Lenten Carbon Fast 2010

The Environmental Outreach Committee of the Archdiocese of Washington with help from Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light and adapting resources from Tearfund and others has developed a Lenten calendar.  Beginning today and throughout Lent I will be adding ways to this blog that you can "fast" to help the environment this Lent.  The following is a quote from Pope Benedict's Encyclical Caritas in Veitate: "The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsiblity towards the poor, towards, future generations and towards humanity as a whole."  As Catholic Christians we have a responsiblity to be wise stewards of God's Creation and each of us must decide how we can improve our stewardship to safeguard God's Creations now and for future generations. 
February 17 2010 - Ash Wednesday  "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumplet before you...so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  Mt 6:2-4 Ash Wednesday remindes us to be faithful in action even when no one is paying attention.  If we are living in Harmony with the rest of God's Creation, especially when no one is looking our households, our churches and our society will also be transformed.  Remove one light bulb from your home today and live without its light for the next 40 days.  This will decrease your energy use, and act as a reminder of your Lenten Carbon Fast.

(Compiled from Lenten resurces by: Tearfund, Nat'l Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Programs, Prince of Peace Luterhan Church, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, Rock Springs Congregational UCC, IA IPL, NC IPL, and from Green America and The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change)