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Your Congregation | Colleagues | Colleague Sharing 2000
Colleague
Sharing 2000:
"What's Happening in Congregations"
Notes from 2000 Earth Ministry Colleague Consultations
St.
Joseph’s Roman Catholic, Issaquah
In January 2001, the Catholic Bishops of this region will release a
“Pastoral Letter” on the Columbia River as a “sacramental commons”
– Gerard reported on the importance of this letter.
The final draft will be available in January 2001, and a related
study guide will come out later. (The
letter will be available at www.columbiariver.org
-- the site currently contains a draft of this letter.)
Our
Savior Lutheran, Issaquah
Pat spoke about her use of Bill McKibben’s book, Hundred Dollar
Holiday: the Case for a More Joyful Christmas, with her congregation
last year – she said that this was a good resource for talking about a
subject that may be difficult for some: simplifying one’s lifestyle –
especially around the holidays. Pat
also talked about three other areas where she’s been trying to bring a
creation focus to her congregation: (1) the church is planning to have a new
driveway – Pat got information from the city on permeable driveways (as
they are near a wetland/river) and encouraged the church’s grounds
committee to consider it; (2) she and a friend will plant a “butterfly
garden” on church grounds next year; and (3) she and a friend will host an
event that focuses on reasons for being a vegetarian – the event will
include a vegetarian meal.
University
Presbyterian, Seattle
The church now has a small “Christian Ecology Group” that is presently
studying the book Ecological Healing (available through Earth Ministry).
The group is working on an article for the church’s newsletter –
a mailing that will reach thousands of people.
Lara is considering co-teaching a creation-focused course for
preachers and teachers.
St. Barnabas
Episcopal, Bainbridge Is.
The church is presently looking at expanding its physical plant.
Jennifer would like to promote energy conservation within the church,
as a great deal of energy is currently being used.
Grace
Episcopal, Bainbridge Is.
The congregation used the curriculum Simplicity As Compassion (now Simpler
Living, Compassionate Life, available through Earth Ministry) a few
years ago. The study helped
people within the church to strengthen their relationships with one another.
Many women in the church take part in meditative hikes that also deepen
their relationships with each other and with creation.
The church is building a new physical plant on ten acres of land –
Marcia is promoting the idea that a portion of the land be used for a CSA
(community supported agriculture garden).
St.
Marks’ Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
The cathedral just finished creating its strategic plan for the next
ten-to-twenty years. Prior to
the final plan, Ruth crafted language for this plan that would encourage the
cathedral to foster a creation focus throughout its ministries.
Ruth then garnered support from other members (through letters, phone
calls, and emails) to jointly encourage the strategic planning committee to
include this language. Ruth and
the other members were successful in their efforts and the strategic focuses
both on people and the broader creation.
Blessed
Sacrament Roman Catholic, Seattle
During
the Colleague Consultation, Perry gave a presentation on Global Warming that
he had previously offered to an adult study group in his congregation.
It was a thorough and scientific presentation that responded to the
skepticism he sensed around this issue in his congregation.
In the coming weeks, another member of his congregation will give a
presentation on transportation alternatives (i.e., to using fossil fuels)
and specifically “fuel cells.” Some
members of the parish are starting a new ecology discussion group.
St.
Madeleine Sophie Roman Catholic, Bellevue
The parish
newsletter often contains a creation-focused poem, tip, or other resources.
This past fall, the parish celebrated its fourth annual “blessing
of the animals” church service with the local Episcopal and Lutheran
churches. Donna (who is
presently a chaplain at Marionwood) made the comment that if someone wants
to be active in one’s congregation around creation-care issues, he or she
“needs to pray to find at least one other person in the congregation”
who will help to foster these activities and a needed sense of support.
Broadview
United Church of Christ, Seattle
The new
minister at Broadview, a new member who has interest in creation-care, and
Joanne have been meeting together and deciding where they want to go with
their efforts. The new member
is presently working with children and youth doing stream restoration at
Carkeek Park.
United
Churches of Olympia, Olympia
Several individuals in the congregation who cherish a creation-focus, are
now “finding each other.” The
congregation no longer uses paper plates during their time of fellowship,
and Yvonne is working to get rid of disposable cups.
