The United Church of Canada

Moderator Mardi Tindal invites all United Church congregations to join in Earth Day challenges. See below for games, activities, and Bible study for fun and faith, to reduce your congregation's environmental footprint, and to bring your congregation and community together.

• Watch the Moderator's invitation video
• A gift of wildflower seeds from the Moderator has been mailed to all pastoral charges. Check out Planting Tips for Your Black-eyed Susan Seeds [PDF: 1 p/22 KB]
• Watch Moderator Mardi Tindal's blog for Earth Day messages in the coming months.
• Let us know on Facebook and Twitter (hashtag #modearth) how your congregation celebrated Earth Day.

Earth Day Worship Resources

• Earth Day Service: Choosing Life for All Earth [RTF: 9 pp/209 KB]
  This worship service for Earth Day links the resurrection of creation with the resurrected Christ.
• Hymn: "It Is Good!" by Carol Grolman [PDF: 3 pp/89 KB]
  First-prize co-winner of the Earth Day Sacred Song contest.
• Hymn: "Give Back to the Earth" by Jack Witmer [PDF: 12 pp/1.3 MB]
  First-prize co-winner of the Earth Day Sacred Song contest.
  • Give Back to the Earth soprano/alto/descant [PDF: 9 pp/424 KB]

Monthly Challenges

April

• Soul: Seeds of Life [PDF: 2 pp/23 KB]
  Spring is the best time for this short worship for a small group. It is especially suited to using the Moderator's gift of black-eyed Susan seeds mailed to all pastoral charges. Adapted from Mandate, May 2010.
• Community: In the Beginning [PDF: 2 pp/26 KB]
  This Bible study is based on Genesis 1:1—2:3. Adapted from Mandate, May 2006.
• Creation: Celebrating the Rain [PDF: 2 pp/31 KB]
  Simulate the sound of a rainstorm, one of the key ways God brings water to us and to the land. This activity is suited to Children's Time and includes a craft the Sunday school can do ahead of time. Adapted from Seeds & Sowers Children, 2006 (out of print).

March

• Soul: Healing the Earth [PDF: 2 pp/25 KB]
  This is a reflective worship for a small group. Adapted from Mandate, May 2011.
• Community: Building a Global Community [PDF: 8 pp/94 KB]
  We all start out with some things but not everything. In this WebSight simulation game, create your community, trade for the things you need, and harvest your crops to see what they yield.
• Creation: Reconnecting with Creation [PDF: 2 pp/33 KB]
  This intergenerational greenshop is designed to bring together members of a congregation to work to reduce the church's ecological footprint. Adapted from Mandate, May 2009.

February

• Soul: What's on the Menu? [PDF: 2 pp/30 KB]
  This Bible study based on James 5:7–12 focuses on the connections between food and faith. Adapted from Mandate, May 2010.
• Community: The Winner Is…the World! [PDF: 2 pp/67 KB]
  Bake some Ethical Brownies as a group, and discuss food choices while they bake. Adapted from Mandate, May 2010.
• Creation: Coming Home to the Cosmos [PDF: 3 pp/29 KB]
  This workshop based on the parable of the prodigal son reminds us that we are biological and spiritual kin with all of creation. Adapted from Mandate, May 2010.