Transportation is much more than just getting from point A to point B. It’s the network that ties together our churches, our workplaces, our homes, our schools – linking communities and providing mobility to people and goods throughout the state.
The decisions we make about how to expand our transportation systems to meet growing needs in the next one, five, ten years will have enormous impacts. They will impact our health, environment, economy and quality of life.
The Union of Concerned Scientists identified transportation as the most significant, consumer-related environmental problem. Of great importance is the tremendous contribution that cars and light trucks make to global warming (almost 30 percent of all greenhouse gasses).
Earth Ministry’s Care More, Car Less Program
Care More, Car Less Sunday is an opportunity to experiment with sustainable modes of transportation, engage the topic as a faith community, and celebrate the ways we can protect the goodness of God’s creation.
There are two primary components of this event:
1) encouraging congregants to travel to and from church in an alternative, sustainable way
2) inviting each congregant to complete a pledge card stating their commitments to traveling conscientiously in the future.
As participants, we ask ourselves: How do I usually travel to and from worship? What options are available to me that best reflect my values? Am I willing to pledge myself to sustainable transportation choices?
Earth Ministry provides a workbook with worship aids such as relevant scripture, sermon ideas, and an optional Blessing of the Travelers so you can tailor the event to your congregation’s desires. You can be as creative as you’d like as you connect this issue with the interests of your congregation.
Would a Care More, Car Less Sunday be a perfect fit for your faith community? Check out Earth Ministry’s Care More, Car Less workbook for more information. Please email emoffice@earthministry.org to receive your workbook and for support in putting together your program.
Further Resources
The Cry of Creation: A Call for Climate Justice
Cascade Bicycle Club “Cascade Bicycle Club, a non-profit organization, is based in Seattle, Washington, and serves 10,000 members and the Puget Sound bicycling community. [Their] vision is to Create a Better Community through Bicycling.”
Transportation Choices Coalition Transportation Choices Coalition seeks to bring Washingtonians more and better transportation choices — real opportunities to take a bus, take a train, ride a bike, or walk — as well as drive alone.