JANUARY1. Make a Green New Years ResolutionHappy New Year! Start the year by choosing a "green" resolution that is meaningful to you. You could resolve to volunteer with a local environmental organization, to take political action in your community, or encourage your congregation to make eco-conscious choices. How can you care for creation in 2026?
2. Take Action!Write a letter to your members of congress or local elected officials! Ask them to support an environmental issue that you care about. Look for letter-writing templates, sign-ons, and more at creationjustice.org/action
3. Sing Creation HymnsFind/choose some creation-themed hymns to sing at church. Or, sing them by yourself or with loved ones! Some ideas are “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and “This is my Father’s World”
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4. Celebrate MLK DayFind and attend a local/online event celebrating Dr. King's birthday on January 19! King once wrote, "we aren't going to have peace on Earth until we recognize the basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality.” Consider the relationship between racial justice and creation justice.
5. Rest and Reflect“Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary, but the common mode of existence. It is our daily bread.” - Wendell Berry
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FEBRUARY
6. Intersectional EnvironmentalismLearn about or talk to a friend about the intersection of environmental justice and racial justice. Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation. The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People & Planet by Leah Thomas is a great resource.
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7. Celebrate Valentine's Day a Little DifferentlyShow love for Creation this Valentine's day! Try to integrate something green-- such as an eco-friendly Valentine's Day gift, using green cleaning products, etc.
8. Ash WednesdayAs we enter the season of Lent, how can your Lenten practices honor creation? You could challenge yourself to give up single-use plastics, eat less meat, drive less, etc. If your church hosts a fish fry, encourage sustainable seafood options!
9. Annual ResourceThe release of our annual resource is quickly approaching! Check out all of our annual resources on our website. Use our sermon-starters to write a sermon for Earth Day Sunday. You'll also find an Earth Day Bible study guide, stories, liturgical resources, and more.
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MARCH
10. Explore New ResourcesAs we continue through Lent and prepare for Easter, explore our website: creationjustice.org to find various programs, events near you, resources, advocacy information, and more!
11. Help Clean Up Your Local Beach/ParkPick up trash off your local beach, by a river, creek, or around a nearby park. Cleaning up these outdoor spaces will benefit your human neighbors, reduce the amount of trash entering the water, and prevent wildlife from ingesting or getting entangled in plastic/litter. Invite some friends/church members/neighbors to help! If you choose a beach clean-up, check out the app “Save Our Shores” app, which tracks the amount and types of marine debris collected as scientific data.
12. First Day of SpringThis day marks the first day of spring and a season of rebirth. Pay attention as buds appear on the trees, seedlings sprout, and animals are born. When you come across these signs of spring, say a blessing for God's new creation.
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13. Mindfulness during MealtimeBefore and during your next meal, try to think about and consider where your meal came from, who worked for the products, and the background of the food. Practice gratitude for every portion of the meal.
14. Rest and Reflect during Holy Week. On Good Friday, we confront the ways we have caused suffering in the world. As we remember the death of Jesus, let us acknowledge the suffering we have inflicted upon God's Creation. In our mourning, may we resolve to be healers and helpers. May we participate in the resurrection of our environment.e
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APRIL
15. EasterThis Easter, trade the plastic easter-eggs and chemical dyes for an eco-friendly Easter celebration. Try dying local/free range chicken eggs with dyes from beets, onions, and cabbages for a fun and natural holiday craft!
16. Meditate OutsideGod is supporting our existence with each breath. As you meditate, focus on your breathing. Remember that oxygen is gifted to us from the plants on land and the photosynthetic plankton in the ocean. As you breathe, consider the remarkable interconnectedness of God’s creation.
17. Rest and Reflect"People encounter God under shady oak trees, on riverbanks, at the tops of mountains, and in long stretches of barren wilderness. God shows up in whirlwinds, starry skies, burning bushes, and perfect strangers. When people want to know more about God, the son of God tells them to pay attention to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers lining up for their pay. Whoever wrote this stuff believed that people could learn as much about the ways of God from paying attention to the world as they could from paying attention to scripture.” - Barbara Brown Taylor
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18. Earth Day ReflectionThis Earth Day, take a moment to reflect on this proverb: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; rather we have borrowed it from our children."
