Earth Care – Give of Yourself: Ecology

We consider ecology part of theology. We want to be stewards, protectors, and defenders of all creation.

United Methodists believe all people have basic rights and concerns: the right to live in a community free of toxic and hazardous substances; the right to clean air, the minimization of chemical use, responsible land use, and more. Working together, we look toward a healthy future.

Get involved:

• Recycle Favorite Tee Shirt
• Befriend Canning Garden
• Join Eyeglass Recycling
• Conduct An Energy Audit
• Handle e-Waste Properly
• Recycle Aluminum Cans
• Get Your Carbon Footprint
• Teach Our Children

Ultimately, stewardship of the natural world begins at home with us - our use of resources, the lifestyles we cultivate, and the economies we support.

Read more at: http://www.rethinkchurch.org/article/give-yourself-ecology

Earth Care: Warm Weather Is Upon Us!

The warm weather is finally upon us and our thoughts have turned to gardening. Here are some great ideas that will help you keep your garden green while keeping the local environment green, as well.

The decrease of America’s water resources due to disappearing lakes and reservoirs, population growth, and drought has increased the need for more efficient ways of using water. Outside water use accounts for approximately 80% of water used during the summer months.

Plant Selection - Start with Indigenous Species

One of the best ways to enjoy a green garden is by planting what are known as indigenous species – those that are natural to the area. These types of plants have learned to naturally deal with our climate, soil, and pests, so they thrive without too much help from us. Don’t forget to mulch!

Lawns can be high consumers of water use and maintenance

Consider reducing the lawn area of your yard and selecting grasses that require less moisture. Raise your mower height to ensure survival during drought or extreme heat and do not bag clippings to help retain moisture. Know when to water your lawn. The best time is 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. when evaporation is at a minimum.

Remember it is up to you to take actions to protect God's Creation.

For more hints to reduce you summer footprint, check out the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Kemper Center

Earth Care – Earth Day 2011

“All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it." - UMC Social Principle

For over 40 years, Earth Day (April 22) has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

How are you being a good steward of creation? What are you going to do today, next month, this year to be a good steward?

It can be simple:

• Change out a light bulb,
• Eat more local food
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Switch to paperless bills
• Pack a waste-free lunch

There are hundreds of simple things you can do to make a difference. Evangelize a little, share the good word; we all need to do more watch out for creation. Make you plan, commit to it. Consider posting you act of green at "A Billion Aces of Green" on the Earth Day Network. Together we can make a difference. www.earthday.org

See you at the Earth Day Festival in Forest Park, Sunday April 17th. www.stlouisearthday.org

Earth Care – The Phase-Out of Incandescent Light Bulbs: What You Need To Know

The incandescent bulb hasn’t changed much since Thomas Edison patented it in 1879. More than one hundred years later, the familiar bulbs still push electricity through a wire filament – and still waste a whole lot of energy.

Ninety percent of the energy pumped through an incandescent light bulb is wasted as heat; that’s why traditional bulbs are so hot to the touch. However, thanks to a piece of 2007 legislation, traditional incandescent bulbs will soon become a thing of the past.

The Bush-era law, called the Energy Independence and Security Act, set energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs that will come fully into effect in 2012. The law will require light bulbs to use 25-30 percent less power than incandescents use today.

It’s a mandate that will quickly slash residential and commercial energy use, lowering the nation’s carbon footprint and utility bills at the same time.
For consumers, the biggest deterrent to choosing CFLs and LEDs “is the initial cost.” Yet although CFLs and LEDs cost more initially, over time they can save you hundreds of dollars in reduced energy costs. This is one case where being good stewards of the environment also makes you a good financial steward.

Earth Care: The Christian Challenge of Caring for the Earth

Throughout our history, some have looked after their environment with great care making sure that they could pass their land on to their children and grandchildren in even better shape than they received it. Others have exploited their environment for their own ends without thinking of the future consequences, or have been polluters of the air, the land or the seas doing damage which in some cases has been irreversible. We are aware of the contaminated land and rivers which remain a legacy of our industrial revolution.

The relationship between us and the Earth which is often presented is one of stewardship. That we are stewards of creation brings in fundamentally the notion of responsibility, first to God as the one whose stewards we are - we are to look after the Earth, not as we please, but as God wants it looked after. Second, we have responsibility to the rest of creation as ones who stand in the place of God.

Within creation there is enormous potential to assist us in the task; the pursuit of scientific knowledge and the application of technology are an essential part of our stewardship. A clear understanding of the responsibilities we have been given coupled with trust in God’s presence and trustworthiness is the mixture that makes stewardship both exciting and challenging.

Tips for Green Holiday Giving

Is anything more wonderful than finding the perfect gift for someone, or receiving the present that’s just what you needed? How about gift-giving accompanied by the knowledge that your gift is also a gift for the planet? There’s more to green giving than just switching to the stuff with the “green” label. Here are some pointers for finding the right gifts that make everyone happy.

• Be sure your gift will get used. A gift that the receiver does not use is simply wasted.
• Give a consumable gift. The gift will not be left unused in the corner of their closet.
• Share a piece of yourself. Offer your services.
• Make a gift of any service. You will still reduce material consumption.
• Give a gift where it is needed on behalf of someone better off. Improve another family by the gift of a llama or a sheep on their behalf.
• Buy a local gift. A gift made or grown locally you have discovered right here.

Gifts are wonderful expressions of friendship. Just keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas, and that is so much more important than gift giving.

Why do people of Faith care about Creation?

Caring for the Earth is a fundamental part of our Christian faith. We hold a set of core values that speak to the heart of our religious morals and ethics: spirituality, stewardship, sustainability, and justice.

Spirituality - Creation itself inspires us and calls us to care. God created all things of Heaven and Earth and God is our inspiration to care for both wild places and our own cities and backyards.

Stewardship - Psalm 24 states that “the Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” We simply hold the Earth in trust for God. We are tenants here, called to care for the creation on behalf of future generations and all species.

Sustainability - At the heart of sustainability is the goal of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In a world of finite resources, those among us who have more than enough must address patterns of consumption so that we can provide for all.

Justice - Justice means that in addition to providing aid to our neighbors, we are called to change societal systems that cause poverty, injustice, and environmental damage in the first place. It goes beyond helping to meet physical needs to creating a society with laws and policies that allow the needs of all Earth’s inhabitants to be met. Care and responsibility for the “least of these among us” is a central tenant of Christianity and has a direct connection to environment issues.

The “Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.” Read more at: http://earthministry.org/