The church uses creation-focused hymns in times of worship –
specifically ones written (the text) by Edith Sinclair (another church
member; you will soon be able to find the text to these wonderful hymns on
Earth Ministry’s web site at www.earthministry.org/hymns.)
The church hosted an “Alternative Christmas Fair” at which people
could buy crafts and fair-trade items, and give a “gift” donation (in
someone’s name) to organizations like the Heifer Project and Habitat for
Humanity.
First
Congregational United Church of Christ, Everett
A group
at the church used the book/study guide Simpler Living, Compassionate
Life. Members recently also
took a retreat to Camp Houston (in Gold Bar) and enjoyed its wooded
surroundings. Kevin is hoping
to bring about a sea kayaking trip, with a marine biologist, next year for
church members.
First
Christian United Church of Christ, Seattle
Kathy said that many people in her congregation are already too
overloaded with things that they want to do/are doing in the church.
She feels that it’s very important that these “workers” be
nourished. The congregation may
be uniting ministries with those of other churches (e.g., First
Congregational in Everett) and the churches may do a joint event around
Earth Day. Kathy also brought
up the issue of how difficult it is to keep “good things going” (e.g.,
using cleaning chemicals with low toxicity) with the frequent turnover of
staff (e.g., a church sexton or building manager) – she feels a challenge
to help to value the helpful groundwork set in the past.
Woodland
Park United Methodist, Seattle
Mary Ann remembered how there was very little interest in creation
awareness, six years ago. Since
that time, she’s diligently brought up (on a frequent basis) environmental
concerns during the time in her worship service for “church concerns.”
As a result, some people have come forward throughout the years to
express their common concerns to Mary Ann.
More recently, Mary Ann announced that the city had a tree give-away
program during the church concerns. Seventeen
members took three trees each, and planted them in their yards.
These members must also monitor the growth of their trees.
Their new minister is also very concerned about creation and so this
aspect often enters into the church’s life and worship.
Mary Ann also spoke about a United Methodist Women’s meeting in
which Earth Ministry staff helped to facilitate a conversation in which most
of the women expressed their love and concern for God’s creation.
Fairwood
United Methodist, Renton
The church has engaged in tree planting and native plant salvaging
through programs with the county. The
church is situated on a wetland/wooded area – the tree plantings have
blessed this land. On this
land, the church has summer services in their outdoor chapel.
Sharon let congregation members know of a local backyard gardening
course, three signed up for it. Various
people from the church took part in six nature hikes this year.
Also, on the church grounds, members are removing invasive ivy and
the church had a productive garden – with all of the food sent to a local
food bank. Church members
raised large amounts of money for the annual CROP Walk (through Church World
Services) and Sharon made displays to be used along the Walk’s route that
displayed the environmental work that Church World Services is doing in
countries throughout the world. The
congregation also recycles cloth – giving used clothing and cloth to
prison inmates who make quilts.
St.
Andrew’s Episcopal, Seattle
Sharon
spoke about a recent visit from members of St. Andrew’s sister church in
Israel. St. Andrew’s members
and clergy, and Earth Ministry staff, lead their visitors on a meditative,
wildflower field trip on Mt. Rainier. During
this visit, back in Seattle, the sister church gave St. Andrew’s a cedar
of Lebanon to plant on church grounds.
Both churches held a tree planting ceremony to honor their
relationship and the land.
Church
of the Holy Spirit Episcopal, Vashon Is.
Julia
offered a very helpful piece of advice: for those people who feel alone in
their environmental concerns, in their congregations, look at how
congregational decisions are made and then consider joining a church
committee that may have the authority to make environmental decisions.
For example, she joined the “stewardship committee” in her church
in order to expand its notion of stewardship to the rest of creation – not
just financial concerns. Recently,
a small group of people in the church took members’ requests for “worm
bins” (for composting food waste) and the group made boxes for those who
wanted them. The church is
active with a Habitat for Humanity project.
During one recent building day, a congregation member saved native
plants from a construction site for use in a future planting.
The church has also teamed-up with Audubon (forming the “Vashon
Streams” group) to participate in the evaluation local streams –
examining the waters to see what sorts of life they support.
The evaluations will be given to builders doing construction near
streams in order to encourage them to exercise care.
