How Green is Your Church? For Greening Your Corner of the CRC Ideas Projects Inspiration…
Is God green? God is first known as creator (Gen 1) all of creation is “very good.” “The earth is the Lord’s…” (Ps 24) God covenants with all creation (Gen 9) God intends to renew the earth – our future is earthy (Rev 22) YES
Should Christians be green? Humans are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26). We reflect that image when we are earthkeepers. We are called to “serve” (‘abad) and “keep” (shamar [care for, guard; same root for keep commandments]) (Gen. 2:15). But what about that dominion? (Gen 1:28) YES
Does the CRC want to be green? “By sovereign appointment we are earthkeepers and caretakers: loving our neighbor, tending the creation, and meeting our needs. God uses our skills in the unfolding and well-being of his world.” (Contemporary Testimony, par. 10). YES
Does the CRC want to be green? AArticle 38, Synod ““[No need for] further analysis regarding the extent and often uncritical use of the finite resources provided by God through the earth. ““…it is clear that we are only beginning to understand the consequences of maintaining the increasing consumption of finite resources and our waste disposal.” ““Through Jesus Christ, we are reconciled not only to the Father, but to our neighbor and to creation.”
Why go green? It can save money It is a good witness It helps the poor
Why go green? Your kids won’t hate you You’ll protect your health You’ll draw nearer to God
Where do we begin? Green Grant 2008 ideas… WORSHIP FELLOWSHIP BUILDING and GROUNDS OUTREACH HABITS EDUCATION ADVOCACY
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy WORSHIP Sermon series, liturgy, music (Campus Chapel, Ann Arbor) Meeting outdoors, unplugged (Watershed, Traverse City) “Green Sunday” (Monroe Community, Grand Rapids) Worship
FellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy FELLOWSHIP Canning (Trinity, Grandville) EcoTeam (Friendship, Byron Center MI) Group Posters (Watershed, Traverse City MI) Sewing bee for cloth grocery bags (Covenant, Sioux Center IA) Fellowship
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit (Eastern Ave, Grand Rapids) Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit Native plants, efficient irrigation (Palm Lane, Arizona) Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit Native plants, efficient irrigation Meeting in public places (Crosswinds Community Church) Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit Native plants, efficient irrigation Meeting in public places Programmable thermostats (Calvary, Wyoming MI) Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit Native plants, efficient irrigation Meeting in public places Programmable thermostats Rain garden (Silver Spring, MD) WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy BUILDING and GROUNDS Energy audit Native plants, efficient irrigation Meeting in public places Programmable thermostats Rain garden Dual-flush toilets, natural ventilation (Bellevue, Lynden) Buildings and Grounds
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden (Third CRC, Lynden WA) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden Providing recycling service for worshippers who can’t recycle at home (Monroe Community, Grand Rapids) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden Providing recycling Lightbulbs for Epiphany (Eastern Ave, Grand Rapids) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden Providing recycling Lightbulbs for Epiphany SERVE project (Friendship, Byron Center MI) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden Providing recycling Lightbulbs for Epiphany SERVE project VBS kids decorated coffee mugs (Boston Square, Grand Rapids) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy OUTREACH Community garden Providing recycling Lightbulbs for Epiphany SERVE project VBS mugs Electronics recycling drive (Covenant, Sioux Center IA) Outreach
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting (Third, Lynden WA) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam (New Community Newaygo) WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam Newsletters on / facebook (Monroe Community, Grand Rapids) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam Newsletters on / Facebook People bring mugs, drink fair trade coffee (Crossroads, CA) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam Newsletters on / Facebook Mugs, fair trade Green cleaning products (Bellevue, WA) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam Newsletters on / Facebook mugs, fair trade Green cleaning Ink cartridge recycle (Roosevelt, Grand Rapids) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy HABITS Composting No more styrofoam Newsletters on / Facebook mugs, fair trade Green cleaning Ink cartridge recycle Reusable shopping bag challenge (Boston Square, Grand Rapids) Habits
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair (Calvary Wyoming) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class (Silver Spring) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog - (Campus Chapel, Ann Arbor) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog Bulletin / newsletter tips (Crossroads) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog Bulletin / newsletter tips Earthwise study (Bellevue) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog Bulletin / newsletter tips Earthwise study Deacon’s stewardship statement (Bellevue) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog Bulletin / newsletter tips Earthwise study Deacon’s stewardship statement Tutorials: beekeeping, worm composting, native planting (Covenant, Sioux Center) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy EDUCATION Fair Trade Fair Adult Sunday school class Blog Bulletin / newsletter tips Earthwise study Deacon’s stewardship statement Tutorials: beekeeping, worm composting, native planting Creation Care Camp (Covenant, Sioux Center) Education
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy ADVOCACY Advocacy
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy ADVOCACY “Step It Up 2007” (Campus Chapel, Ann Arbor) Advocacy
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy ADVOCACY “Step It Up 2007” Meeting with the Mayor about wind energy (Covenant, Sioux Center) Advocacy
WorshipFellowshipBuildings and GroundsOutreachHabitsEducation Advocacy ADVOCACY “Step It Up 2007” Meeting with the Mayor County-wide Environmental Initiatives Committee participation (Covenant, Sioux Center) Advocacy
So get started! Complete the “How Green Is My Church?” worksheet. Start a study group or teach a Sunday school class. Participate in our Lent Meditations and Actions (stay tuned!). Begin at home!
Need help? Share ideas and support one another on our social networking site. Get materials, ideas, and help from the Congregational Justice Mobilizer. Check out the resources at