“Good Tidings”
The Earth, Spirit, Action Team Newsletter
St. Matthew’s United Church
May 11th, 2025 No._30_____
Welcome to the Easter – Pentecost 2025 issue of “Good Tidings”, the Earth Spirit Action Team
newsletter that discusses local and global environmental and climate change issues; offers
suggestions for personal and political actions that build a healthy planet; shares information on
resources and actions from other environment and climate change organizations; and presents
faith reflections on creation, climate and environmental issues, our calling as followers of Jesus
and stewards of creation.
We welcome feedback from readers who would like to share their thoughts with us.
Our email is: earthspiritaction016@gmail.com
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In this Issue…
Welcome to this Easter – Pentecost 2025 issue of Good Tidings! The Easter celebration of Jesus’
Resurrection here at St. Matthew’s was glorious! Since then, we have empathized with his disciples who
were slow to believe he had not ‘stayed dead’, slow to believe God’s other gifts of love, forgiveness,
peace, and new life, had not ‘stayed dead’ either, and slow to believe God had called them to proclaim
the good news: Jesus had been raised from the dead, God was offering us love and new life through
faith, and Jesus’ resurrection was the sign of a resurrection in store for all creation.
God’s gifts of love, new life, peace, justice and hope permeate the articles in this issue. Elaine Murray
describes a recent Lunch and Learn on recycling where keenly interested participants engaged presenter
Andie Kroll with questions indicating that there is strong interest and that robust recycling practices are
already taking shape in our church community.
Anne Marie Dalton recalls Pope Francis’ inspiring writings in Laudato Si’ on God’s love for all creation,
and the deep love for creation and our sisters and brothers that God wants of us all, and in our
corporate and political endeavors.
As we commemorate 100 years of “Deep Spirituality, Daring Discipleship, and Bold Justice” in the
United Church of Canada this year, we include a news story from UCofC on how its environmental
advocacy work has developed over the last 50 years.
A look at articles from the David Suzuki Foundation and the Sierra Club of Canada, on spotting and
refuting misinformation from fossil fuel industry proponents , provides information for current
discussions on energy sources for our future, economic development, and meeting the critical
challenges of climate change.
Margaret Machum shares a reflection on coral reefs, a Spring Coleslaw recipe for summer gatherings,
and her ESA Presentation on Bill 6 to the NS Law Amendments Committee.
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This Easter-Pentecost season may we sense God’s Spirit, and God’s love, peace, justice, new life and
hope in our world and midst, and hear Jesus say again, “The kingdom of God has come near you.”
DID YOU KNOW? By Elaine Murray.
At our last Lunch and Learn, Andie Kroll from Waste Management came to do a presentation on
recycling. We had an excellent program and lots of good questions from those who attended. Here are a
few things we learned:
· The vast majority of the material (95%) from our blue bags is sent to markets in Nova Scotia and
Canada (60% within Nova Scotia and 35% outside Nova Scotia but within Canada). None of it is shipped
overseas to be disposed of. The new Adirondack chairs on the water front are made from plastics from
our blue bags and they were made in Nova Scotia.
· All the material from our green bins put out to the curb is turned into compost which is distributed free
of charge to farmers and landscapers in Nova Scotia
· The dairy companies in Nova Scotia take full responsibility for all the milk cartons we put in our blue
bags and recycle them at their own expense.
Here is a link to the sorting guide to find out where to put what:
https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/home-property/garbage-recycling-green-
cart/sortingguide_household-eng-print.pdf
Or install the Halifax Recycles app on your phone and ask the "Wizard" any questions you have
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“Commemorating 100 Years of “Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring
Justice.” This story from news@united-church.ca recalls our Church’s advocacy for creation and
environmental concerns over several decades.
“Listening for Creation’s Call: The United Church’s Journey of Environmental Advocacy.”
“The decade between 1921 and 1931 was a pivotal period in Canadian history, and not solely due to the
formation of The United Church of Canada. Notably, 1921 marked the last census year when Canada's
population was predominantly rural (51 percent) compared to urban (49 percent). This marked a
significant shift from 1851, when nine out of ten Canadians lived in rural areas—the very period when
many churches in Ontario and the east were established. By 1931, the balance had tipped, with 54
percent of the population residing in urban centers. Beyond the challenges rural depopulation posed for
rural congregations, this demographic shift also impacted the church's connection with the
environment.