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MAY
19. Where does your Drinking Water come From?Are you able to drink your tap water? Where does it come from? How is it processed? Does it rain where you live? Are there often droughts? Does everyone in your community have access to clean drinking water? Consider where your water comes from and what is being done to protect your local water source.
20. Endangered Species DayHappy endangered species day! Attacks on the Endangered Species Act have placed precious plants and animals more at risk than ever before. Check out CJM's resource to learn about and celebrate endangered plants and animals. Visit creationjustice.org/resourcehub to access the information.
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21. Thrift ShopThe clothing industry has a large carbon footprint.When looking for a new outfit, head to the thrift store instead of buying new. Thrift shopping keeps clothes out of the landfill, reduces water waste (a byproduct of clothing production), and reduces chemical pollutants. Check if your town has a local benefit shop/thrift shop where the proceeds support the community (some donate proceeds to the local food pantry or animal shelter)!
22. Rest and Reflect“There are no unsacred places. There are only sacred places and desecrated places.” - Wendell Berry
23. Learn about your Local Food Systems
Where does your food come from? What native plants/crops grow in your neighborhood? How is your community affected by food insecurity? Does your town have a farmers market? Meet your farmers and support the local economy! If you have the time, try to plant and take care of one plant.
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JUNE
24. Take ActionMany of God’s sacred marine areas are being put at-risk by pollution, overfishing, and coral bleaching. For example, the Blake Plateau off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina hosts the world's largest deep sea coral reef. Lack of protections and threats of deep sea mining places this biodiversity hotspot at risk. Learn more about the wonder of the Blake Plateau and why it needs to be protected at: https://www.creationjustice.org/blakeplateau.html
25. It's Ocean Month!Consider how you are connected to the ocean. If you live close to the sea, plan a beach clean-up or hunt for nurdles (microplastics) in the sand. If you don’t live near the sea, clean up trash in your neighborhood, remembering that all watersheds are connected to the ocean. Learn about current ocean issues and ocean advocates working to heal our seas. Below are some educational/inspiring ocean resources:
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26. Use Gray WaterGray water is water that has been used but is not necessarily contaminated. You can use dish washing water, hand washing water, and cooking water to water plants.
27. Rest and ReflectWhether you live in a land-locked state or on the coast, everyone is connected to the ocean. Ecclesiastes 1:7 reminds us: "All streams run to the sea."
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JULY
28. Firework-Free-FourthThis July 4, take a moment to reflect upon the environmental impact that traditional Independence Day activities have. In a day characterized by consumerism, single-use items, barbeques with excessive meat, and polluting fireworks, consider what eco-conscious product swaps you can make while celebrating.
29. Start A Creation Justice Group At Your ChurchDoes your church have a creation justice/creation care group? If not, you can start one! Gather and discuss how your church can be involved in caring for the earth. Learn together, work together, come up with projects, and get involved in the work your community is already doing to heal the environment
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30. Visit your Local LibraryReusing and sharing books through your local library is a wonderful community resource and it's ecologically sustainable! Reusing books reduces production and waste. Do they have an ecology section? Maybe even a faith/ecology section? Many cities also have little “free libraries” with take-one-leave-one book policies! Check out some of these great authors who write about creation justice/eco-theology: Thomas Merton, Victoria Loorz, Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho.
31. Rest and Reflect“Speak to the earth and it shall teach thee. Ask the creatures of earth and sea for their wisdom” - Job 12:8. What do God’s creatures teach you? What can we learn from creation?
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AUGUST
32. Start a Church GardenPlant fruits, vegetables, and native plants! Look for plants that attract your local pollinators. A church compost can supply your church garden with amazing nutrients. Start a church gardening club to help tend to the plants. Share the harvest with your neighbors.
33. Host a "Church of the Wild" ServiceVictoria Loorz writes about this spiritual practice in her book, Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us Into The Sacred. You can host your own gathering! All you need is an outdoor space (a beach, a garden, a forest), and some friends. The gathering can open with a shared poem, scripture reading, or prayer. Then it's time to wander: twenty minutes of silent walking, sitting, observing, and listening. Let yourself be led. You can meditate, allow wonder, and be curious. After twenty minutes, gather the group back together and share your experiences. Enjoy this "communion with all creatures."
