Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Earth Day in September…well, yes, every day

Earth Day in September…well, yes, every day

Last updated on: October 2, 2025 at 4:22 am by Ann Trip

0 Comments

Earth Day in September…well, yes, every day 2025-10-02T04:22:53+00:00 Ann Trip

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Earth Day

IMAGE CREATED BY SCOTT MAXWELL LUMAXART

I have been saying this for at least 10 years now that every day is Earth Day. Finally, someone else figured it out too. On Sunday, Sept. 21, while many Pagans were gathering for Mabon rituals, we were also celebrating Sun Day.

The two day event—Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday Sept. 21, was held basically to show people better ways to take care of Mother Earth. On day one, there was a Clean Energy Fair with speakers, information tables and exhibits. Those who partook went on a house tour of homes that have solar panels and other sustainable energy solutions. On Sunday morning, many congregations held worship services in line with the two day event. The event ended with a Renew Your Energy Dance Party.

Many members of the UU Congregation at Montclair, NJ’s R.R.R. Climate Workgroup joined in on the event planning. Our initials stand for Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but we are striving to limit recycling.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, UU Faith Action New Jersey is holding their Fall Issues Conference: Meet the Moment. I’m attending this and will be joining in on their breakout session on Environmental Justice.

Our current administration has put us backwards in our efforts to take care of Mother Earth; reversing Environmental Justice laws, and opening doors for polluters.

Just this year, 2025, our president reversed many environmental laws that were already set in place. For starters, America pulled out of the Paris Agreement, which sets goals for reducing greenhouse emissions. Additionally, regulations on fossil fuels have been gutted and American producers are instructed to provide more. If that isn’t bad enough, they revoked a 1994 executive order. This dead order made environmental justice part of America’s mission and canceled all related programs. Even car emission standards have changed for the worse. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Reasons like these are why I joined our congregation’s R.R.R Climate Workgroup. As a Pagan and especially as a leader in Sacred Wheel CUUPs, I have to do my part. The direction we are going is so very wrong. I will keep fighting this, no matter what. I intend to get all the members in my CUUPs group actively involved with the R.R.R. group.

One thing I learned is it is better for the environment to use glass and reuse it than use plastic. Even if it is not single use, plastic ends up in our bodies. Microplastics are easily broken down, digested and end up in our blood stream and organs. It’s estimated that Americans already carry a credit card’s worth of microplastics in their bodies.

Earth Day

PHOTO BY THE NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force dumped prescription drugs to be incinerated at the Covanta Essex Resource Recovery Facility during Operation Take Back New Jersey in Newark, N.J., Oct. 31, 2017.

Oh, and the paper straws we receive at restaurants are better than the plastic ones which are not recyclable. Which reminds me, when you order takeout, remind them that you don’t need nor want their plastic utensils. These, too, are not recyclable. They just end up in the incinerator like the one near me in Newark, New Jersey or a landfill. Don’t even get me going on the harmful effects of the incinerators. Just one point on this, a study showed how children diagnosed with asthma increased significantly near the one in Newark, New Jersey.

This planet isn’t ours, it isn’t our children’s, it’s all for the future generations. We need to do our part so that it is here and healthy for many, many more years.

There are various things that we can do to make sure that this happens. For starters, let’s cut back on what we know is harmful. Then spread the word, tell your non-Pagan friends and family members. Do all you can to make sure that you are not adding to the problem.

Compost everything and anything possible. If you are near a place offering to take chicken and meat bones, do it. Even if it’s a small fee, see if you can buddy up with someone. All my vegetables and produce scraps go into my garden. The same with the coffee grinds and yes, tea bags. If you are unaware, most tea bags no longer have a staple holding the tag to the string.

If we do our part, chances are that it will catch on. Hopefully, the next administration not only goes back to the way things were, but makes even greater strides. We need to make up for this lost time. We must not live on hope and prayers though. Doing is the only way. If we do, others might follow. That is the only hope I can bank on.

Earth Day

PHOTO BY PATRICK Q Mason Jars

So, start using less plastic, recycle glass, aluminum, steel, and tin. Reuse what you can, especially glass jars. Oh, and don’t toss something out in the trash because it broke, find someone to repair it. In Glen Ridge, the next town over from Montclair, offers a Repair Cafe every so often. They have people who are able to, volunteer to fix appliances, lamps and such for free. They do this and in return the community grows closer together. Another service offered there includes bike tune-ups. Might as well, so you have your bicycle in top shape and (if able to) ride it to work instead of drive.

So many ways that we can do our part and save the planet for future generations.

There is no reason to wait until April to celebrate Earth Day, take care of and spread the word. As always, let’s never forget that every day is Earth Day.

It’s Earth Day again; a time to reflect on our actions

Spiritual Practice

Climate Justice

Environmental Justice

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

UU Faith Action

Previous Post

August 31, 2025

Where I am from and where I am now

Next Post

October 30, 2025 Samhain — three aspects; one holiday and...Halloween

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"I was half expecting to hear you were called to Athena with that owl! I, ..."

Lady_Ashmire

When I first knew I was ..."

"I usually try to repair things where possible before replacing.I’m reasonably handy with it, but ..."

kenofken

Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot (compost) and ..."

"It’s not clear to me why they could not hold both at the same time ..."

kenofken

Changes — as UU Pagans, lets ..."

"Yes, the UU religion does not have a Creed. Therefore, the seven principles and six ..."

Ann Trip

Changes — as UU Pagans, lets ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz