Who is organizing the climate pilgrimage for transformation? Our group of six Quakers includes Wendy, Peter, Minga, Meg, John, Jay and Brian. We live across New England- we come from NH, ME, VT, CT and MA. We are a mix of ages and sexes. We are all passionate at living our lives by listening to the Creator of all and pulling away from destructive lifestyles. We want to limit the unfair impact of climate catastrophe—Yes. And we want to do it not by protesting the horrible inactions of the new regime. Instead of protest, we want to create a liveable future which encourages others to live fully. We want to build a justice movement, we want to model a new reign of justice. We want to do, not just talk

Quakers (also called Friends) are a unique religious group, but we’re not as radical as we imagine we are. We love pot-lucks, committees and silence. We don’t worship silence but we do appreciate the beauty of non-verbal communication. We abhor violence, and thus Friends refuse to participate in war or any physical coercion. Quakers have Sunday worship based in silence because we’ve found that’s a creative way to hear from our God who doesn’t always speak in words. We want to respect all the ways Spirit communicates to us and it’s not always in the English language. For the pilgrimage we foresee periods of quiet and daily worship

So we six (with others) have been meeting since August 2016. We have prayed and eaten and talked every month.  What ways does God want us to witness to creation without human’s violence to our earth? John works with trade unions and forms coalitions to build green energy government jobs. Peter is a musician who creates hope through group singing and works to deepen Quaker faith through writing and workshops. Brian is a plant ecologist  writing ecology and climate change curriculum, and a Friends minister and author. Meg is a medical resident and organized a climate pilgrimage in 2015. Wendy is a high school art teacher and a youth minister active in environmental and racial justice . Minga is a family therapist and leads conflict transformation classes in prisons. Jay works as a full-time activist to address climate disaster and travels doing ministry among New England Quakers.

Our work for the last month was putting together the route. We have a basic idea of food and some thoughts of a creative action during the pilgrimage. We are praying around how do we work together, our agreements with each other, as we walk. What’s Spirit asking of us as creation groans with the toxins and warming of the seas? What’s most important in order to lift up hope and to help lead us into a sustainable future? Your prayers and thoughts are welcome here.

Of angels God says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7

With anticipation, Minga