June 15, 2023. This course will consist of five live sessions, asynchronous learning activities, and an optional half-day online retreat. The course is divided into four sections, each consisting of two weeks. Gratitude & Grief - exploring The Work That Reconnects by Joanna Macy Forest Bathing - introduction to Forest Bathing/Nature Therapy EcoSpiritual Practices - thresholds & thin places; creating contemplative and creative spiritual practices Creation Care - synthesizing our learning and serving Creation Every two weeks participants will engage in reading to pique their curiosity; watch a video to expand their understanding; experience embodied practice to connect us with nature; craft a prayer to nourish our spirits, complete an invitation; and participate in a conversation to collaborate in our interdependent growth. The anticipated time commitment outside of the live sessions is 2-3 hours per week. The Course fee is $125. Click to Learn More or Enroll

"Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet, and teacher who founded the Plum Village Tradition, He was exiled from South Vietnam in 1966 after expressing opposition to the war and refusing to take sides In 2018, he returned to Vietnam to his "root temple"... where he lived until his death in 2022, at the age of 95." His book Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet was published in 2021. From May 21 to July 2, 2023, Plum Village will offer a 6-week online learning journey "to nurture insight, compassion, community, and action in service of the Earth" - "bringing to life teachings in this book". Learn more here. Photo credit: Duc (pixiduc) from Paris, France., CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons The course promises to "share Thich Nhat Hanh’s engaged Buddhism teachings and "feature new talks from monastics and lay teachers, specially-selected videos from the Thich Nhat Hanh Archive, and a range of powerful practices from our Zen tradition to help you:" Nourish a profound relationship with the Earth Breakthrough habitual ways of thinking, seeing, and acting Master strong emotions and develop inner resilience Cultivate a spiritual dimension to balance personal well-being and engaged action Train in deep listening and compassionate communication Respond to challenges with freedom, equanimity, and non-fear Connect with like-minded change-makers "The course will feature 4-6 hours per week of teachings and practices, with at least one live session each week, as well as tailored opportunities to cultivate community and share insights and experiences with other participants." Plum Village, near Bordeaux in southwest France, is the largest international practice center in the Plum Village tradition, and the first monastic community founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the West. "Plum Village began in 1982 as a small, rustic farmstead, and has today grown into Europe’s largest Buddhist monastery, with over 200 resident monks and nuns, living and practicing in four different hamlets spread out across the French countryside. It is a continuation of the original “Sweet Potato Community” that Thay founded near Paris in the 1970s, soon after being exiled from Vietnam. "We face a potent intersection of crises: ecological destruction, rising inequality, racial injustice, and the lasting impacts of a devastating pandemic. The situation is beyond urgent. To face these challenges, we need to find ways to strengthen our clarity, compassion, and courage to act." "Beloved Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is blazingly clear: there’s one thing we all have the power to change, which can make all the difference, and that is our mind. Our way of looking, seeing, and thinking determines every choice we make, the everyday actions we take or avoid, how we relate to those we love or oppose, and how we react in a crisis." "When you wake up and you see that the Earth is not just the environment, the Earth is us, you touch the nature of interbeing. And at that moment you can have real communication with the Earth… We have to wake up together. And if we wake up together, then we have a chance. Our way of living our lives and planning our futures has led us into this situation. And now we need to look deeply to find a way out, not only as individuals but as a collective, a species."

March 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. PST - Climate Cafe Multifatih will host a zoom presentation Africa’s Youth Raise a Global Voice to Shape a Just Future. Pato Kelesitse will share her vision and passion for sustainable and just development in Africa, including the empowerment of women and the importance of developing just economic systems. Register here. March 7, 2023, at 4 p.m. PST - Unitarian Universalist Ministry For Earth (UUMFE) will have its Monthly Spiritual Gathering on Zoom. Register here. March 9, 2023, at 11 a.m. PST - Organizing Skills Workshop - Part 1. From Climate Reality's Climate Speakers Network, Broderick Bagert, lead organizer at Together Louisiana and Together New Orleans, will lead the first of two workshops that center on building relational power and organizing together in your local community to learn more about individual meetings and why they are considered key components of building relational power. You’ll have opportunities for practice and feedback. Register here. March 21, 2023, at 11 a.m. PDT - Climate Cafe Multifatih will resume part II of a zoom conversation about Sea Level Rise & Coastal Congregations with David Herring, Chief of the Communication, Education, and Engagement Division within NOAA's Climate Program Office. Register here. March 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. PDT - Organizing Skills Workshop - Part 2. Broderick Bagert will continue with his workshop on engaging in individual meetings and the next steps in the organizing process. They will explore ways that you can talk with others in your faith community about how these practices might further your efforts to work for justice. Register here.