January 2023

Your Feedback Makes A Difference!

This month will mark one year publishing the Faithful Footprints Newsletter. Our Monthly Newsletter was designed to engage and provide on-going inspiration and support for United Church communities across Canada. With a growing subscription, we want to provide the most useful information to our program supporters.

Please fill out our very short feedback survey to help us improve our newsletter. 

Estimated time of completion: 30 seconds

Monthly Highlight 

“This grant is a wonderful way for the national United Church of Canada to show its commitment to being part of the climate change solution, to supporting local congregations, and to maintaining physical structures for community use.”
— Lakefield United Church (Lakefield, ON)

Received a grant in support of the upgrade of their electrical system; the installation of two heat pumps, and an electric heater in the furnace room; the replacement of an oil furnace with two electric forced air furnaces, bathroom exhaust fan, outdoor light, stove, refrigerator, freezer, and all incandescent lights bulbs with LEDS; the insulation of the chimney, furnace room, and storage area; and the weatherstripping of front doors and back window.

Energy Results

Lakefield United Church (Lakefield, ON)

Received a grant in support of the replacement of two gas furnaces, ceiling fans, exterior doors, three refrigerators, a freezer, and an electric stove; the insulation above sanctuary and Christian Education building; the installation of a hot water tank, and weatherstripping of exterior doors. A year following its projects, Lakefield United reduced its GHG emission by 17.1%, electricity usage by 18.8%, and natural gas usage by 17.9%.

Inspiration 

Monthly Blog

Inspired by solar panel retrofit of Faithful Footprints Program Alumni Woodlawn United Church (Dartmouth, NS), Old Barns United Church retrofitted its own building, without spending a penny! To find out more, read our latest blog "Inspired by Respect for Creation: Old Barns United has gone Net Zero with Zero Dollars''.  

Faithful Footprints Monthly Blogs are published the 2nd Wednesday of every month

Youth Climate Action

Young Canadians from diverse faiths and spiritual practices like Moriyah Kleiman, Nazish Qureshi and Aleyxa Gates Julien, Faithful Footprints PR/Communications Coordinator, are at the forefront of climate justice action. Learn how three youths who derive inspiration for this challenging work from the teachings of their diverse faiths and spiritual practices.

Reflecting on COP15    

In December, Faithful Footprints Delivery Partner Faith & Common Good’s (FCG) and Mouvement Laudato Si' Movement Canada (MLSM) Canada’s Agnes Richard and Karen Van Loon were in Montréal during the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15. They reflect on their experiences at COP15 and parallel events in a 5-part blog series. Read Part 1 of the series. 

Opportunities

Faiths at COP15  

Faiths at COP15 is organized by the Faith & Biodiversity UN Coordination Group, a space for faith-based organizations and conservation groups to network and jointly advocate for biodiversity at key international moments in order to set the stage for urgent action over the next 10 years. We help increase faith-based organizations' understanding of biodiversity and support urgent international agreements.

Faithful Climate Conversations

January 25, February 1, and February 8

 3:30-5:00 PM (PST)

Faithful Climate Conversations" is a free, online series offered by the PMRC Justice Network that draws from the multi-faith, Canada-wide "For the Love of Creation” resources. Join for a chance to connect with others in our region and learn ways to create safe and respectful climate change conversations in your own community of faith.

Faith Perspectives on Ecological Justice and Conservation

 February 2 - 1:00-2:00 PM (EST)

Join Kairos Canada, Faith & the Common Good , EnviroMuslims, and Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto for a conversation with Canadian faith-based ecological and climate justice professionals exploring how to expand their efforts and connect with others.

World Interfaith Harmony Week

February 1-7

Register among the thousands of events organized in celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week. Connect with faith groups and other groups of goodwill - bringing awareness of each other, strengthening the movement of ‘Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour’, and building ties and avoiding duplicating each other's efforts.

Explore the Program 

Explore projects and energy results of Faithful Footprints participating faith-communities