Resources for Churches
Around the Lake Chad basin, thousands of farmers are fighting back to stop an entire ecosystem from unraveling. And we think they can win, with your congregation’s help. The resources below are here to help you become Friends of Creation, alongside churches across Canada!
(If you haven’t read about our Friends of Creation Challenge yet, start here!)

Below, you’ll find everything you need to run Friends of Creation at your church, sorted by when you’ll need it! It’s easy to pull off — and our simple guide will walk you through the steps — click here to download it now.
Check under “General Resources” for promo materials about the campaign, and then when you’re ready to plan one of your four Sundays, click the theme below (like “Climate + Water”) to start looking through available resources for that theme. And remember — you can use them as they are, adapt them to your own needs, or pair them with your own ideas and materials—whatever best helps your community respond to the call to care for creation.
We’re here to help – email churches@clwr.org today and let us know what you need!
GENERAL RESOURCES
- Click here to create the online fundraiser for your church!
- Download the video of Rev. Michael Pryse to get your congregation excited!
- Download the Milestones poster to keep track of your funding goal — COMING SOON!
- Download the Friends of Creation placemat — COMING SOON!
- Friends of Creation hymn “God, Who This World Created” by Trevor Hicks — COMING SOON!
- Download the Friends of Creation colouring page
- Use these resources to spread the word about the challenge:
- Bulletin insert
- Bulletin announcement:
Starting on [date of first Sunday], [insert your congregation’s name] will join congregations across Canada in CLWR’s Friends of Creation campaign. Over four Sundays, we’ll reflect on God’s call to steward the earth by looking at how climate intersects with food, water, peace, and local economies around Lake Chad, at the frontlines of climate change. Together, we’ll reflect, pray, and have a chance to take action to help restore land and livelihoods in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
Join us in answering God’s call to be friends of creation: clwr.org/foc-challenge - Powerpoint slide – PPT | PDF
- Download the Friends of Creation logo package
CLIMATE + WATER
Use the resources below for your Climate + Water Sunday:
- Bulletin insert
- Bulletin announcement:
This week, [insert your congregation’s name] joins with churches across Canada in lifting up Water as part of our Friends of Creation campaign. Around Lake Chad, disrupted rainfall and the shrinking lake threaten both health and livelihoods. Through CLWR, your support is helping restore access to safe, sustainable water sources.
Remember—you can help sponsor our congregation’s acres at [insert link or details]! - Powerpoint slide – PPT | PDF
- Worship resources
- Bible study
- Adult education resources
- Children and Youth resources
- Fundraising ideas
- Stories from Chad & Cameroon
- Video: Bishop Susan Johnson’s message and prayer on water from Lake Chad
CLIMATE + FOOD
Use the resources below for your Climate + Food Sunday:
- Bulletin insert
- Bulletin announcement:
Today, [insert your congregation’s name] turns to the theme of Food. Around Lake Chad, changing rainfall is threatening harvests and causing malnutrition. Your support is helping restore sustainable farming and food systems that nourish communities.
Help us care for creation—sponsor our acres at [insert link or details]! - Powerpoint slide – PPT | PDF
- Worship resources
- Bible study
- Adult education resources
- Children and Youth resources
- Fundraising ideas
- Stories from Chad & Cameroon
- Video: Bishop Susan Johnson’s message and prayer on food from Lake Chad
CLIMATE + ECONOMY
Use the resources below for your Climate + Economy Sunday:
- Bulletin insert
- Bulletin announcement:
This week, [insert your congregation’s name] reflects on Climate + Economy—how climate change is unraveling traditional livelihoods around Lake Chad. With your help, CLWR is supporting training, small businesses, and women’s cooperatives to rebuild local economies.
Help us care for creation—sponsor our acres at [insert link or details]! - Powerpoint slide – PPT | PDF
- Worship resources
- Bible study
- Adult education resources
- Children and Youth resources
- Fundraising ideas
- Stories from Chad & Cameroon
- Video: Bishop Susan Johnson’s message and prayer on economies from Lake Chad
CLIMATE + PEACE
Use the resources below for your Climate + Peace Sunday:
- Bulletin insert
- Bulletin announcement:
This Sunday, [insert your congregation’s name] is focusing on Peace in our Friends of Creation journey. As climate change fuels new tensions around shrinking resources in places like Lake Chad, your support helps build peace through restoration and reconciliation.
Remember—you can help sponsor our congregation’s acres at [insert link or details]! - Powerpoint slide – PPT | PDF
- Worship resources
- Bible study
- Adult education resources
- Children and Youth resources
- Fundraising ideas
- Stories from Chad & Cameroon
- Video: Bishop Susan Johnson’s message and prayer on peace from Lake Chad
ACTION ITEMS
As part of the Friends of Creation Challenge, your congregation is invited to choose one action that helps care for creation in your everyday life. You can pick something from the list below—or come up with your own! Whether it’s cutting down on food waste, using less energy, or supporting local farmers, every small step makes a difference. Don’t forget to document your action—photos, videos, testimonials—and share the stories with us so we can celebrate your impact and inspire others! (Click here to download a PDF of this list)
Around the church
- Start a “Green Team” at church
Gather a small group to look at your congregation’s impact on creation! - Plant something together
Grow herbs, vegetables, or trees as a congregation, either at church or in members’ homes. Connect this to themes of resilience and nourishment. - Climate Justice bulletin board or social media campaign
Share short stories, Bible verses, or facts from the Lake Chad region each week during the challenge. - Car-Free Sunday (or Carpool Week)
Have a Sunday where members are encouraged to walk, bike, take transit, or ride-share! - Become a Greening Faith Community
ELCIC congregations are invited to register as a Greening Faith Community. You’ll get support to identify annual stewardship of creation goals and to encourage each other in seeking climate justice. - Local food potluck
Host a community meal using locally grown or seasonal ingredients and use it as an opportunity to talk about food justice and climate – and/or, do a meatless potluck! - Raise your voices together
Pick a day to write letters or postcards together to your MP or other government officials, expressing your support for climate justice! - Deepen your learning
Host an ongoing Bible study, book club – we can provide recommendations!
At home
- Healthy home habits
Provide a list and let everyone pick one adjustment to start with at home — like shorter showers, cold-water laundry, hang-drying laundry, composting, or powering down screens earlier in the evening! - Green Your Garden
Avoid chemical pesticides or fertilizers; plant bee-friendly flowers or herbs. - Start Composting
Try composting kitchen scraps at home—or team up with someone who already does. - Zero Food Waste Challenge
Encourage members to plan meals to use up leftovers and compost food scraps if possible. - Meatless Mondays (or another plant-based meal day)
Encourage members to eat one vegetarian meal a week as a way to reduce emissions linked to meat production.
Around the community
- Support local farmers!
Buy eggs, honey, or produce from a nearby farm or co-op at least once during the challenge – or plan a congregational trip to a farmers’ market! - Congregational clean-up day
Organize a community litter pickup near your church, a park, or a local waterway. - Prayer walk for creation
Organize a walk around your neighbourhood or church grounds to pray for people and ecosystems affected by climate change—in your community, and around Lake Chad.
Please note: Congregations are responsible for ensuring all activities follow local laws, safety guidelines, and denominational policies. This includes getting any needed licenses (e.g. for movies, raffles), following child and youth protection protocols, respecting copyright, and confirming insurance coverage. When in doubt, check with your church leadership or local authorities.