Vashon Streams is currently looking for a church in Seattle that
might be suitable for a benefit concert.
Please contact Julia if your church might be willing to volunteer
this space.*
Holy
Family Roman Catholic, Bellevue
The church used the book/study guide, Simpler Living, Compassionate
Life. Two members of this
study group are on the church staff. Their
presence on staff is helpful in getting a creation-related blurb in their
bulletin every week. Earlier in
the Consultation we practiced “centering prayer” – Cherie offered
further information for those who are interested in centering prayer: *Contemplative
Outreach Northwest (CONW) sponsors 29 local prayer groups, quarterly retreat
days, silent weekend retreats, introductory workshops, a lending library, a
newsletter, and more. Their
website is www.conw.org.
To subscribe to their newsletter, call Betty Rockman at (206)
632-0250; to inquire about introductory workshops, call Cherry Haisten at
(206) 328-6484.
St.
James Roman Catholic Cathedral, Seattle
The cathedral has a new social justice director with whom Elizabeth has
been meeting. The cathedral is
already very dedicated to social concerns such as outreach to people who are
homeless. Elizabeth and the
director have decided to not split the congregation’s energy between eco-
and social-justice programs, but to rather help the congregation to view the
two “types” of justice as inseparable.
Elizabeth hopes to help this consciousness to come about through a
study of the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on the Columbia River (see the St.
Joseph’s Roman Catholic listing on the first page) and through materials
that Elizabeth will put out during the “coffee hour.”
Plymouth
Congregational United Church of Christ
Plymouth’s
Earth and Spirit group is meeting and working to combine their efforts with
the work of social justice. Plymouth
members worked with Earth Ministry this past year during the Work/Reflection
days on the Duwamish river.
University
Lutheran, Seattle
Jeanne
and the church’s Earth-care group (the “Latter Day Canaries”)
currently write a weekly column for the church’s newsletter.
This past fall, Jeanne and others facilitated an adult forum on
global warming. This January,
they will follow up this well-received forum with a three-week series on
global warming. The first
session will host a climatologist from the University of Washington.
Jeanne also distributed postcards, during the forum, addressed to
policy makers on the subject of global warming.
Last year, Jeanne helped to host the women’s retreat and used books
by Jane Goodall and Sallie McFague; this year the retreat will focus on
global warming. In an upcoming
congregational gathering in February, the church will study the theme
“beyond personal salvation” – to study how God extends salvation to
all creation. They will use
articles by McFague and Mary Schramm (found in Earth Ministry’s Handbook
for Creation Awareness and Care in Your Congregation) for this
gathering.
Suquamish
Congregational United Church of Christ
The church established a Greening Congregations covenant with Earth Ministry
and with its own members. Kathy
recently replaced a light bulb (one that’s left on all the time) with a
compact fluorescent. And, she
recently learned that one of the church’s trustees has been, on his own,
quietly converting many more light bulbs.
The county reviewed the church as a potential “green seal”
recipient and it’s likely that the church will receive this recognition
next year. The church obtained
information from the EPA on how to become an “Energy Star Congregation.”
Kathy led three summertime nature walks; the participants didn’t
want them to stop so another person let three more (autumn) nature walks.
Keystone
Congregational United Church of Christ
Robin invited all Colleagues, and other interested people, to join with her
in planning a regularly scheduled (i.e., every Friday at 7 p.m.),
ecumenical/interfaith, creation-honoring worship service at her church.
These services would allow people with different religious
perspectives to find common ground and worship.
Please contact Robin if you are interested.
Plymouth
Congregational United Church of Christ
Margaret reported that the church’s Earth & Spirit group is now back
together and motivated to help the congregation engage in creation-care.
(Various members of this group and other congregational members have
been active in the Duwamish River work/reflection days.)
University
Temple United Methodist Church
Mark emphasized the importance of a “study life”/learning and reflection
time for grounding the church’s commitments to care for creation.
This past year, a group of church members found Larry Rasmussen’s Earth
Community, Earth Ethics to be particularly meaningful.
