How to Use This Book (Practically Green with Love)

How to Use This Book

Who Should Use This Book?		Practically Green with Love is written specifically for people who ask these questions: Why should ELCA congregations care about the environment? How can I get my ELCA congregation to be more aware of environmental issues? What can my ELCA congregation do to help care for the environment? What resources does the ELCA have to help me? You may be a lay person , pastor, associate in ministry, or diaconal minister. You may be a member of another denomination and still find helpful ideas. You are someone who wants to learn, teach others, and/or act to care for the earth.

What Is in This Book?		Our Church and the Environment Scriptural and theological reasons why the church should care about the environment What the ELCA says and does about caring for the environment

		The Church in Action How all congregations have an impact on the environment, for good or for bad What a congregation can do

		Resources Study guides Fact sheets Worship resources Books Web sites Organizations

		Appendices Earthkeeping calendar Earthkeeping interest survey Order forms

		Notes This section is for you to keep the notes and papers you gather. You may wish to use this to keep a log of your congregation’s earthkeeping efforts and pass it on to others.

Where Do I Start?		Practically Green with Love is meant to be a reference book, not a book you read from cover to cover. Where you start depends upon what you want to know and accomplish. To learn where you should start, use the chart, "How to Use Practically Green with Love". It describes what questions each chapter answers, the contents, and how it might be used.

Why a Three-ring Binder?		Practically Green with Love uses a three-ring binder format in order to be easily expandable and eventually recyclable. The three-ring binder format allows you to add and organize more material, such as your own notes or additional resources you find. Eventually, parts of this handbook will become out of date. This format allows sections to be updated without having to reprint the entire handbook. When you are finished using this handbook, you can also easily recycle the pages and cover sheet and reuse the binder.

Practically Green with Love on the Internet		Look for this handbook to be available on the internet, at the Web of Creation: www.webofcreation.org. You may be able to print out selected portions of this material or obtain updated information from the internet before it is available in print.

What if I Need More Help?		For more help with earthkeeping in your congregation, contact: ELCA Office for Hunger Education and Environmental Stewardship 8765 W. Higgins Road Chicago, IL 60631 (773) 380-2708 1-800-NET-ELCA x 2708 [1-800-638-3522] fax: (773) 380-2707 www.elca.org/dcs/hunger.html

How to Use Practically Green with Love
Section and Chapter		Your Question	Summary	How to Use It
Our Church and the Environment	Questions and Answers about the Church and the Environment	Why should a congregation address this issue?	Q & A’s about why caring for God’s creation is part of our Christian call	Introducing people to the topic
	A Sampling of Scripture Relating to the Church and the Environment	What does the Bible say about the environment?	Bible passages relating to the natural world	Bible study Newsletters Bulletins
	What Earthkeeping Does the ELCA Do?	What environment-related activities does the ELCA operate or participate in?	Descriptions of various ELCA environment-related programs	Introducing people to the topic Demonstrating ELCA commitment
	About the ELCA’s Social Statement: Caring for Creation	What is the ELCA’s official policy toward the environment?	Explanation of and excerpts from the ELCA social statement about the environment	Demonstrating ELCA commitment Providing more in-depth theological background
	Martin Luther On the Environment	What might Martin Luther have said about the environment?	Q & A’s about Martin Luther and the Environment	Connecting with Lutheran tradition
	Martin Luther Quotations/Drawings	What did Martin Luther say about the natural world?	Hand-illustrated quotations by Martin Luther	Clip art (only with copyright citation)
The Church in Action	How Do Congregations Affect the Environment?	What actual effect does a congregation have upon the environment?	Q & A’s and charts showing various ways a congregation, its members, and the larger church already affect the environment.	Making people aware of the environmental impact a congregation has
	What Does Earthkeeping in a Church Look Like?	What might an earthkeeping congregation look like?	Diagram illustrating characteristics of an earthkeeping vs. a non-earthkeeping congregation	Providing vision for change
	Tips for Earthkeeping Organizers	How can I best help my congregation learn how to practice earthkeeping?	Hints for environmental educators and organizers	Helping leaders educate and organize effectively
	Surveying the Congregation	How can an environmental interest survey help us do earthkeeping more effectively?	Ideas for why and how to conduct a useful survey of your congregation’s state of environmental awareness	Assessing your congregation’s level of interest in, knowledge of, and commitment to environmental issues
	What Can Our Congregation Do?	What are concrete steps a congregation can take?	List of things a congregation can do, categorized by areas of congregational life and level of commitment	Providing concrete, practical ideas for change
Earthkeeping Resources	ELCA Resources	What written and video resources are available through the ELCA?	Annotated list of resource materials available from the ELCA’s Office of Environmental Stewardship and Hunger Education	Obtaining more materials for Bible study, background, or worship
	NCC Resources	What earthkeeping resources are available through the National Council of Churches?	Annotated list of materials available from the National Council of Churches of Christ	Obtaining more materials for Bible study, background, or worship
	Other Earthkeeping Resources	What other earthkeeping resources are available?	List of related internet sites, books, organizations, and ELCA programs	Doing additional study Networking with others
	Earthkeeping Resources in the Lutheran Book of Worship	What earthkeeping resources are in the LBW?	List of related prayers, festivals, observances, and hymns	Incorporating earthkeeping awareness into worship Praising the Creator
	Earthkeeping Resources in With One Voice	What earthkeeping resources are in With One Voice?	List of related hymns	Incorporating earthkeeping awareness into worship Praising the Creator
Appendices	Comment Form	How could this handbook be improved?	Reproducible, self-addressed comment form	Making suggestions for improvements to this handbook
	Earthkeeping Calendar	What are some important earthkeeping-related dates?	List of commemorations, observances, and festivals throughout the year	Planning earthkeeping- related events or special worship services
	Earthkeeping Interest Survey	What might an earthkeeping interest survey look like?	Sample interest survey, for use as is or with your modifications	Surveying the congregation
	NCC Covenant Congregation Program Form	What is the NCC’s Environmental Justice Covenant Congregation Program?	NCC flyer describing the Covenant Congregation Program and how to apply	Making a congregational commitment to practicing earthkeeping
	*Caring for Creation*	What exactly does the ELCA’s social statement say?	Reproduction of the entire ELCA Social Statement, Caring for Creation	Studying the ELCA’s policy and its theological arguments more in depth
	Order Form for ELCA Resources	How can we order ELCA resource materials?	Order form for obtaining items from the ELCA’s Office of Environmental Stewardship and Hunger Education	Ordering additional materials from the ELCA
	Order Form for NCC Resources	How can we order NCC materials?	Order form for obtaining items from the National Council of Churches	Ordering additional materials from the NCC
Notes		How can we organize and pass on our earthkeeping notes and ideas?	Extra binder space to hold collected notes, minutes, and other items you want to save or pass on	Organizing your notes Passing your congregation’s earthkeeping ideas and history on to another person

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