Environmental concerns were not a primary focus for the newly formed United Church. However,
roughly two to three decades into its existence, as fewer individuals maintained a direct connection with
the natural world, camping ministries emerged. These ministries provided spaces where faith could be
revitalized through encounters with nature and the experience of community.
Later, in the late 1970s, the church recognized the need for educational resources to raise awareness
about the growing environmental crisis. By 1990, it identified climate change * as a significant threat to
the well-being of God's creation. In the mid-1990s, A New Creed was revised to include the phrase "to
live with respect in creation." Since then, the church has actively sought to honour this commitment
through initiatives such as campaigns against the use of bottled water, encouraging tree planting events,
promoting fossil fuel divestment, advocating for federal climate policy including climate financing, and,
most recently, making a bold commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2030.
This ambitious target requires the dedicated effort of everyone to achieve.
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For more detailed information on the ongoing work in the United Church to prioritize climate awareness
and action, be sure to consult the 2023 and 2024 Sustainability Report: Deep Roots, Bold Action, Daring
Decisions. *
Here Are Some Highlights of the United Church’s Environmental Engagement
1977: Set goal to educate the United Church on the environmental crisis and build capacity for response.
1990: Declared climate change a serious threat and urged international emissions limits.
1995: "Live with Respect in Creation" added to New Creed.
2009: Moderator attended UN Climate Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen.
2010: Issued open letter calling climate change a “crisis of conscience.”
2012: Resolution from the All Native Circle Conference opposing the construction of the Northern
Gateway Pipeline is approved at GC41.
2015: Divested from fossil fuels and reinvested in renewables.
2015: Delegation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous church representatives participated in historic
COP21, where the Paris Agreement was signed. This established the practice of joint participation in
these events. 2018:
*Faithful Footprints program launched.
2020: * For the Love of Creation climate justice initiative formed with other faith groups.
2022: First Climate Motivator program established.”
*Please click on the links to view a wealth of information on what you can do to impact climate
change.
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“Lord our God, you renew the face of the earth and bring newness to our world: Restore the waters,
Refresh the air, Revive the land, Breathe new life into all your creation, And begin with us.”
From The Rhythm of Life, Celtic Daily Prayer by David Adam.
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Ecological Citizenship’ in Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home, encyclical of Pope Francis by
Anne Marie Dalton.
(Laudato Si’ means Praise be to, the first words of the encyclical, based on a quote from The Prayer of St.
Francis)
May 24, 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Laudate Si’, the late Pope Francis’ encyclical addressing
climate change and ecological devastation. Laudato Si’ spawned a worldwide response at the time of its
publication as well as an enduring Laudato Si’ Movement, which has multi-religious membership around
the world. While many religious leaders and groups, including former popes, issued statements on
climate change and care for creation, none have been as deeply spiritual and as theologically expansive
as Laudato Si’. One of the key ideas promoted by the encyclical is ecological citizenship. This was not an
original idea in 2015. It was well known to ecologists and activists. However, Pope Francis brought a new
depth to its meaning. Ecological citizenship requires living responsibly on the earth. Francis made a
strong association between the liberation of the poor and oppressed in the human family and the
degraded other-than-human world; both endure the consequence of human greed and thoughtlessness.
Both require a justice that is based on more than a reciprocal contract, but includes a non-conditional
outreach of love and deep compassion. He also drew on the traditional notion of habitus, the principles
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and virtues by which we perceive the world and act in it. In Christian tradition, habitus also carries the
notion of intentional formation, an on-going process of conversion to Christian living.
