The United Church of Christ is on a mission to help the earth, called “Mission 4/1 Earth.”  The plan is to plan 100,000 trees, write 100,000 letters, and offer 1 million hours to the earth.  See what you can do at http://www.ucc.org/earth/

What is Mission 4/1 Earth?

ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment!  That’s Mission 4/1 Earth!

“Mission 4/1 Earth: 50 Great Days” is about boldly living Jesus’ let-your-light-shine proclamation in the Sermon on the Mount: “That they may see your good works!”  It is an opportunity to live out our faith — in unity, as one church — for the sake of our fragile planet Earth.

Launching on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013, and continuing through the great 50 days of Eastertide, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, camps and outdoor ministries, and health and human service agencies will join together in a shared mission campaign to:

• Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment.

• Collectively plant more than 100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and the UCC’s denominational partners around the world.

• Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVOCACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers.

Mission 4/1 Earth links together four significant events — Easter (March 31), Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26) and Pentecost (May 19) — for a sustained, aggressive and collective mission opportunity for the entire United Church of Christ. Together, we will inspire and aspire to what we can accomplish as ONE CHURCH.

Groups are encouraged to engage in creative local mission projects, service opportunities, educational programs, worship services, and media events.  Your innovation will spark momentum for the initiative and stir the imaginations of other UCC people, agencies, schools, and congregations.