Earthkeepers: Christians for Climate Justice launched its prayer campaign last week, in time for the beginning of Lent.
Here why they feel the need for a Year of Prayer for Bold Climate Action:
‘The most important thing Christians can pray for is the courage for bold climate action.’
MP Elizabeth May shared this with one of our Earthkeepers leaders at the UN Climate Conference in 2019, when we asked what Christians could be praying for in the era of the climate crisis.
We started this decade with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reporting that climate pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) is continuing to increase across the globe, along with the increasing intensity of climate-change exacerbated disasters. 2019 closed off with over 15 incidents of climate-change exacerbated disasters costing over $1 trillion in damages.
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report tells us that this decade is crucial for reducing climate pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) if we have any hope for a climate neutral future. We have seen the last decade end with unfulfilled climate promises and insincere climate policies from elected leaders around the world. Our neighbours here in Canada and around the world who have lost homes to wildfires, cyclones, hurricanes, or who have faced drought and failing crops cannot wait for another decade of unfulfilled promises.
And here is their plan:
This year at Earthkeepers, we are focusing on intercessory prayer for bold climate action. We are honoured to work alongside God in creation care, but despite our best efforts, only God can change hearts and minds of leaders, intervene and protect the suffering, and give us the courage to change and implement climate-sincere actions.
In the Scriptures, we have seen God intervene when God’s people humble themselves, turn from their ways, and honestly seek God through prayer. We will continue to act on the climate crisis, but we also need to spend more efforts and time in intercessory prayer to support that action. Jesus once said ‘Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you shall find.’ (Matthew 7:7).
We invite you to join us in asking and interceding to our Creator God and our Saviour Jesus Christ to intervene for creation, the people impacted, and to transform hearts and minds so that our leaders and all of society will have the courage to take bold climate action.
Earthkeepers invite us to:
- Pick a time where you can pray and set a reminder to build a habit. It helps to choose the same time each day to build a rhythm. Lent is a great time to start climate prayer!
- Look through the suggested prayer items for ideas or try a liturgical prayer. If you’re feeling stuck for inspiration, even a simple prayer for courage for bold climate action by all our leaders and our churches is a good prayer.
- Sign up to let us know you’re joining our prayer campaign!
- Share these prayer requests and this campaign with your family, life group, church and friends by linking this page on your social media networks.
Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph will be at St. James Hall March 12.
Martyn Joseph will be in concert at St. James Hall next Thursday (March 12). Not surprisingly, the concert organizers – Rogue Folk Club and CelticFest Vancouver – think he’s great:
Martyn Joseph is a powerful singer and songwriter gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics. With a career spanning 30 years, 32 albums, over a half a million record sales and thousands of live performances, the versatility of his music touches genres of folk, rock, soul, folk funk and Americana, yet somehow all these labels cannot define the spirit of his music.
Compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews, he has created his own style and reputation as a mesmerising live performer and stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives.
I have seen him several times at the Vancouver Folk Fest myself, and can add my testimony that his unique combination of musical talent, authentic personality and stage presence won over the crowd each time. He even sang a couple of Larry Norman songs.
And Ron Reed, artistic director of Pacific Theatre encouraged readers of the Soulfood Vancouver blog to go, saying:
Ten or 15 years ago Michael Hart and I went over to the North Shore to see Welsh singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph at a Rogue Folk concert, and I was blown away. His presence on stage was massive; the audience response was electric. Not your standard folk concert (though I’ve been to some pretty rowdy ones!).
But I think what most amazed me was the fact that Joseph is an unabashed Christian, and made no bones of the fact in his performance. Not that great artists can’t be Christians. But the culture of the folk music scene in Vancouver at that time was distinctly antagonistic to Christian faith – and here were the folks at the Rogue slating this guy for their concert. And here was a packed theatre full of Rogue folkies on their feet for this guy. It was heartening.
St. James isn’t a terribly large venue; better get your tickets soon.
Free tax clinics
At least three local churches are offering free tax clinics during this tax season:
Surrey Alliance Church: Free Income Tax Service
Surrey Alliance Church offers tax help Tuesday and Saturday mornings until the end of April:
We are a group of over 30 volunteers who are passionate about numbers! We do tax preparations for low income families and seniors each year from the end of February to the end of April.
Go here for more information.
Tenth Church: Tax Clinic
Tenth Church in central Vancouver is offering tax clinics by appointment until the end of April:
The Tenth Church office is open for tax help service for individuals and families with simple tax situations (T5007, seniors, students, new Canadian residents, disability credits, T4–employment, etc.).