Laudato Si’ called for an ecological conversion, a re-orientation to creation, a just and compassionate
citizenship. This is a citizenship informed by science, yes, but information alone cannot make one an
ecological citizen, Francis says. One must become instilled with new habits, habits that arise from prayer
and contemplation of the presence of God in all of creation. Ecological citizenship calls for the practice
of ecological virtues, such as simplicity, humility, generosity, kindness and justice in the wider context of
all creation. It is witnessed by consistent decision and action on behalf of the poor and of our other-
than-human brothers and sisters both in ordinary day-to-day living and in the larger social and political
spheres. While Francis called the whole human family to an ecological citizenship, he saw churches and
all faith communities as carrying a special responsibility for the formation of ecological citizenship for
the love of all creation. (See text of Laudato Si’ at)
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
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OUR WORLD: Coral Reefs by Margaret Machum
Coral reefs have been impacted by our use of fossil fuels which is causing climate change and warming
ocean waters. As a result, microbiomes, which usually support coral reefs, are changing and are now
causing destruction and coral reefs, which naturally are full of colour, are now turning white. This
bleaching has affected 80% of coral reefs in some areas while 14% of the world’s coral reefs have been
lost. We are decades away from losing all coral reefs.
This is a massive problem as coral reefs are valuable in promoting a healthy ocean and providing jobs. It
is time to recognize the urgency of saving the reefs. We can scale up efforts through innovative
financing to support coral reef experts with their research. In order to fix this, science must find ways to
make reefs resilient to the changes in their environment that fossil-fuel use has engendered.
Over the past few years, these resilience efforts have met with success. Coral-reef restoration has been
successful in twelve areas in Indonesia, including Bali, and in Saudi Arabia. However, these efforts
require lots of energy and dedication.
But we must not give up hope. Restoration projects have shown that collaborative efforts can bring back
the reefs to health. However, for the long term, we must change the relationship between people and
reefs. As long as the world’s temperature is rising, so will the ocean temperatures rise. The coral reefs
are on the edge. With only a 2-degree increase in global temperature, there will be no coral. To prevent
this failure, the solution is to stop burning fossil fuels. We can do this by supporting the climate
movement through community engagement, and financing research for the very best science. Through
these efforts, we can make progress with tackling global warming.
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Join the third annual People’s Parade for Life on Earth! “In these tumultuous and difficult times, it is
more important than ever to come together in community and celebration. Join us for this year’s
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People’s Parade for Life on Earth to honour the Water and Mother Earth and to strengthen our
collective spirits.
Bring your creativity, your passion, your love and your rage and let us join in celebration as we stand up
for All Our Relations, now and for seven generations in the future. A joyful grassroots community parade
will be followed by a potluck community feast.
Where: Kjipuktuk/Halifax waterfront, starting at Sackville Landing
When: Sat., June 7, 2025 (rain date June 8)
Time: 2-5 p.m.
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Almighty God, without You we are not able to please You. Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may
in all things direct and rule our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Rhythm of Life. David Adam
Spotting and Combatting Misinformation from Oil and Gas Industry Proponents about Fossil Fuels, and
Renewable Sources of Energy. By John Nesbitt
Recently, articles by the Sierra Club Canada and David Suzuki Foundation have set their sights on
misinformation from proponents of the oil and gas industry on fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy,
and emission caps. The articles present examples of misinformation, and fact check or refute those
assertions. See these links to read the full articles: https://www.sierraclub.ca/emissions-cap-the-
truth/
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/how-to-stop-oil-and-gas-industry-misinformation/
other links * provide more information.
The premise of the David Suzuki Foundation article is this. “But we know that for the past half-century,
the oil and gas industry has invested billions of dollars in dishonest, deceptive marketing campaigns, *
designed to sow doubt in climate science and convince people that fossil fuels have a place in a net-zero
future.” *
The DSF article shines a light on five arguments, tactics, and strategies advanced by the oil and gas
industry to rationalize continued oil and gas production, to increase profits, and to dismiss renewable
sources of energy. These include i) the assertion that carbon capture and storage technology will reduce
carbon emissions so we can continue to derive energy from oil and gas. ii) rebranding and greenwashing
fossil fuels by referring to them as ‘responsible’, ‘ethical’, or ‘clean oil’, ‘natural gas’, or a “bridge fuel”.
iii) downplaying the power and reliability of renewable energy, iv) claiming the industry needs public
(government) support to build carbon capture facilities, v) and finally, Industry engaged at the highest
levels of decision making about meaningful climate action to make the case for continued oil and gas
production.
