By ELIZABETH GUSS

In 2015, several faith communities here on Whidbey presented a speaker on a Wednesday evening in late August. We thought we’d have about 40 or 50 people to hear the woman; she had some national recognition and some serious spunk. We prepared for 70 and hoped for the best. More than 160 people came to St. Augustine’s-in-the-Woods Episcopal Church to hear Sister Simone Campbell. There weren’t enough chairs for all who came.

She spoke, as a woman of faith with 40 years caring for and about the poor, and shared the truth that caring for and healing the environment is a critical part of working to end poverty. She encouraged us to care for ourselves and the Earth as a sign of respect for the beauty and dignity of all creation. The entire audience was moved and inspired.

The magic continued. People wanted to talk about her comments and about the Pope’s forthcoming visit to the United States. So, following-up to Sr. Simone Campbell’s talk, we organized a seven-week community conversation on Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis.

Every Monday afternoon here on South Whidbey, from early October through mid-November last year, some 65 people joined to talk about Laudato Si, focusing on a chapter a week. Six different churches here hosted our gatherings; each week participants found a new location for conversation. We, as a community of many different perspectives, shared our deep love for creation and our hopes for changes in attitude and behavior. We learned together and our diverse faith communities resolved to work together to be better stewards of our environment.

It was clear to us that people were hungry to talk seriously about values and then do something meaningful. We felt called to work together more. Being Whidbey folks, we came up with a name that expresses our shared work. We’re the Greening Congregations Collaborative of Whidbey Island.

Over the past year, we’ve organized multi-faith prayers, blessings of the land, discussions and lectures. We’ve encouraged advocacy on state legislation to eliminate toxic substances and held information sessions about public policies that affect the environment. We support one another’s efforts and achievements, going regularly to different churches. We’re reaching out to other congregations, inviting them to join us. Together, we pray, think, learn, discuss, and act—toward the twin goals of raising awareness and sparking broader community involvement.

Working together brings wonderful benefits. As we focus more on being better stewards of creation, we’re building strong bridges among diverse faith communities. Through our efforts, we reach out into the larger population, fostering action and greater concern for all life, regardless of religious affiliation. Frankly, we get more done and have more fun.

This Friday evening, we’re reprising our first major effort with a presentation by Rev. Michael Dowd at St. Augustine’s in Freeland. He’s talking about being Faithful to the Future. Dowd reminds us that science and religion are not enemies but must work together for common good.

This working together blesses all of us. We bring our individual traditions and our shared commitment to Earth, our common home. It’s big-picture thinking with lots of important tasks along the way actually being completed… for everyone’s benefit.

In today’s world, where polarization and focusing on differences seem so popular, perhaps we’re reinvigorating a model of effectiveness for all our work. It’s kind of fun to think about, isn’t it?

Editor’s note: Elizabeth Guss is a pastoral assistant for St. Hubert Church in Langley.