This confidential service is part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program – a partnership between the Canada Revenue Agency and community organizations that provide free tax clinics to low-income people and families.
Go here for more information.
Westminster SDA Church: Tax Preparation Clinic
Westminster SDA Church, which is in Burnaby, but right on the border of New Westminster, offers tax services from March 15 – 29:
The Westminster Community Services is offering a volunteer-led free income tax preparation clinic
CRA community tax volunteers will complete simple tax returns for low income families, seniors and residents of British Columbia.
Go here for more information.
Prayer, Worship, Apologetics
I had thought to say something about the upcoming BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast, the Worship Central Conference and the Apologetics Conference – all coming up later this week – but fortunately they have all sold out and obviously don’t need any more attention. Good news!
Mar 2020
Provincial Leaders Dinner – March 5, 2020 at All DayTeam Church One Day: Vancouver – March 5, 2020 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
WEA Webinar on Artificial Intelligence – March 5, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – March 6, 2020 at 7:15 am - 9:00 am
BC Student Forum – March 6, 2020 at 7:15 am - 10:00 am
Apologetics Canada Conference 2020 – March 6, 2020 - March 7, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 3:30 pm
An Evening with Tony Campolo – March 6, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Israel: the People, the Land, the Future – March 6, 2020 - March 7, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Worship Central Conference 2020: Sons & Daughters – March 6, 2020 - March 7, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Project Dovetail: SOGI Training for the Church – March 7, 2020 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
St. Mary's Padre Pio Prayer Group Prayer Meeting – March 7, 2020 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Pray for Hong Kong – March 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley: Angela Verbrugge – March 8, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tony Campolo: Why Christians Should be Involved in Seeking Social Justice – March 8, 2020 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Waterfront Seafarers Centre: Open House – March 10, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Intersection: A Networking Opportunity for Leaders in Mission Agencies – March 11, 2020 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Hot Mammas – March 11, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Homegrown: Jazz Coffeehouse Concert – March 12, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Martyn Joseph in Concert – March 12, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
I Still Believe (Movie) – March 13, 2020 - March 17, 2020 at All Day
I Still Believe (Movie) – March 13, 2020 - March 17, 2020 at All Day
Tapas & Tabletalk: What God Cares About – March 13, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Surprised by Jesus Again: Reading the Bible with the Communion of Saints, with Rev. Dr. Jason Byassee – March 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Theology for Non-Theologians – March 13, 2020 - March 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 3:00 pm
For the Beauty of the Earth – March 13, 2020 - March 14, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Business as Mission Conference – March 14, 2020 at 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
SIM Monthly Missions Meeting: Past, Present and Future of Missions with SIM – March 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Tax Preparation Clinic – March 15, 2020 at All Day
A Multi-Faith Discussion on the Climate Emergency – March 15, 2020 at 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Closed: Knights of the North Castle: Broadway Church Day Camp – March 16, 2020 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Webinar: Canadian National Communion Service – March 18, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Postponed: Ray Aldred on Truth & Reconciliation – March 18, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Leading Ladies Little Big Band – March 18, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
24-7 Prayer Canada Virtual Prayer Room – March 19, 2020 - March 30, 2020 at All Day
Cancelled: Best of Enemies by Mark St. Germain – March 19, 2020 - March 21, 2020 at All Day
Closed: Shekhina: By Caitlin Ambery & Bailey Carrick – March 19, 2020 - March 27, 2020 at All Day
Webinar: Building an Effective Prayer Team – March 19, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Webinar: Ready or Not? The Urgent Missional Response to C19 – March 19, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cancelled: SAMC Theatre Presents: The Tempest – March 19, 2020 - March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christian Legal Fellowship's Prayer and Devotional Webinar Series Week 1: Trusting God in Uncertain Times – March 20, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Moved Online: The 41st Covenant Awards – March 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Postponed: Praise: with Kim Walker-Smith – March 21, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley: Nancy Newman – March 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cancelled: Dead Sea Scrolls Conference – March 23, 2020 - March 24, 2020 at 12:00 am
Webinar: Epidemics – How the Church Has Responded Throughout History – March 24, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Postponed: Alzheimer Café – March 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Postponed: for King & Country: Burn the Ships World Tour 2020 – March 24, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Day of Prayer and Fasting Across Metro Vancouver – March 25, 2020 at All Day
