PEC Joins March for the Climate

People’s Climate March 2017


Washington, DC

Rick and I arrived at the faith gathering spot for the march, just in front of our nation's Capital, via the Metro. The array of groups in the faith section was broad and it was heartening to see so many people of all faiths together - gathering, meeting old friends and making new ones. There were Indigenous Peoples, Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, secular humanists, pagans who were drumming, chanting and enthusiastically dancing (interestingly assembled next to the Baptists) and more. Amazing to realize we were all committed to advocating for the earth and God’s creation through the lens of our belief.

       

 We lined up on 3rd St about 10:30 AM, holding the PEC banner to gather others and wait for the march to begin at 11:00. The numbers in attendance were such that the faith section did not actually start moving until 12:30 PM!

Although they estimated over 200,000 individuals were walking, it seemed just as many were watching from the sidewalks and rooftops of many of the buildings we walked by. We carried the banner high through the streets of Washington DC. As we walked up Pennsylvania Avenue we circled the White House and ended our walk about 3:30 PM at the Washington Monument.
 


One moving event we experienced happened at 2:00 PM as the marchers circled the White House. Everyone sat down in the street in silence. We all then executed a heartbeat, for over a minute, to symbolize mother earth’s beating heart. The heartbeat echoed through the silence. The march then continued as all arose and shouted our call to care for the environment.
 


Attending and participating gives us hope that we are not the only ones in this fight and that together we honor God’s creation and WILL make a difference!
 


Jo and Rick Randolph    


Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church


Overland Park, KS