Editor,

We hope you can join us at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland for the Whidbey/Paris Global Climate Rally. The degradation of creation and its impacts are a moral crisis, which is why the Greening Congregations of Whidbey are having a rally in solidarity with people all over the planet.

Millions will be joining their voices in a plea to the world and its leaders for climate justice prior to the UN Climate talks convening in Paris on Nov. 20. It is critical that meaningful action be taken there.

What do Paris, France and Whidbey Island have in common? We share the same planet. A planet whose life support system, vitality of its land and ocean, are threatened by human activity. All major religions, including the 80 represented at the recent Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City, are agreed with The Rev. Billy Graham that, “The growing possibility of our destroying ourselves and the world with our own neglect and excess is tragic and very real.”

As Pope Francis said, “The work of the Church seeks not only to remind every one of the duty to care for nature, but at the same time she must above all protect mankind from self-destruction … it seems to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. When it comes to protecting our common home, we are living at a critical moment in history.”

One way to “protect our common home” is by taking Interfaith Power and Light’s Paris Pledge. You will find it on their website.

The Greening Congregations of Whidbey includes St. Hubert’s Catholic Church, St. Augustine in the Woods, Trinity Lutheran, Langley United Methodist, Whidbey Quakers, Unity of Whidbey and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island.

If your congregation would like to be a greening congregation visit the Earth Ministry website to see how. Trinity Lutheran is located on 18341 Highway 525.

Gary Piazzon

Coupeville