The preacher stood wild-eyed before his flock, swaying to a gospel choir. His pompadour stood tall, his voice was thunderous, and his all white suit perfectly matched the heeled white loafers he was wearing on his feet. Behind them hung a 14-foot high photo of Earth, the very reason this preacher, choir and congregants had gathered in a converted storefront in Manhattan’s East Village one Sunday in July. “We’re all aware at some level in our bodies that the Earth is off the charts,” Mr. Talen intoned to the 70 or so people there. “We are living inside of the time right now that they have been warning us about.”

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Persons: pompadour, Billy Talen, “, ” Mr, Talen intoned, ” Locations: Manhattan’s