In its first full year, the Gary United Methodist Church Green Team in Wheaton, IL has been busy caring for God’s divine handiwork. Here are some highlights:
- Benchmarked the carbon footprint of the main church facility and the Wesley Center, looking back two years
- Installed new recycling bins, and introduced a coordinated program to our congregation
- Installed a Courtyard rain barrel for Gary Gardeners
- Helped coordinate a creation care worship series and adult education classes
- Suggested sustainable practices policies to the Trustees, who incorporated them into our Building Use Policy
- Explored the possibility of geothermal or solar energy installation with Trustees, including a field trip to UMC of Geneva
- Recycled and properly disposed of Styrofoam, paint, electronics and an AC unit
- Collected gently used school supplies for reuse and crayons for repurposing
- Supported a second, near-zero waste picnic at Worship in the Park
- Hosted a local watch party to livestream noted environmentalist Bill McKibben’s keynote address to the Faith in Place Environment and Spirituality summit
- Plugged into wider UMC creation care efforts by participating in the North Central Jurisdiction’s Creation Justice conference
None of this is possible without the support of the Gary community. Thank you for being open to learning and growing. If you are interested in joining this dynamic team, please contact Mark Mathis through the Church Office.