The DSF article disputes misinformation propagated by the industry and its allies with its own arguments
and information such as: i) Current carbon capture storage projects (CCS) are inadequate to meet our
carbon emission reduction goals. The cost to meet our goals with CCS could be $75 Billion. Industry
wants the government to pay 75%. See: taking home record-breaking profits.
iii) DSF disputes the arguments by Industry and its allies that solar and wind energy are not reliable. DSF
argues that advancements in storage, efficiency, and inter-provincial cooperation have made renewable
sources of energy reliable, and that ‘wind and solar energy are the cheapest form of energy in history’.
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iv) The David Suzuki Foundation goes absolutely nuts on the industry’s claims that it needs public
funding and concessions to remain profitable. See taking home record-breaking profits again. DSF
argues that huge Industry profits are creating inflation and hardship, and that the Industry is not being
held accountable for the financial costs of catastrophic climate events heightened by carbon emissions
such as recent fires, hurricanes, and floods that have destroyed forested regions, communities, parks,
and family dwellings. v) Industry strategies to delay or block climate action. DSF says, “Big Oil’s political
influence at some of the highest levels of climate talks is troubling.” At the COP27 climate summit More
than 600 fossil fuel representatives attended the conference.. We can’t let powerful companies block
climate action.”
The Sierra Club of Canada has a comprehensive article about misinformation on the industry carbon
emissions cap. It addresses the following complaints. i)The cap is a carbon tax, ii) the cap is a production
cap, iii) we don’t need a cap iv) the industry was not consulted on a cap, v) the cap is not fair, vi) the
cap will make inflation worse.
The Sierra Club article argues strongly that the cap is more than fair: “The oil and gas sector, while
only 5% of Canada’s economy, is Canada’s most polluting sector causing 27% of national emissions. This
is cap on wealthy corporations, it’s about fairness, about making the oil and gas industry reduce their
emissions just as we are individually being called to reduce our emissions.”
The article argues that Canada needs an emission cap to meet its goal of reducing its emissions to 40%
below 2005 levels by 2030. Industry was consulted, and agreed it could meet the emissions cap.
Like the David Suzuki Foundation, the Sierra Club attributes inflation to huge profits in the oil and gas
sector while Canadians are facing hard economic times. The article acknowledges the concerns of many
people working in the oil and gas industry about the cap and says oil and gas workers and their families
need to be supported as we transition to cleaner energy.
What is the effect of a misinformation war? It delays us from taking the critical steps needed to confront
the climate crisis threatening our planet and humanity. “Creation is waiting. All that you do, do in love
for creation and one another, in the name of Jesus.”
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“Lord, You created the world by your love, You redeemed the world through your love, You maintain
the world with your love, you fill our hearts with love for one another and creation, Help us to give
our love to you, O Triune God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.” Amen.
Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer, David Adam
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On Monday March 17, 2025 Margaret Machum made the following presentation to the Nova Scotia
Legislature’s Law Amendments Committee conveying the opposition of the Earth Spirit Action
Committee of St. Matthew’s United Church to Bill 6. We thank Margaret for creating and delivering
this presentation.
PESENTATION TO THE LAW AMENDMENTS COMMITTEE, MONDAY, 17 MARCH 2025 3:30 By
Margaret Machum, Member of the EarthSpiritAction Committee, St Matthew’s United Church, Halifax
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BILL 6: Repealing the Uranium Exploration and Mining Prohibition Act and Amendments to permit
hydraulic fracturing and natural gas in Nova Scotia
Why I Do Not Want Fracking and Uranium Exploration Mining in Nova Scotia
I am speaking to you today as a member of the EarthSpiritAction Committee of St Matthew’s United
Church. We are a group committed to raising awareness to our congregation, and beyond, of the
climate crisis which we are now beginning to experience and to promoting the caring of our earth and
God’s creation.
The Mi’kmaw people, upon whose unceded territory we live under the treaty of Peace and Friendship,
as other indigenous peoples, have cared for this land for thousands of years. And we share this
responsibility as we all share the earth.
I have deep concern regarding the Nova Scotia government’s plans to remove the bans on hydraulic
fracturing (fracking) for natural gas and uranium mining exploration research.
As a country, we are facing challenges from the United States with regard to trade and an attack on our
economy through tariffs. Pursuing resource extraction that has a negative effect on our environment
with activities that cause environmental harm are not the answer to these challenges. Bill 6 which
promotes dead industries is dangerous to our environment and economically unrealistic.
