United Church in Tallahassee

The Mennonite Weekly Review+ reports that instead of giving up chocolate or TV for Lent, some churches in the Harrisonburg, Virginia, area have pledged to use less fossil fuel.

The Less Oil for Lent campaign is intended to show concern for both the Iraq war and climate change and to call attention to the U.S. addiction to oil. 

Some suggestions they give for consuming less oil are to walk or ride a bike to church; reduce or eliminate the consumption of meat, which requires more oil to produce than grain; turn down the hot water heater to 115 degrees Fahrenheit; and use candles instead of electric lights on Sunday.

Our dependence on oil is real.  To give up chocolate for 40 days is hard; to reduce consumption of fossil fuels for 40 days is really hard.  Let’s share the ways we can stop our dependence on oil.

  +Jan. 30, 2008, cited Christian Century