On September 21
The People's Climate March
will change everything…
Especially if you are there!

From Jim Antal, MACUCC Minister and President
 
As busy a time as September is for us all, I’m urging pastors and laity alike to consider worshiping on the streets of NYC on September 21 as part of the PCM.  Announce it at church on September 14.  Come with family. Come with others from your congregation.  Join the hundreds of thousands already committed.  See below for links to sign up to march and find transportation.
 
And if you can’t come – make sure your worship service on September 21 helps people in the pews to understand the importance of this moment – through preaching, prayer, song and testimony – and in solidarity with those in NYC.  See below for other ideas (petitions you can sign, etc).
 
Whether or not you can come:
If you have any doubt about the need for urgent action, watch the online movie "Disruption" http://watchdisruption.com/ (53 minutes) just released on September 7.   See it, and then urge everyone in your congregation to watch it.  For me, the key take-away was realizing that shortly after the first Earth Day drew 20 million Americans into the streets and parks in massive coast-to-coast rallies, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, etc. 
 
What we do together every Sunday morning is important.  On September 21 – whether in the streets of NYC or in our pews – lets join together and commit ourselves in new and consequential ways to receive God’s call to preserve God’s creation.

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IF YOU’RE GOING TO THE MARCH, CLICK HERE READ THIS BRIEFING FROM MEIGHAN PRICHARD, UCC NATIONAL MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
 

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SIGN-UP:

If you haven't signed up to be part of the march yet, you can do that here.

TRAVEL:  Sep 18 8:06am UPDATE*****  most buses are currently sold out - if you're still looking for a way to get to New York, Better Future Project organizers have some suggestions: click here for a list of options.   You can also view the Amtrak train schedules from here.

Through 350.org Massachusetts, you can purchase your bus tickets for the People's Climate March!  Buses will be leaving from four locations in Massachusetts:  Two trips are offered:  a two-day trip from September 20-21 and a one-day trip on September 21.  ALL buses, regardless of date or location, will leave in the morning at 6:30AM (note time change) and will leave New York at 6:00PM on Sunday.  Tickets are priced at $30 for a regular ticket and $15 for a low income ticket.
If you would like to help pay the full cost of the buses, Please make a donation through the Better Future Project donation page.

Or you can purchase through the People's Climate March organizer contacts:

  
MARCH START AND LINE-UP:

Join the Interfaith contingent by entering 58th Street from 9th Ave.  the Interfaith contingent has all of 58^th Street between 8^th and 9^th Ave.  Best subway stop is E line at 50th St and 8th Avenue. (The closest subway stop at Columbus Circle will be open although you will have to enter the block from 9th Avenue.)

Bring water, lunch, sun-block, and your own sign naming your own Community of Faith (UCC; your congregation….)  There will be porta-potties on the block.  There will be live music from the stage beginning about 10 am, and a multifaith service beginning 11:00. The whole block-full of Communities of Faith & Spirit (maybe 10,000 people) will join the larger March at approximately 1:00 or 1:30pm.

58th Street Staging Area Map - click here to view staging area map.

MARCH ROUTE:

 

AFTER THE MARCH:

Following the march there will be an interfaith service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112 Street), New York, NY at 6:00PM.  Flyer for this service: religions for the earth multifaith service invitation.pdf.  Plan to arrive at 5:00pm or earlier.  You can catch the C subway line at 34th Street that will take you to 110th Street and Central Park West which is a few blocks from the Cathedral.
 

IF YOU CANNOT COME TO NYC - ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

And if you can’t come to NYC on September 21, please circulate and sign the "Faithful Call to Address Climate Change" petition which calls on our political leaders in the United States to take a lead role in helping to craft a moral global framework for the UN climate negotiations that will culminate in Paris in 2015.  Click here to add your name to this important document. Learn more about the Faith Climate Petition at www.faithclimatepetition.org.  The website also has some information about the participation of religious communities in the People's Climate March in New York City on September 21.

If you would like to circulate a paper version of the petition at your church/congregation -- and please do! -- there are two ways to submit a list of names.  First you can go to the website and type in the signer's information one-by-one, and then mail your signed petition sheets to the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 203, Washington, DC 20002.

Try committing yourself to acts of advocacy related to the March -- letters to the editor, letters to politicians, Facebook postings, etc.  Be supportive of those you know who are going to the March -- with finances, logistics, and emotional support.
 

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MARCH MEDIA: