Today's newsletter. As always, I try to balance the grim stuff with glimmers of goodness. Book-eating-fungi jazz? How can you resist? refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Father Pete does it again--thanks for this challenging "half time speech" for people of faith and conscience in America. fatherpetethewildernesspriest.substack.com/p/its-halfti...

The US does stupid and illegal things for oil while the rest of the world catches on to the obvious: move to clean energy. Fast. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/c...

Really disappointed in my governor. Come on, gov, there's still time to do the right things! Grateful for @insideclimatenews.org reporting. Thanks, Tom Perkins for covering Michigan. insideclimatenews.org/news/2212202...

Good news for higher education from this survey on employers' views. Bottom line: big majority of employers value what we do and want more of it. Those of us laboring away at small liberal arts colleges need this encouragement! www.aacu.org/research/the...

So, so, so grateful for the news today that I received a Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Teacher-Scholar grant to work on my book REFUGIA CHURCH! Hooray!!!! Many thanks to the grant-decision staff at CICW for all you do to enrich the church. worship.calvin.edu/resources/ar...

You can expect to hear more about solar permitting in the new year, but we'll get started here. Also, enjoy the scavenger hunt opportunity in this one--find the cute video of releasing beavers buried in one of the articles I cite! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Tile-whipping?? At moments like this, I'm proud to be half-Dutch. (Thanks to the ever-excellent Louise Conner @circlewoodearth.bsky.social.) www.ecodisciple.com/blog/flippin...

After a brief, virus-induced delay, the latest edition of the newsletter. This one features Ron recounting his experiences as an observer at COP30. Plus a dancing fossil dinosaur! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Oh boy!!! We fans have been waiting YEARS for @jspencerfleming.bsky.social's new book!!!! Clear the calendar: I've got reading to do!

Some hopeful news and some good videos in this one, plus: puffins! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Outrage + Optimism is producing such great episodes on COP30. I was amazed to learn about the major gathering of local leaders. Esp. hopeful for US folks--US local leaders were there, despite... everything going on here at fed level. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Calling all preachers: Grist, the foremost #climate-focused newsroom in the U.S., is teaming up with The BTS Center and our EcoPreacher partners to bring you a workshop that will hone your craft and renew your spirit. Space is limited, so register now to hold your spot: bit.ly/visioning-gr...

Inviting you to my Substack page because I've been neglectful about posting recent podcast episodes and newsletters. It's all here! Hawaiian refugia, the mighty diocese of San Francisco, and so much more. Maybe start here? refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

This is such a good one. If you attend a regular congregation and wish your church could do more about climate, listen to the marvelous Linda Racine and get inspired! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

Combine new monasticism with a faith-based farm, a forest, and some creative leaders, and you get Spring Forest. So great to hear Elaine Heath reflect on embodied spirituality and community building. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

This is a lovely one, an interview this week with the gentle and courageous Father Pete Nunnally of Water and Wilderness church. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

Refugia Newsletter AND Refugia Podcast! My latest newsletter has exclusive video of PUFFINS! And the podcast so far in Season 4 features terrific guests: Heber Brown III, Douglas Day Kaufman, David Celesky, and Judy Hinck. More to come! refugianewsletter.substack.com

Such a great conversation with the inspiring Heber Brown! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-po...

Sun Day! This week's newsletter is a celebration of the clean energy transition that is happening, right now, despite... all the things. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Season 4 dropping Sunday! Find the Refugia Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, and listen to conversations about Christian communities doing great climate work! Or sign up for my Substack newsletter to get episodes sent directly to your email inbox: refugianewsletter.substack.com.

Need a boost of sunshine and mental vitamin D? Check out this week's newsletter. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Wow! This is good news.

Great news! Grand Rapids, Michigan, (where I live) has an ambitious climate agenda, just passed by the City Commission. www.michiganpublic.org/environment-...

Faith/climate news in manageable doses with lots of opportunities to dive deeper. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

It is endlessly hilarious to me that the 5 denier scientists they are able to dig up for this ... are the same 5 denier scientists they were able to dig up 10 years ago, and 20 years ago. One might ask why no new scientists are joining this faction. Must be the global conspiracy.

Please do not be fooled by the "report" coming out of the White House on how high levels of CO2 are actually fine and we all have nothing to worry about so we should keep burning fossil fuels. This report is bogus. See below.

Really appreciate this good news about the fight against the insanity at the current EPA. Thanks to @jeremysymons.bsky.social. Need Some Good News? open.substack.com/pub/jeremysy...

Just good news and beautiful photos this week: you need a break as much as I do. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

"Without climate justice there is no peace, without ecological conversion there is no future, without listening to the people there are no real solutions." Powerful document from the Catholic bishops of the global South ahead of COP 30. www.raoen.org/2025/07/03/b...

Besides the usual stuff, two great books, two great interviews, and a killer graph. Plenty of inspiring and clarifying goodies this time! refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

So excited to see this excellent interview with the fabulous Rev. Mariama White-Hammond on Juneteenth and environmental justice! insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...

On Juneteenth especially, much gratitude for @greenthechurch.bsky.social, the Black Church Food Security Network, Soul Fire Farm, and so many other orgs fighting hard for climate justice and climate action. blackchurchfoodsecurity.net www.soulfirefarm.org www.greenthechurch.org

I'm reading "Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America" by sociologist Christian Smith (from Notre Dame). It is SO GOOD. I feel like it's explaining all the cultural upheavals I've seen from my parents' generation to my kids'. Essential reading for faith leaders, imo.

This Saturday is Show Your Stripes Day. Climate stripes on flags, socks, ties, etc. can help start a conversation. showyourstripes.info

Yes. Called my senators today. It's easy, and it matters.

Protests, defending the IRA, and other good stuff about faith and climate in this week's newsletter. Also: this photo of the Mediterranean (actually the Aegean). refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

OK, I indulged in few travel photos, yes, but there's also helpful faith/climate news here. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

In which I say hopeful things about the new pope, attempt to highlight some positive choices by businesses, and of course, feature a story about beavers. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

This, too!

Word is coming in that the new pope is a climate ally! Hooray! I'm feeling just a smidge more hopeful today...

Thanks for this, BioLogos folk: "We are convinced that supporting science is not just compatible with Christian faith — it is one of its modern expressions. ... Let us affirm science not out of political loyalty, but because it serves life, health, and justice." biologos.org/post/an-open...

Here's to the neurodivergent geeks! May they thrive!

Besides the usual faith/climate news roundup, we've got a fiddlehead fern theme going. Plus, I got the flying rhinos involved this time. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Faith/climate folk: watch for all the excitement building about Sun Day. And thanks to @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social for eloquently offering a Christian rationale for this movement, gathering all people of conscience and hope. dianabutlerbass.substack.com/p/sunday-is-...

"Easter grabs us by the throat and shouts, “Live.” The radiant Jesus who leaves the tomb challenges our complacency with the forces of death, be they hopelessness, fear, discouragement, or lack of will.

Pope Francis and the Sun open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...

Honoring Pope Francis this Earth Day. Thank you, Pope Francis, for Laudato si' and and your clear perception of the deep spiritual dynamics at work in our weary world. insideclimatenews.org/news/2104202...

Sadly, I did not include the flying rhinoceros this time. Maybe next time. Still, you might find some interesting resources and news here. refugianewsletter.substack.com/p/refugia-ne...

Teaching Hamlet this week. This speech in 3.3 seems pertinent. Claudius attempting to repent and failing: In the corrupted currents of this world Offense’s gilded hand may shove by justice, And oft ‘tis seen the wicked prize itself Buys out the law. But ‘tis not so above. 1/2