Resources for Studies

Sessions One through Six of Group Study

Lenten Carbon Fast 2010, Calendar of Activities: This creative compilation of a number of resources is a calendar with specific faith-based activities during the Lenten “Carbon Fast.”  It serves as a “wake-up call” each day to be mindful o the ways our daily choices impact others, especially those living in violence, poverty, disease and environmental degradation.  Print one copy of the 2-sided 8xll” sheet for each participant; print it as a bulletin insert for Lenten Sunday services; e-send it to your networks. Download a copy. (Carbon Fast Calendar is used with permission of the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light organization. Thanks to Joelle Novey, www.gwipl.org.)

Resources shared in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Stories of Hope: Video clips of hope-filled stories of people of faith participating in action to renew God’s creation in their community, nation or  world (from UMTV through YouTube).

Set up your computer or laptop, sign on to the internet, and go to these links to view the short clips as in your study group:

Haiti Children’s Hospital, 2:26.

Adult AIDS Health Care, 2:22.

Teen Fast Helps Hungry, 1:39.

Hope Floats After Katrina, 1:40.

Student Civil Rights Tour, 2:01.

Take Action-Join A Prophet-Driven People in a Profit-Driven Economy Campaign:  ”The most recent economic crisis laid bare yet again the failures of our current system — a system that elevates profit above the needs of individuals, communities, and God’s good creation.

“As Christ’s followers we are called to transform the world and proclaim a new order centered on the wisdom of the prophets, not the false idols of the market.

“… The painful truth is that many of our sisters and brothers were suffering long before the financial crisis became the top news story. They are likely to continue suffering long after economists and politicians proclaim a recovery unless we act now.  Join our “prophet driven” campaign to put those on the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda.”  Ask participants to visit this site and review the new campaign’s information before next session (www.umc-gbcs.org, click on “I am Prophet Driven” button on the home page).

Resource for Centering or Closing: Top Ten Photos of 2009. Open your group session, workshop or discussion viewing these top photos of United Methodist News Service from 2009 on your computer or laptop so all can view it.  The show has a total of 51 slides from around the world-just a few minutes to view.

Share your own resources with other study groups around the world through this site at Contact Us.