Scott Hardin-Nieri

Join us for One Cello One Planet, a concert series that raises awareness for creation care action. All proceeds go to support the work of the Creation Care Alliance.
Judith Glixon, a former Asheville resident and principle cellist with the Asheville Symphony and the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, returns to WNC to present a one-hour solo-cello concert about the urgency of climate change. The music of J. S. Bach (Unaccompanied Suites #1 & 3), Benjamin Britten (final movement of Suite for Cello, Op.72), Ravel and a recent composition by Daniel Crawford will take listeners through an abridged history of the human race (with an emphasis on Western civilization) from its beginning until today. Ticket sales for the concert will support the work that the Creation Care Alliance does to bring practical and hopeful solutions to our congregations and broader secular communities by engaging hearts and minds through inspiration, education, service, and advocacy. The Creation Care Alliance is a program of MountainTrue, WNC's champion for clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities.

Designed with creation care volunteers and clergy in mind, this retreat allows you to spend a day with a theologian, a climate scientist, a forest biologist, and local colleagues and pastoral innovators. Whether you're new to creation care or a long-time advocate, you'll gain new language and tools to inspire your congregation to care for the environment, interwoven with space for rest, relationship, prayer and good food. 

Although we are unable to gather in person this year, we are excited to host a virtual Earth Day Vigil in celebration of the 50th Anniversery of Earth Day. The vigil will include readings, prayers, songs, and information about creation care from speakers from throughout Western North Carolina. Following the vigil, we will host a "reception" where we invite you to grab your dinner or favorite beverage and join us for a discussion and reflection.

Join us to experience what it's like to negotiate a climate deal to address one of the greatest human and environmental challenges of this century. The Climate Action Simulation is a highly interactive, role-playing game. It uses the En-ROADS simulation model to engage a wide range of participants in exploring key technology and policy solutions for addressing climate change. The game is conducted as a simulated emergency summit organized by the United Nations that convenes global stakeholders. In the game, it's our job to establish a concrete plan that limits global warming to Paris Agreement goals. Feel free to participate as an individual or invite your congregation's creation care team.

Join NC Interfaith Power and Light, Mountaintrue and the Creation Care Alliance on Thursday, May 28 as momentum continues to build in Asheville area faith communities who are coming together to care for the rivers, air, forests and our neighbors in Western North Carolina. Learn from congregational stories, experts, and congregational and community leaders as we explore ways for faith communities to unleash the power of the sun

The Creation Care Alliance is proud to co-sponsor, along with Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, this presentation by Dr. David Orr, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies & Politics at Oberlin College. Dr. Orr will be presenting a lecture about the moral imperative to restore our democracy as well as the urgency of environmental stewardship. Dr. Orr writes: "The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing crisis of race in America are both an indictment and a preview of what's coming in a hotter, more divided world with vast economic inequities. Both are symptoms of the tragic failure of democratic institutions."

Thursday, January 28 - Friday, January 29 with morning and afternoon Zoom sessions each day. Our time together will include some connection with like minded neighbors, lay leaders and clergy, prayer and ritual, stories of creation care and resilience from congregations practicing right relationship and practical steps for caring for our neighbors and the earth. We will include time for regionally based brainstorming and discussion.

This easy-to-moderate trail climbs one mile through the lovely mountain forest and opens up onto a large grassy field at the top. This spectacular summit will be the site for some guided reflection before looping back down the mountain. MountainTrue's Ecologist & Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, will offer some ecological insights along the hike. Once we reach the top of the Mountain Creation Care Alliance director Scott Hardin-Nieri, will provide some spiritual context around caring for our ecological neighbors.

Although we are unable to gather in person this year, we are excited to host a virtual Earth Day Vigil over Zoom in celebration of Earth Day! The vigil will be focused on the idea of loving people and place and will include readings, prayers, songs, and information about creation care from speakers from throughout Western North Carolina. The vigil will run from 6-7:15 pm and will include regional breakout rooms that will begin directly after the Vigil ends.