[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs press release] Online resources, lesson plans for children, and bulletin inserts are among the items assembled by The Episcopal Church for understanding and honoring Earth Day, April 22 by congregations and individuals.

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 for awareness, understanding and support of the environment.  Since that time, it has been an annual event, celebrated worldwide on April 22.

Among the resources:

• A bulletin insert on Earth Day, ideal for congregational use, is located here.

• Creation Justice Ministries, centering on Care for God’s Creatures, is here and includes ideas for hosting an Earth Day Sunday.

• Earth Day Sunday with information about biodiversity and faith through Creation Justice Ministry’s #EarthDaySunday Resource is here.

• Earth our Garden Home: Creation Care Lessons for Children and Wild Faith: A Creation Care Curriculum for Youth a curricula ideal for summer and fall, are available here.  Developed by Cynthia Coe of the Diocese of East Tennessee, an Episcopal Church Mark V fellow, the curricula are ideal for Sunday school and teen discussion groups.

• Learn about Environmental issues and the Anglican Communion through a video from Episcopal News Service here

• Receive information about The Episcopal Church’s environmental advocacy efforts through the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) here

For more information, contact Jayce Hafner, Episcopal Church Domestic Policy Analyst.