Mark also works with a non-profit in Kenya that works to “stop the
illegal appropriation and destruction of the Maasai people’s traditional
lands.” (The church will soon
host two speakers: Dr. Mike Wallace [on Global Warming, May 7th,
9:30 a.m.] and Dr. Tom Yelin [“Walking Gently on the Earth,” May 14th,
9:30 a.m.] – all are invited! The
church also has an Earth-care group. Mark
is helping to coordinate Earth Day activities that include encouraging
members to get to church by methods other than driving and helping the youth
group with a fund-raiser that will help to raise congregational awareness of
global warming.)
Seattle
Mennonite Church
This year, Barb and Ken will host the second annual “Creation Awareness
Day” for the congregation’s children at/around their home on Vashon Is.
Among many other activities (exploring the woods and shore, listening
to creation stories, etc.) the children will write their own “psalms”
based on their experiences that day. The
following day, during the church’s worship service, the children will read
their psalms to the congregation. At
this Earth Day worship service, congregants will not use printed bulletins
(to save paper), an Earth Ministry speaker will give the homily, other
creation-care speakers will participate in the worship service and in the
adult learning time, and they will have a low-on-the-food-chain potluck
after worship. (Since the
Consultation, youth and adults from Seattle Mennonite have participated in
the Duwamish work/reflection day on April 8th.)
St.
Patrick Roman Catholic, Seattle
Creation-care awareness is beginning at St. Patrick.
(Recently, Sr. Alexandra Kovats (with Earth Ministry’s Speakers’
Network) gave an evening presentation on creation spirituality and
creation-care.)
First
United Methodist, Auburn
Len will soon give the sermon during his church’s Earth Day worship
service. The church continues
to have an active recycling program and Len is still trying to help the
church save a 100-year-old tree on its property.
The church is also the country’s first “Zone of Peace” – a
recognition that was hard earned and helps to raise church and community
awareness about peace issues, including a peace toward their surrounding
natural environment.
Holy
Cross Episcopal, Redmond
Creation-care awareness is building in the church.
Jane had a specific question for the group: how do you identify who,
in the congregation, has interest in creation-care – especially when so
many people are very busy? (If
you have experience or ideas regarding this question, please feel free to
pass them on to Tanya or Nancy at Earth Ministry, [206] 632-2426, emoffice@earthministry.org;
we’ll pass responses on to Jane and other Colleagues.)
St.
Andrew’s Episcopal, Seattle
A group of eight people at the church studied the Earth Ministry
curriculum, Food, Faith &
Sustainability. The group
meets weekly on Wednesday nights for this meaningful experience.
At the end of their study, they gave a presentation to the
congregation (during “Adult Education Sunday”) on what they learned.
(The church will have an Earth Day worship service on Mothers’ Day
with an Earth Ministry speaker. The
church continues to serve as a Cultivating Communities, community supported
agriculture (CSA), drop-of site and the pre-school children maintain their
organic garden.)
Faith
Lutheran, Leavenworth
Lisa is trying to help revive the church’s creation-care group.
She especially wants to help create a commonly held creation-care
sense throughout the congregation. She
feels that such a sense is particularly important when it comes time for the
congregation to make various decisions (e.g., the type of lawn care that it
practices).
St.
Stephen Episcopal, Seattle
The church’s “outreach committee” looks for opportunities to
combine social- and eco-justice. For
example, they’re trying to do so in their Habitat for Humanity efforts in
Honduras, and in their support of the Cultivating Communities community
supported agriculture project. Patricia
is particularly mindful that such efforts grow out of, and be rooted in, a
rich spiritual life. (Since the
Consultation, the outreach committee and other members have purchased
subscriptions for the CSA project – the committee purchased a share to
donate to their “sack lunch” feeding program.)
Church of
the Holy Spirit, Episcopal, Vashon Is.
Julia is working to draw community groups and churches (on Vashon Is.)
together to work on hands-on restoration projects.
She is also helping to make connections between the work of Habitat
for Humanity and such projects. (Julia
is also working with local church and community folks to promote the
planting of native plants.)
Ellensburg
United Methodist, Ellensburg
Two years ago, the church did a series on simplicity.
Since this time, the people who engaged in this series still feel an
ongoing need for supporting one another in this area and have formed an
ongoing support group as a result. The
church held a “Simplifying for the Holidays” workshop, they have a worm
bin, they did a creation-focused women’s retreat last year, and they are
presently planning their annual Earth Day worship service.
