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Love Made Visible Challenge

Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed! How wonderful to proclaim this virtually together last Sunday.

As we enter the Easter season and the new life spring brings, we call on all Mount Olive members to join in daily expressions of a Love Made Visible Challenge as we care for our precious world: a time of stewardship, of challenge, a time to move forward together.

Each of the next four Fridays you will receive an email with daily suggestions for worship, information, and action. This next month we join with people of faith around the world in committing to making our love and care for creation visible. Let’s begin today!

Friday, April 17—Food Source Locally

Worship: God of the harvest, your earth brings forth harvest in due season. Help us, in our eating, to honor the earth, the farmers and our bodies. Amen

Inform: Food in the U.S. travels an average of 1,300 miles from farm to supermarket. Almost every state in the U.S. buys 85% of its food from someplace else.

Act: In this time of social distancing and supporting local farms, find a local restaurant that sources food locally as much as possible and order a take-out dinner from them.

Saturday, April 18—Water

Worship: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14

Inform: Appliances account for about 20 percent of a typical household’s energy use. Up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes comes from heating the water.

Act: Run that load of laundry with cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty clothes, and always use cold water in the rinse cycle.

Sunday, April 19—Do With Your Family

Worship: “Cry aloud; do not hold back, lift up your voice like a trumpet. “ Isaiah 58:1

Inform: From the BBC: “There are many ethical reasons to use nonviolent strategies. But compelling research by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, confirms it is the most powerful way of shaping world politics – by a long way…she has shown it takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in the protests to ensure serious political change. Once around 3.5% of the whole population has begun to participate actively, success appears to be inevitable.”

Act: Plan and make a poster or video answering this question: Why do you stand for climate justice? Take a photo or make a video of you sharing this message. We’ll put together another great Mount Olive montage.

Monday, April 20—Meatless Mondays

Worship: “Whether you eat or drink, do all of God’s glory.” 1 Cor. 10:31

Inform: It takes 12 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of hamburger.

Act: Meatless Monday. Do you have a favorite meatless recipe to share? Reply to this email, and we’ll share it with others. Click here for a favorite: https://www.greensnchocolate.com/vegetarian-quinoa-burrito-bowls-avocado-cream-sauce/

Tuesday, April 21—Influence People

Worship: Holy God, we are thankful for the ways in which our system allows the voices of many people to be heard. Give us the will to use our voices that creation might have abundant life. Amen

Inform: From our partner Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light: “One way you can help make this Earth Day livestream powerful is to take a photo of yourself answering this question: Why do you stand for climate justice? We’ll be sharing this visual mosaic on the Earth Day livestream and with candidates and decision-makers throughout the year!”

Act: Send the video or photo your family made on Sunday to Mount Olive at missions@mountolivechurch.org and to Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light at chariss@mnipl.org. Post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #MNEarth Day. We’ll make a Mount Olive montage and share it with you.

Wednesday, April 22—World Connectedness

Worship: The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

Inform: From MNIPL: “This moment of pandemic reminds us how deeply connected we are to each other and to the earth. On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, join us for a virtual gathering of prayer, storytelling, art, and wisdom. We invite you to connect and support one another and to send a powerful message to decision-makers that climate justice is a top priority. Sign up here.

Act: Two actions: 1) Sign up for and join the Call to Collective Care livestream and join others around the country in prayer. 2) Sign up for next Sunday’s family movie (The Human Element) here: https://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/2020/01/the-human-element/

Thursday, April 23—Energy

Worship: Holy God, with the waters of baptism you have claimed us as your children. Give us the commitment, as we heat the water that washes us, to conserve energy and your precious water. Amen.

Inform: We could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80% just by using energy efficient technologies. In a world of finite resources, for all to have enough means that those with more than enough will have to change their patterns of acquisition and consumption.

Act: Right now—Set your water heater to 120° F. Take shorter showers. Don’t let the water run when you are washing the dishes or even during the 20 seconds that you suds your hands!

Do you want to do more? Check these resources. This page will be updated and added to weekly.

Christ is risen indeed!

I have to say, this is probably going to be the most memorable Lent season ever. Many church musician colleagues are saying things like “In 40 years I have never missed Holy Week with all its preparations, practicing, and liturgies.” But as I heard said this past Easter Sunday, “It’s Easter. It doesn’t look like it, but it is.” How true. Easter is not an annual “SURPRISE!” We live in a state of “Easter life” – which cannot be taken away. Easter, IS.

So, I thought this week, time for some happiness. A little dance. Darkness is gradually diminishing, as will our stay-at-home disciplines to protect other.

For now, enjoy a bright spot with these two Easter hymns: “Alleluia, Christ is Arisen,” and “Now the Green Blade Rises.”

Cantor David Cherwien

“Alleluia, Christ is Arisen” and “Now the Green Blade Rises”

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