Moved Online: Business Babes Collective: Passion to Profit – March 25, 2020 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cancelled: Business as Calling: Speaker Josh Davis – March 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Cancelled: Canadian Family Ministry Strategy & Practice Workshop – March 27, 2020 - March 28, 2020 at All Day
Lionsgate to Release ‘I Still Believe’ Online Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – March 27, 2020 at All Day
Cancelled: Into the Deep: Stop the Buying! Stop the Violence! – March 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cancelled: Biblical Apologetics 1: Answering the Challenges – March 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Postponed: Renewal 2027: Jesus Christ: Our Hope – Intercultural Conversations and Celebrations – March 28, 2020 - March 29, 2020 at All Day
National Day of Prayer & Fasting – March 28, 2020 at 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cancelled: Basic Creation Training with Mike Riddle – March 28, 2020 at 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Postponed: From the Margins: The Diaspora Effect – March 28, 2020 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cancelled: SAMC Music Presents: Beautifully British – March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Cancelled: Worship Invades Glad Tidings! – March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
EFC / WEA Global Day of Prayer and Fasting – March 29, 2020 at All Day
EFC Webinar: Being Church & Neighbour During the Pandemic – March 30, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
National Prayer for Canada in the Wake of COVID-19 – March 31, 2020 at 12:00 am - 1:00 am
Webinar: People and Planet 2.0 – Can the COVID-19 tragedy be a historic reset? – March 31, 2020 at 5:00 am - 6:30 am
Apr 2020
Postponed: Sole Matters: John Fluevog – Open House – April 1, 2020 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pmCOVID-19 Global Church Hackathon – April 2, 2020 - April 4, 2020 at All Day
Postponed: Healing for Nations – April 2, 2020 - April 4, 2020 at All Day
Suspended: 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil – April 2, 2020 - April 5, 2020 at All Day
Webinar: Empowering & Developing Leaders Using Alpha – April 2, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Zoom Meeting – April 2, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Cancelled: Kairos Burnaby (Tuesday evenings) – April 2, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Postponed: Journey Home Community 15th Anniversary Celebration – April 3, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Postponed: Iron Sharpens Iron Conference – April 4, 2020 at 8:30 am - 3:45 pm
15th annual Lenten Vigil for the Silenced – April 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Postponed: Rally in Support of Delta Hospice Society – April 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Cancelled: Gardens - a sacred oratorio – April 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Registration Closed: The Way of Compassion: A Lenten Prayer Retreat – April 5, 2020 at 9:45 am - 4:00 pm
ELO Webinar: N.T. Wright on 'Christian Leadership in the Midst of a Pandemic' – April 7, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Webinar: How to Launch Alpha Online – April 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Postponed: Love / Sick by John Cariani – April 9, 2020 at All Day
Postponed: Sole Matters: John Fluevog – April 9, 2020 at All Day
Now Full: Tax Clinic (by appointment) – April 9, 2020 at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cancelled: Vancouver Chamber Choir: St. John Passion – April 10, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Full: Webinar: Missional Commons – Where are We Now? – April 14, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Webinar: Living Wisely and Loving Well in the Current Crisis – April 14, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Webinar: COVID-19 and migrant/undocumented worker – April 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Cancelled: FaithCARE: Growing Restorative Congregations – April 15, 2020 at All Day
Webinar: How to Launch Alpha Online – April 16, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Full: Webinar: Missional Commons – Where are We Now? – April 16, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Cancelled: Overdose National Book Tour with Benjamin Perrin – April 16, 2020 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Cancelled: Almost Silent Retreat – April 16, 2020 - April 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Postponed: Betty Spackman: A Creature Comfort – April 17, 2020 at All Day
Webinar: COVID-19 and the Majority World – April 17, 2020 at 6:00 am - 7:30 am
Canadian Youth Worker Prayer Call (every Friday) – April 17, 2020 - April 24, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Charter Day Webinar: Celebrating Canada's Fundamental (and Sometimes Forgetten) Freedoms – April 17, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Webinar: SOGI 123 – Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – April 17, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Webinar with Derek Sloan, Candidate for Leader of Conservative Party of Canada – April 17, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Cancelled: New Eyes for Reading the Old Testament – April 17, 2020 - April 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Postponed: Gospel Boom: The Astounding Growth of Worldwide Christianity – April 17, 2020 - April 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Postponed: Tim & the Glory Boys: The Buffalo Road Show – April 17, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm