Beyond Coal Rally - St Luke's UMC is Letter N

                  INVISIBLE

Outside my window, a child plays,

Struggling to take breath

The light green leaves, curl and fall

A fish flops on the river edge

Nearby a coal plant belches smoke

And I sit idly by.

On April 15, 2013 a group from St. Luke’s UMC under the leadership of Betty Brandt did not sit idly by, but joined several other Green Congregations, concerned citizens, and The Sierra Club to protest against Indiana Power and Light’s continued pollution of Central Indiana.  IPL belches dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and mercury from its Harding Street plant.  The Beyond Coal Campaign is asking IPL to invest in clean energy, like wind and solar, rather than raise customer rates to refurbish its antiquated plant.  Our enthusiastic group of recently enlisted “social activists” included a participant who had witnessed  mountain top mining destroying the beauty of West Virginia hilltops and a veteran of a citizen/physician blocked Pet Coke plant in Texas.  All agreed it felt simply grand to stand up and be counted, even when it felt like David against Goliath.  Indianapolis is a beautiful city, and it has the potential to be world class with cleaner air and sparkling rivers.  As Christians we are called to be stewards of this wondrous and fragile creation. As stewards it requires our attention, our thoughtful reflection, and action.