In 1998, our church committed to a ministry of environmental stewardship and justice by becoming an Environmental Justice Covenant Congregation. A committee was formed to raise awareness of environmental issues and provide opportunities for the congregation to participate in the healing and reconciling of all creation. Read more about the United Methodist position on environmental justice here.
Some of our programs include:
- A Comprehensive Recycling Program
- Recycling bins are located throughout the building for recycling paper, cans, plastic, and styrofoam. Click here for guidelines and location.
- Sunday Coffee Fellowship - Juice cups are recycled, and committee members wash coffee mugs to reduce use of disposable cups.
- We promote dates and locations of Electronic Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Days.
- An Annual Environmental Justice Worship Service, designed to honor God's magnificent creation, usually held on Earth Sunday
- Promoting Fair Trade through the sale of Equal Exchange coffee, tea, baking cocoa and chocolate bars, after the 10:15 worship service. This ongoing fundraiser provides significant support to the Children's Flower Garden, planted with annuals every May.
- Annual flower garden (planted by the children of the church) at the Madison Street entrance.
- Native Wildflower Garden
- Installed in 2003 on the northwest corner of the property to convey the wonder and interconnectedness of nature
- Twenty different species of native plants are identified along a flagstone path
- Committee members maintain the garden with periodic new plantings, weeding, mulching and pruning.
- Speakers/Presentations throughout the year on topics such as: global warming, public lands at risk, religious & scientific perspectives on the environment, sustainable agriculture, and more.
- Annual fundraiser to support expenses associated with environmental education, recycling, and the children's flower garden.