34. God's Bugs Love the Summer TooIf you live in a buggy area, skip the chemicals and try natural options to keep the bites away. You can find DIY recipes to make your own mosquito repellent with garlic cloves! Citronella oil is another good natural bug repellent. Remember that bugs are God’s creatures too!
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35. Rest and Reflect“If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”― St. Francis Of Assisi
36. Spend Time with the EarthSpend time outside in silence listening to creation (instead of music, conversation, just sit outside and be still with the rest of God's creation). The earth speaks to those who take the time to listen!
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SEPTEMBER
37. Season of CreationSeptember begins the "Season of Creation.” Celebrate in your church community! Find theological reflections and liturgical resources at creationjustice.org/seasonofcreation.
38. Reflect on the Changing FoliageAs the leaves start to change colors, take time to get to know the trees and plants around you. Many people tend to take a drive/trip somewhere to see all the colors changing, however we invite you to instead get to know the trees that give off their vibrant colors in your own backyard.
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39. Ride the BusAdvocate for public transportation in your town. Carpooling, sharing rides, and riding the bus all help to cut down on carbon emissions.
With the weather starting to cool down, it's the perfect time to take advantage of temperature-- spend more time outside walking and biking, slowing down when you can in a season that tends to be quite busy. 40. Rest and Reflect“The sky is my prayer, the birds are my prayer, the wind in the trees is my prayer, for God is all in all.” - Thomas Merton
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OCTOBER
41. Write a Prayer for CreationPractice writing a prayer of gratitude, protection, or lament for creation. This could be a prayer about environmental injustice or climate change. It could be a gratitude prayer for a specific tree. It may help to write in an outdoor setting. Be creative.
42. Walk/Ride your BikeWalk, run, or ride somewhere you'd usually drive. Not only will you be helping the earth, you may also see something unexpected! Taking the extra time, you may notice animals, plants, flowers, or sights you’d have missed in a car. Enjoy the fresh air and movement.
43. HalloweenChallenge your kids or adult guests to create a costume solely out of recycled items. Costumes can be eco-themed too (animals, bugs, recycle-monsters, native plant species, eco-heros)!
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44. Rest and Reflect“Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.” - Fr. Richard Rohr
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NOVEMBER
45. Acknowledge Indigenous HeritageSome questions to research are:
46. Have a Climate SundayIf you’re preaching, choose a Sunday for a climate sermon at your church! If you’re not preaching, suggest the idea of a climate Sunday to your pastor. For additional, pointed resources, visit our EcoPreacher Resource Hub at creationjustice.org/ecopreacherresources.
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47. Prepare for ThanksgivingThis Thanksgiving, spend time learning about the Indigenous history and the traditional ecological knowledge where you live. Begin your thanksgiving meal with a land acknowledgment of gratitude.
48. Buy in BulkMake your holiday pastries/meals with ingredients bought in bulk! Flour, oatmeal, granola, nuts, seeds, etc. are great to buy in bulk. It’s usually cheaper and skips the extra packaging! You can even bring your own containers to the store for this.
49. Rest and Reflect“All has been consecrated. The creatures in the forest know this. The earth does, the seas do, the clouds know as does the heart full of
love.” - St. Catherine of Sienna |
DECEMBER
50. Observe AdventThe Advent Season celebrates the incarnation of Christ, born into our world. What does incarnation have to do with creation? Where do you encounter the divine? For additional advent resources and reflections, visit creationjustice.org/advent.
51. DonateDonate to a creation care group as a holiday gift this year from you or in honor of a loved one. Examples: Creation Justice Ministries, Interfaith Power and Light, Evangelical Environmental Network.
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52. An Eco-ChristmasWhat can you reuse this Christmas? Can you create decorations out of recycled materials? Use plastic collected on the beach or items from the recycling bin to make fun, creative, unique decorations! Sustainable gift ideas: beeswax wrap, reusable water bottles, vegetable seeds, metal straws, bamboo utensils, reusable cloth shopping bags.
53. Rest and ReflectWrite a prayer of gratitude, protection, or lament for creation. This could be a prayer about environmental injustice or climate change. It could be a gratitude prayer for a specific tree. It may help to write in an outdoor setting. Consider how you want to incorporate God's creation/lifestyle change into your new year goals
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BONUS WEEK
As you make your year-end gifts, consider giving to support the work of Creation Justice Ministries. Visit creationjustice.org/donate to learn more and give.