Many of the chemicals used in fracking are known carcinogens and the contamination of groundwater
would impact our sources of fresh water needed to support life.
Uranium mining causes radioactive materials to be released into the air and water and leaves
radioactive toxic waste as tailings which will remain for thousands of years.
The Nova Scotia government’s plans to expand fossil fuel extraction and consumption in Nova Scotia is
unrealistic at a time when we need to continue with our transition away from fossil fuels. This expansion
plan is fraught with concerns about our future as climate change is the greatest global threat that we
face.
Instead, the government should be building an economy based on environmentally friendly strategies,
pursuing a goal to net zero, promoting a sustainable transition to renewable energy in order to provide a
safe and healthy environment for Nova Scotians. Supporting green energy is the path to financial
stability and protecting our water and land the way to provide health and food security.
The Nova Scotia government, through its Low Carbon Community Grants, supports innovative solutions
to create long-lasting greenhouse gas reductions. Much of this good work will be undone by Bill 6.
As people of faith, we believe in the spiritual nature of life. We also listen to science. We understand
that human beings are one part of an interdependent, interconnected web of life which we have
profoundly disturbed through extractions industries and reliance on fossil fuels. The awareness of our
place in the universe calls for both humility and responsibility.
As people of faith, we remain committed to the care of all that God has given us, to thoughtful
stewardship of the waters, the soil, the ocean, the forests, wetlands, and all the creatures of land and
sea without which our lives would be impossible. We care deeply about the future for our descendants.
Care for Creation is a sacred responsibility which belongs to all human beings.
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We are in the season of Lent, forty days of preparation for Easter, 40 days in which Jesus spent time in
the wilderness being tempted by the devil. The devil offered Jesus food, power, and protection. Jesus
resisted. It is a call to resist imperial delusion and political empires. Our reality is the temptation of
Jesus. We are being asked to choose power and wealth, as in Jesus’ own temptation. Lent is about
standing with Jesus over and against the enticement of empire (power and wealth). For us and for the
environment, the stakes are higher than any of us may fully comprehend or anticipate.
History has shown and documented the destruction caused to lands, water, forests, wildlife, people, and
climate by extraction and mining. Nature is our asset, mining destroys it. Mining is unsustainable and
provokes environmental crises.
Our task today is to protect nature, the earth processes that provide us with all that we need to survive.
The protection of nature, the path to a just transition, to net zero, is our responsibility and a necessary
goal if life on earth is to continue.
Given that, for the past few years the average temperature each year has been hotter than the year
before; given that carbon levels have exceeded 350, the number considered to be the tipping point for
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; and given that natural disasters including fires, floods, and storms
are increasing in both occurrence and strength, the age of extraction and our reliance on fossil fuels
must end. We must work towards an electrified world based on renewable energy. Thank you.
*****
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any
other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without
courage”. - Maya Angelou
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From “On Care for Our Common Home, Laudato Si’“, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter.
A Christian Prayer in Union with Creation.
Father, we praise you with all your creatures. They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are
yours, filled with your presence and your tender love. Praise be to you!
Son of God, Jesus, through you all things were made. You were formed in the womb of Mary, you
became part of this earth, and you gazed upon this world with human eyes. Today you are alive in every
creature in your risen glory. Praise be to you.
Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world toward the Father’s love and accompany creation as it
groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts, and you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!
Triune God, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the
universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being you have
made. Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.
God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten those who possess power and money that they
may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for
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this world in which we live. The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and
light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom, of justice,
peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you! Amen!
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Spring Coleslaw 4-6 servings from the kitchen of Margaret Machum
Salad Ingredients:
1 cabbage, small, thinly sliced
1 onion, small, thinly sliced
3 carrots, grated
2 apples, red, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
parsley, chopped finely
Dressing:
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 lemon, juiced
2 tsp English mustard or Dijon,
sea salt
pepper
Directions:
1. Mix salad ingredients.
2. Stir dressing ingredients together.
3. Add to vegetables.
4. Serve.
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The next Issue of Good Tidings will be produced in early fall.
Have a renewing summer in God’s creation. The Earth Spirit Action Team.