Local Pastor Wins First Place In The 2012 “Earth Words”

St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ, Oskaloosa Iowa

Rev. Liz Colton, Pastor of St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ in Oskaloosa is the first place winner of the 2012 “Earth Words” Sermon Contest, which was sponsored by Iowa Interfaith Power & Light and held in conjunction with a national “Preach-In” the weekend of February 10-12, 2012. This event was an opportunity for faith leaders of all religious traditions to remember their connection to the Earth and to inspire their congregations to faithful action on
environmental stewardship. Its goals were to encourage excellence in preaching in the area of caring for creation or earth stewardship, and to motivate faith communities to become more engaged in environmental
stewardship.

The Church’s congregation has committed to faithful action on environmental stewardship as one of its mission priorities. It provides opportunities for recycling and no longer uses paper or plastic products for church events.

Interfaith Power & Light is an organization that is a joint response of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith communities to Climate Change. It works to protect creation and safeguard society’s most vulnerable by providing education about global warming, helping individuals and congregations to reduce their carbon footprints, and advocating for sustainable energy.

As the winner of the Ray Heinicke Award for Excellence in Preaching, named in honor of one of Iowa IPL’s founders and visionaries, Rev. Colton will receive carbon offsets in the form of Oneota Tags, and theological resources on Earth stewardship. Her sermon “If We Choose,” based on Mark 1:40-45, is available at Copies are also
available at the church.