This diagram illustrates the concept of climate feedback loops. In simple terms, the effects of things grow & negatively affect other planetary realities. Yet there are other positive feedback loops too when we grow community, build resilience & spark climate conversations.

Meet Rev. Brian Jack from First Lutheran Church in Milford (near Okoboji), who's in our first clergy cohort. The eco-engaged church is gearing up to plant a giant prairie, has a community garden & pumpkin patch, tends to bee hives 🐝& more! Take a peek at their awesome work: www.3cross.org/aroun...

Last chance! Grab your clean energy shirt today while at least 20% (and potentially 40%) of the proceeds will still go to Iowa Faith & Climate. It’s an easy way to connect the dots between, well, faith & climate!

There's only a week left to snag one of these cool T-shirts for yourself or a fellow clean energy enthusiast! 40% of each sale goes to Iowa Faith & Climate Network. Sizes do run a tad small, so maybe go for a larger size! Check it out here: jusfaith.com/product...

In the past 8 days, our Assoc. Director Tim Gossett... - held our first Climate-informed Clergy Cohort session - preached @ Ames First United Methodist Church 1/3

Tomorrow's "Sun Day" & events will be held across the country. Sponsored by the nonprofit "Third Act" to promote solar power, there are events around the country. Here's where to learn about events (and if there are none near you, gather friends & do something amazing!) thirdact.org/sun-day/

🌟Calling all Northeast Iowa residents!🌟 Don't miss out on our Meet-and-Greet event tomorrow (9/20) in Dubuque, 5-6:30 PM at Mount Carmel Bluffs, 1040 Carmel Drive. Exec. Director Irene DeMaris & Board Chair Rob Hogg would love to chat about faith and climate action. RSVP:

4 unique perspectives. 2 transformative days. It's the 2025 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit, "Strong & Supported," from @faithinplace. Hear from 4 inspiring speakers on healing the Earth & our communities.⁠⁠ 📅 Sept. 29–30⁠ 💻 Virtual + attend free! 🔗 Register: https://aes-summit.org

At Iowa Faith & Climate Network, we know that stories are the heart of change. When people of faith share why the planet matters to them, it shifts conversations, builds courage, and sparks new action. 1/5

Irene DeMaris joined with others to deliver a letter to Zach Nunn's Des Moines office today about the PERMIT Act. Other supporters visited offices in Dubuque & Cedar Rapids. We hope you'll learn about this bill & consider contacting your elected officials soon to oppose it. elpc.org/news/callin...

Irene, Tim & our board President, Rob Hogg, were recently guests on the "Surviving Bad" TV show. We chatted about the work we're doing & how you can join us in taking climate action. Check out the entire episode today!

ACTION ALERT! The U.S. House of Representatives is considering the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act (“PERMIT Act,” H.R. 3898). 1/6

Happy 109th birthday to the National Parks Service! 🥳 Outdoor spots are perfect for connecting with nature & your spirituality. What's your favorite park among the 400? Share a pic! 🏞️ #NationalParks (Photo: Tim Gossett @ Sand Dunes National Park...hiking with a broken foot in a walking boot!)

It was our privilege today to be at the 2025 Iowa Presbyterian Gathering in Ankeny. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be there & to connect with some of the participants. Want to bring us to your event or faith community? We’d love to connect with you!

Our board met yesterday & today for a retreat & meeting at Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat in Wheatland. We're excited about the coming year! If you're ever looking for a place to hold a small meeting or retreat, check this incredible place out! chmiowa.org/retreat/

Since today is National Radio Day - & since Bill McKibben just released his new book on solar power yesterday - it seems like a great day to listen to this episode from the Marketplace radio show.

One of our partners, @blessedtomorrow, is creating an interfaith curriculum on climate change. Filmmaker @daynareggero sat down with our Assoc. Dir., Tim Gossett, to chat about topics like the need to focus on community & our clergy cohorts we're launching. Here's a preview. www.instagram.com/re...

Missed our August newsletter? It's PACKED with good stuff, so go check it out! prod.cdn.everyaction...

Tonight at 6pm: "Solar Tax Credits: How Houses of Worship Can Still Use IRA Incentives," sponsored by Faith in Place (& we're a co-sponsor). Learn what’s still available, deadlines to know, & how your community can secure federal incentives before they disappear. Register: us02web.zoom.us/meet...

Going to the @IowaStateFair today? It's #SolarDay, so stop by the Grand Concourse to see solar panels in action & learn how Iowa farmers, businesses, congregations & homeowners are harnessing the power of the sun. Thanks to Irene DeMaris for representing us there this morning! @iowasolarenergy

Did you know it's #InternationalYouthDay today? Fun fact: half the world is 30 or under and by 2030, that number will shoot up to 57%! 🌍🌱 Show some love to the young ones in your life and consider a gift to safeguard their future against climate change. iowafaithandclimate....#InternationalYouthDay#climateaction

Many in the Midwest have been dealing with poor air quality due to the Canadian fires. As our climate warms, wildfires grow more likely & severe. How's your congregation talking about risks, insurance costs, mitigation, community resilience & environmental justice issues? www.npr.org/2025/08/...

Just a few more days before our cohort registration closes! Who do you know who needs a nudge or an invite to participate? iowafaithandclimate....

