In late October, VTIPL’s Board of Directors gathered at All Souls Interfaith Gathering’s gorgeous location in Shelburne overlooking Lake Champlain to reflect on the past year’s work and to chart plans for 2024. While considering a lengthy list of projects, in-person and virtual events, activities, and partnerships, we share news of two of VTIPL’s signature activities on which we’re already focusing.
Save-the-date for Faith Climate Action Lobby Day, on February 28, 2024. VTIPL will again participate in a Faith Climate Action Day of activities at the Statehouse in Montpelier. Please plan to join us if you can when we will reiterate to our state legislators that communities and people of faith and conscience demand action now to address the urgent climate crisis. In 2023, we held our second Faith Climate Action Day, after a first event in February 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from making it an annual lobby day. Faith Climate Action Day is a collaboration with our partner organizations Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA) which has recently identified climate as a priority issue for the organization, Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Vermont Conservation Voters, and others.
Stay tuned for news about an in-person Celebrating Sacred Waters gathering later next year. During our recent Rock Point-based Equinox Lament and Celebration of Earth, a main comment from participants was how valuable it is to actually BE together, especially coming together in the natural world that we cherish and are dedicated to protecting. Celebrating Sacred Waters is an answer to that call. We also hope to have other in-person gatherings routinely and outdoors as possible and appropriate. We need each other, and we need the inspiration and community of nature and our sacred Mother Earth.