Beloved, how are you? The dark season of Lent that we will be traveling this month seems especially fitting during this time of unrelenting climate and political disruption. We hold onto the assurance that something new is even now waiting to be born. Spring will come. Easter is coming.

In the meantime, during the chaos and uncertainty, I take great solace in the connections I have with so many amazing leaders in the growing UM Creation Justice Movement and the clarity and purpose we have found in our work together, including these in this issue:

• A call to oppose cuts to clean energy funding in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act

• Opportunities for action related to fossil fuel divestment strategies for the church

• New model resolutions for annual conferences in 2025

• An emerging vision of a network of churches serving as hubs of resilience and refuge, based on “refugia” which is a biological concept describing places in nature that survive and even thrive amid severe disturbance.

As we explore this month’s theme of resilience, we hope you find inspiration and support to take and sustain your own actions. If you are already building “Resilience Hubs” in your community, or would like to help us develop these resilience efforts further, please reach out. We are all learning and growing together on this journey!

May you find purpose and clarity during these stormy times. May you find sanctuary and then expand the circle wider. May our congregations and our denomination find purpose and new life as we build networks of resilience and refuge, belonging and love.

Cathy Velasquez Eberhart
Minnesota Hopeful EarthKeeper
UM Creation Justice Movement