Iowans, do you know what's in your water? If the full report (first link) is too much reading for you, a link to the video of the event also below. Maybe don't watch it though while doing the dishes... Report: www.polkcountyiowa.g... Video: harkininstitute.drak...

“We need artists in this movement, we need people who know about technology in this movement, we need organizers, we need writers, we need all of the different talents in the movement. 1/2

What climate resource should we create next? A weekend retreat outline? A game that opens up climate conversations? A monthly lunch-n-learn webinar series? Reading guides for book groups? Comment below with what you'd find helpful, whether that's one of these ideas or something else!

Sabbath is a sacred pause, whenever you observe it. So is hitting "unsubscribe." Fewer emails = fewer servers = less CO₂. (A year of our junk email emits more than 4.3 million cars!) It's a weekly ritual of resistance, clarity & renewal. #DigitalSabbath #EcoFaith #FaithandClimate #CreationCare

You've told us you value broad inclusion, deep theological grounding, & action-oriented tools. So do we! This year we've launched several new resources, with more to come. But this work is impossible without your partnership. Can you help us reach our giant goal for August? iowafaithandclimate....

Final days! Tell a congregational faith leader you know to sign up for our first Climate-informed Ministry Cohort. It launches a month from today, so share this now with someone & encourage them to take part. Get your faith community engaged in meaningful climate action! iowafaithandclimate....

Live in Jasper or Poweshiek County? This is for you! Join us & our partners for a free virtual Solar Power Hour to learn how solar energy works, how it can lower your energy bills, & how to take advantage of the Grow Solar group-buy program in 2025. Learn more & register at iowafaithandclimate....

Sometimes a designated special gift can be a great way to get a congregation moving towards greater sustainability. And speaking of special gifts, tomorrow we're launching a fundraiser for August that will help sustain the work we all do together. Watch your email or this space for details!

One of the books our clergy cohort will be reading together this year is Katharine Hayhoe's "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World." Here's a great 52 min. audio podcast that features her talking about many of the ideas from the book. youtu.be/lsQxPHSJuYM...

Here's a climate story submission that goes right to the heart of things, asking why we must live in a way that's so disruptive and out of balance. What do you notice in your life that makes it really hard to live in climate-friendly ways?

Read anything lately about our climate crisis or environmental care that you'd recommend? We'd love to hear about it!

What do you know about coal ash? Not the stuff at the bottom of your grill - we're talking about the byproduct of burning this dirty fuel source. Our friends at @IAEnvironmentalCouncil are offering a free webinar about it this Wednesday, 12-1 PM. Register at www.iaenvironment.or... #cleanupmidam

3 more spots! Due to some deferrals, we've got spots open for Iowa clergy who are ready to dive in to climate action in a big way. This 10-month cohort includes calls with experts, stipend, books, a grant opportunity & more. But hurry - we begin soon! Learn more & register: iowafaithandclimate....

Earlier this week, Joanna Macy, an influential Buddhist writer on eco-anxiety & deep ecology, died. Here's a quote from her: "We are capable of suffering with our world, and that is the true meaning of compassion. It enables us to recognize our profound interconnectedness with all beings..."

Looking for a great summer read? Here are 3 terrific books on the theme of trees & climate to check out. iowafaithandclimate.org/beat-summers...

Action Alert (takes 2 minutes!) Your reps in DC need to hear from you about the critical climate issues that are part of the budget bill currently being discussed, such as the proposed cuts to tax credits for energy-saving measures. Please share this widely. iowafaithandclimate.org/action-alert...

🚨 We’ve seen the amendments to the #Iowa Governor’s Energy Bill—and they’re still not good enough. As people of diverse faith and spirituality, we’re called to speak up for justice. This bill raises costs for #Iowans while protecting utility profits. That’s not moral leadership. 1/2

"...I worry that we don't really have 'winter' anymore. We do really have some freezing temperatures but it seems to get warmer and warmer early in the year. I worry about the loss of Spring." Can you relate to this #climate story? #whatsyourclimatestory

Do you have a climate story? We bet you do! Starting tomorrow, we'll be sharing climate stories folks have been sharing with us. They'll range from heartbreaking to inspiring. We hope they get you thinking about the ways our changing climate affects all of us. #whatsyourclimatestory

Faith communities: how are you preparing for what may be an active hurricane season (whether you're in a hurricane area or looking for ways to respond & help others)? www.cbsnews.com/news/2025-at...

Our latest resource is now available! "What's Your Climate Story?" is an easy-to-use guide for congregations that want to spark #climate conversations through the power of storytelling. Includes 5 ways to use it, Canva templates & more...& it's free! Download: iowafaithandclimate.org/climate-story/

If #CO2 fell down as snow, how much of it would you have to shovel? #ghg #USA #American #percapita #climatechange

Subscribe to the free monthly tips from UM Creation Justice Movement. They're perfect for use in a church newsletter, in emails, on social media etc., encouraging your congregation to engage in creation care. April's tips were just sent by email & will be online soon at umcreationjustice.org/tips/

As our climate changes, accurate weather information is critical for farmers, people with health issues, schools who sent busses out to get kids, faith organizations planning events or knowing when to check on vulnerable members...really, all of us! Let's protect the services that protect our lives.

How is your congregation talking about this critical topic?

Our latest press coverage looks especially on our new cohorts for clergy and why we felt it was an important shift. www.thegazette.com/environment-...