Greening the Church

Here is an article I wrote for our Lenten newsletter at First Presbyterian in Sarasota, It is a project that was facilitated by our Peace and Justice committee. I hope it will give others ideas for how we can as congregations be better stewards of the creation and how we can help each other recognize the importance of being Green.

Green Lent

During Lent this year we are emphasizing the responsibilities we have to the creation. We are calling this Lenten period "Green Lent" and will be offering opportunities to develop and take part in some new spiritual disciplines relating to caring for the creation. Each Sunday in Lent we will focus on a different aspect of being "Green".

Lent is a time for taking things on and giving things up. By placing an emphasis on creation care during the Lenten period, we are urging members of FPC to take on a practice or spiritual discipline that will make us more aware of our relationship with God's creation. We are highlighting different aspects of creation care each week during lent.

Here is a listing of the themes for each Sunday during "Green Lent" along with some suggestions for practices we might take on.

March 1
Reduce
Use your own grocery bags to reduce the usage of plastic and paper bags
Replace current light bulbs as they burn out with Compact Fluorescent bulbs or LED bulbs
Turn off Lights and Electronic Equipment when not in use

March 8
Recycle
Recycle Compact Fluorescent Bulbs when they burn out. Bins will be available at the church
Recycle Paper and Plastic
Complete the recycling flow by purchasing products made from recycled material

March 15
Buy Local
Food
Join a Coop and buy local organic produce
Ask for more local selection in the foods you buy from the super market

March 22
Reuse
The church will start using ceramic coffee mugs for fellowship events
Cut out the use of disposable plates and utensils
Use cloth napkins instead of Paper

March 29
Fair Trade/Economic Choices
Buy Fair Trade Coffee, Cocoa, and Olive Oil at church
Buy gifts from Ten Thousand Villages or other merchants that feature fair trade items

April 5
Love the Earth
Make a pledge to do something to change your lifestyle that will enhance God's creation

As we go through this Lenten period together consider trying some of the practices that will be offered and let's keep them going through lent and beyond in order to fulfill the commission given to us by God in the Garden of Eden.

God blessed them (humankind), and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it. And have dominion over…every living thing that moves upon the earth." Gen 1:28

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it….. Gen 2:15

God saw that his creation was good in every way and put man in the garden to make sure that it stayed that way. In Genesis we are called to do four things: Replenish the Earth, Subdue the Earth, Dress till and keep the Earth and have Dominion over the Earth. (Gen 1:28 and Gen 2:15).

Dominion over every living thing means that God has decreed that responsibility for the management and preservation of God's creation belongs to humankind. We are made in God the creator's image and in that sense co-creators of the earth, dominion means that we are required to continue the creation in a way pleasing to the Owner of all things.

Creator God, we know that we belong to you and are part of your wonderful creation. We know that nothing in creation belongs to us, everything we see and smell and touch is wholly yours and is entrusted to our care. Grant us wisdom to be faithful stewards of your gift to us. Amen.