This event offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of MassIPL, WCCEJ, and our many co-sponsors:

350 Central Massachusetts 
Boundless Way Zen Temple 
Boston Catholic Climate Movement 
Christian Community Church 
CREW: Communities Responding to Extreme Weather 
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts 
First Congregational Church in Worcester 
First Unitarian Church of Worcester 
Hadwen Park Congregational Church 
Iglesia Roca de Salvacion 
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action 
Jewish Climate Action Network

Multi-faith Worship Service:

Approximately 60 people gathered at First Unitarian Church of Worcester on October 16th, with scores more online, for an inspiring and spirited multi-faith worship service organized by Rev. Fred Small.

Combining prayer, song, meditation, reflections from many traditions and a rousing sermon by Rev. Vernon Walker who exhorted, "Climate Change is real. Let's all work together for climate justice!" Our sung reply: "Yes, we can!"

Check out the video recording of the service livestream at the thumbnail video below.

(Order of Service in the YouTube description)

Worship Leaders, assembled above, left to right:

Rabbi Valeri Cohen, Temple Emanuel Sinai, Worcester
Rev. Sarah Stewart, Minister, First Unitarian Church of Worcester
Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director, CREW (Communities Responding to Extreme Weather)
Athene Wilson, Vocals
Rev. Fred Small, Director of Faith Action, Mass Interfaith Power & Light
Rev. Dr. Marcus Hill, Ass't Chaplain to Protestant Students and Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) Ministry, Holy Cross College
Preeta Banerjee, Hindu Chaplain, Tufts University
Rollins Ross, keyboard
Brett Maguire, organ
Michael Herzog, Dharma Holder, Boundless Way Zen Temple

Following the service, in person attendees enjoyed refreshments and four different one-hour workshop options to help build skills and engagement for climate action and resilience.

Jim Nail, President of MassIPL, presented on Charting a Path to Net Zero for houses of worship and introduced MassIPL’s 24 Questions of Environmental Stewardship that could guide your efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Click to view Powerpoint Presentation.

Fred Small, MassIPL’s Director of Faith Action, and Margot Barnet of Worcester Congregations for Climate & Environmental Justice led a session modeling how to conduct a one-on-one meeting, the building block of community organizing.

Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director of CREW, presented on why climate change is the greatest existential threat to our communities, the need for climate resilience hubs to prepare for the threats of climate change, and how your faith community can become involved in building a climate resilience Hub in your community. Click to view Powerpoint Presentation.

Local activists from 350 Central Mass, Mothers Out Front Worcester, and Worcester Congregations for Climate & Environmental Justice discussed the most effective things their groups have done or are planning to do to advance climate policy at the local level.