(The church will have a similar women’s retreat with an EM speaker
this year.)
Broadview
United Church of Christ, Seattle
Coming out of a period of transition, the church now has a new minister and
Joanne feels that the church can now “move ahead” with its programs –
including those that focus on creation-care.
Joanne informed us that the ecumenical, national curriculum “Bible
Quest” is now focusing on eco-justice concerns.
St.
Mark’s Episcopal, Seattle
Ruth
found particular inspiration in St. Mark’s “Blessing of the Animals”
service this past year. In
attending a “newcomers” event at the church, many new members said that
this service was what inspired them to become members of the cathedral.
Ruth suggested that this might be an effective vehicle, for all
churches, for outreach to potential members.
St.
Madeleine Sophie, Bellevue
For the past several years, St. Madeline has partnered with two local
churches to have a Blessing of the Animals in a local field/orchard.
She says that this is a very inspiring experience.
Their “Earth Keepers” group is growing and changing – and
seeing new, enthusiastic members like Judy Boyce (a new Colleague).
Ongoing efforts, such as recycling, still remain vital in the parish.
Dominican
Reflection Center (Roman Catholic)
Mary is entertaining doing a ten minute “tid-bit” on creation at the
beginning of Mass. She, along
with her Dominican Sisters, does quarterly retreats called “spirituality
through the seasons.” Mary
offers a time called “Earth speaks” during these retreats to invite the
sisters into the experience of the changing seasons.
She maintains the prestigious title of “Madame Recycler” in her
community (quite a system that includes a worm bin “condo”).
She is presently trying to get rid of all chlorine-related products
in her community, including things like bleached paper products.
Lake
Burien Presbyterian, Seattle
Langley
United Methodist, Langley
B.J. said that her current pastor is supportive of a creation-care
ministry. She continues to be
active in her church in this respect and it has an “care-for-creation”
element in its weekly bulletin.
University
Congregational United Church of Christ, Seattle
This past year, the church had a blessing of the animals at Gas Works
Park (Seattle). They will have
their third annual Earth Day service on Mothers’ Day this year.
For its Lenten education series, University Congregational has
focused on “The Good Life and the Abundant Life” and has had Mike Schut
(from Earth Ministry) present on Simpler
Living, Compassionate Life. Out
of this, the church will start “simplicity groups.”
The church’s ecology group continues to have quarterly gatherings
(open to the entire congregation) that include a soup meal, liturgy, and a
time of planning for the group. This
group is like a “clearing house” for creation-care resources (e.g.,
worship materials, recruiting volunteers for the Duwamish restoration
projects) for the rest of the congregation.
Suquamish
Congregational United Church of Christ, Suquamish
“During the summer, we led monthly nature walks to give people an
opportunity to touch, hear, and see God’s creation. On one of the nature
walks, we joined a group led by Earth Ministry.
A resolution was approved by the church Cabinet for the church to use
recycled materials wherever feasible in our operations. We have also
introduced the concept of switching over to compact-fluorescent lighting.
We published two articles in the church newsletter.
Over the year, we worked on strengthening our relationship with Earth
Ministry. Earth Ministry has provided us with moral support, and we wrote an
article for the journal Earth Letter.
I attended a meeting with Earth Ministry concerning their proposed
‘Greening Congregations’ program. Subsequently, we introduced a
resolution to the church congregation that we enter into a covenant with
Earth Ministry, in affirmation of our mutually supportive relationship and
our desire that it should continue. There was overwhelming support for this,
and the resolution passed with only one abstention and none opposed.”
St.
Lukes Episcopal, Tacoma
“I
requested our Tacoma neighborhood Episcopal parish church celebrate Creation
Sunday and honor Earth Day this year. My request was quickly granted by the
priest. Naturally I was placed in charge of the whole thing!
It was easy to work with the priest and the organist to arrive at
selections for hymns and many other features of the worship service. I used www.webofcreation.org/NCC
for most of the materials and will piece together a homily from the rich
vein of prose and poems I found on the site, or already have in my
possession….”
The service will also include prayers for the church’s “Garden
Tenders” and Sexton, creation-care poetry and litanies, portions of the
bulletin that encourage “clean energy” and an opportunity to sail on The
Adventuress, and a creation-care information table at their coffee hour.