GET CONNECTED with our CHURCH FAMILY … responding to human need

Lewinsville Presbyterian Church is committed to helping its congregants develop a sustainable future at church and in the community. Many of us want to know how we might put that idea into practice at home. Here are some thoughts to talk about with your family, friends and neighbors. What can we all do to help the earth, our environment for our ourselves and our descendants?

REDUCE, REPAIR, REUSE, RECYCLE, REFUSE, RETHINK!

REDUCE

  • Follow a path of Christian simplicity before purchasing any item—think of its origin and its demise. When you are finished with it, how will it be repaired, reused or recycled?
  • Reduce your personal carbon footprint. To learn how, here are some helpful calculators:
  • Reduce your energy bills: make your home more efficient. Do an energy audit and save money as well as energy. Find more information here
  • Reduce fossil fuel energy use at home Consider converting to a solar energy source or purchasing renewable energy credits. Visit the EPA’s Green Power site to find renewable energy options where you live.
  • Reduce your transportation fossil fuel emissions by walking, biking, using mass transit, driving less or purchasing an electric vehicle.
  • Reduce your things or gifts you cannot use by Regifting.

Reuse

  • Try to select a reusable instead of a single use, disposable item:  think water bottles, grocery bags, produce bags, straws, coffee cups, food containers, take out containers and more.
  • When you have finished with the original purpose of an item, think how you can reuse it in your house for some other purpose:  items made of textiles can have multiple lives as napkins, pet care needs, placemats, pillow covers, cleaning cloths; some items can be given to schools for craft purposes; books and magazines can go to Little Libraries or your local library for resale.

Refuse

  • You have the power to choose to accumulate things or not, especially gifts. At the times where gifts seem obligatory, try to ask for and give “experiences” instead.

Rethink

  • Rethink your part in the global effort to save God’s creation from pollution and loss of life. Learn more about environmental and energy policies at the federal, state, local and congregational level. Decide to act both personally and as part of a community in order to protect our air, water, and land for all God’s creatures, both today and for future generations. See Earth Care Resources  for more information.

Photo by Beng Wang, Unsplash

Repair Before Replacing

  • When things break or stop working, we often throw them away. By fixing something, it will last longer or can be donated (a form of recycling) instead of adding them to the waste stream.
  • Check HERE for a repository of manuals. There are also thousands of fix-it videos on YouTube, and if you need tools, check NextDoor to see if there is a neighborhood tool library near you. Or check out a local MakerSpace.
  • If you have to replace, look for a more energy efficient choice (like an electric battery lawnmower to replace a gasoline powered one).

Recycle

  • When you can't repair or reuse, think about what you can recycle and where. Go to the recycling site serving the area where you live for more information:
  • Recycle or Rot your food waste by composting in your own yard or join an industrial (high heat) composting program. When your trash service picks up yard waste, be sure to take advantage and bag waste in paper, not plastic bags.
  • Recycle your “things” by donation to a non-profit that either rehomes items to support individuals in need or sells them to raise the money for social service organizations who do that work. You could also sell them via major online or social media options—Nextdoor Neighbors, Craig’s List, eBay, Facebook Market.
  • Freecycle: Try giving away items on Freecycle or simply put them on the street with a “free” sign.

Resources to Aid your mission

PC(USA)’s Earth Care Congregations work hard every year to increase awareness about how people of faith can preserve and support God’s creation. The following organizations are just a few faith-based partner groups that provide resources for ECC teams everywhere.

Blessed Tomorrow: Presbyterian Church (USA) is committing to act on climate change by providing some new theological and pragmatic tools and resources to support congregations. To guide us in our efforts to be God’s faithful stewards, we are partnering with Blessed Tomorrow to shape new guides, tools, and messaging that will help us to reduce energy use, speak with friends, family and policy makers about climate change, and help sustain a livable world for future generations.

PC(USA) Mission on Sustainable Living and Earth Care ConcernsThis Mission supports Earth Care ministry throughout PC(USA) and has its roots in the 1990 policy statement Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice,” which calls Presbyterians to engage in the tasks of restoring creation. The Earth Care pledge and Congregations program was launched in 2010 with A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Congregations. Additionally, PC(USA) General Assemblies have been speaking about related topics on environmental protections and justice since the 1960s, advocating on topics such as drinking water safety, acid rain, protecting endangered species, sustainable economic development, climate change, U.S. energy policy and environmental stewardship. Click here for a summary of PC(USA) environmental  up to 2018, and click here for a look at ongoing environmental actions.

PC(USA) National Capital Presbytery Earth Care Network: Through its mission work, the National Capital Presbytery (NCP) has established The Earth Care Network, comprised of NPC congregations who share a strong interest in earth care. The Network promotes environmental stewardship, witness and outreach throughout the NCP and provides an interchange of ideas for earth care actions among its members. It administers the Power to Change Grant Program which awards matching funds to assist NCP congregations in taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, support and sustain native species and biodiversity, promote sustainable watershed protections, and educate or advocate for such actions. Lewinsville is an active participant.

Presbyterians for Earth Care: PEC invites individuals and congregations to participate in the growing earth care movement within PC(USA). PEC is a national eco-justice network that cares for God’s creation by connecting, equipping, and inspiring Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church.

Other faith environmental groups

Green Faith: GreenFaith inspires, educates, organizes, and mobilizes people of diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds globally for environmental action. Its work is based on beliefs shared by the world’s religious and spiritual traditions. GreenFaith believe that protecting the Earth is a sacred act, and that environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility.

Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions: Here in Northern Virginia, FACS helps people of faith develop local solutions to the climate crisis. It empowers and unites neighbors of all faiths to achieve real climate solutions, right now. Sign up for monthly newsletter on FACS’ website.

Interfaith Power & Light (National): Interfaith Power & Light inspires and mobilizes people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change. IPL currently has six mobilization projects, each with its own website:  Carbon CovenantCool CongregationsCool HarvestParis PledgeFaith Climate Action Week and The Regeneration Project.

Interfaith Power & Light (local DC-MD-VA): IPL-DMV works with hundreds of congregations of all faiths across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia to save energy, go green, and respond to the climate crisis. They are part of a network of IP&L groups across the country.

Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: VAIPL works with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy to empower all faith communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia to achieve sustainable living. They are people of faith collaborating to grow healthy communities and advance climate justice through education, advocacy, and worship.