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Earth Stewards Team
Activities
The Earth Stewards Team was formed at First
Church in spring 2009 to evaluate how church activities affect
the environment and what might be done to make a smaller impact.
Team members have had to do a bit of research to learn more
about recycling, energy and water conservation, reducing carbons
in the atmosphere (greenhouse gases), composting, organic foods,
and other issues related to eco-friendly living.
Some of our projects:
Walk, bike or carpool to church on the
first Sunday of each month. The team calls this effort
“Commune with Nature on Communion Sundays.” It’s a fun way
to leave your gas-guzzler at home and commune with nature
and/or friends.
Kitchen improvements Recycling bins
have been installed in the kitchen. Use of disposable plates
and utensils has been reduced and we’ve gone back to
old-fashioned dishwashing. We discovered in our research
that due to the design of most landfills, even so-called
compostable plates take years to biodegrade.
Recycling Office paper and aluminum
soda cans are being recycled. Plans call for building an
attractive wooden recycling receptacle to be placed in the
parlor for holding aluminum cans, used worship bulletins and
other items. (Until the receptacle is constructed, feel free
to place your bulletins in the cardboard box in the parlor.)
Awareness Tips on practicing a more
eco-friendly lifestyle have been added to the Skylines
newsletter. Pastor Julie is supporting Earth Stewardship
efforts through reminders in the Pastor’s Pen column.
Some of the things
we’ve talked about that
haven’t come to pass - yet:
The Three R’s. How about a Wednesday
night class devoted to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?
Repurpose Rendezvous. People could
bring used but perfectly good items to swap in a type of
church members’ flea market.
Local Foods Supper. The team would
host a Wednesday night dinner using only items that were
produced locally.
A Community Garden. The church could
help develop a vegetable garden for use by community
members.
Do you have ideas about how we can be
better stewards of the earth? Want to help? The team is open to
any and all suggestions. Want to join us? Contact any committee
member: Dianne Ranck, Amy Jantzen, Susan Gillin, Jim White or
Tracy Carlson.
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