Children’s Pollinator Garden Expansion
You may have heard that Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring. At the Green Team we are taking that to heart as we roll out upcoming activities. Sunday School classes have already been busy in February, planting seeds for the upcoming Children’s Pollinator Garden Expansion (many thanks to the teachers and volunteers!) You can stop by Fellowship Hall to see how the sprouts are coming along. We are planning two work dates for the garden; volunteers, including families, are welcome.
- 4/13, 9am Spring Clean-Up, topsoil and edging for the new bed will be laid; no heavy digging required this year!
- 4/26 & 4/27 Planting will be done; as last year, we will have a Garden Dedication/Earth Day.
- 4/28, 9:45amThe Sunday school youth will be performing nature themed songs.
The entire congregation is invited to attend and participate!
“4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and Rejoice!”
In March and April, we will also be kicking off a new program with the Sunday School, the “4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and Rejoice!” (with credit for the title to Rebekah Simon-Peter). The purpose of this program is to encourage sustainable lifestyles in our congregation through personal commitments. Sunday School/Youth Group students will be provided with a ―pledge sheet of personal/ family commitments to take home, fill out and return by April 7. The commitments are given point values based on their impact, and we will celebrate the number of points gathered by each class at our dedication ceremony on April 28. If we reach a certain total, a charitable donation will also be made to an environmentally focused non-profit. We hope everyone will actively support the youth, by embracing and making personal commitments through this program! All congregation members are also invited to participate by filling out the pledge sheet in this newsletter and returning it to the church office.
We continue to be thankful to all of the Committees and Staff who are actively incorporating environmental stewardship into their Ministries and work. For up-to-date information or to sign up for the Green Team, please follow SMLC on Facebook, check out our website or email me at brianlestini@yahoo.com. We’re always looking for new members to join us!
ST MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH 114-R’S 11 PLEDGE DRIVE
Let’s fulfill our rolls as stewards of God’s good creation! To do so, we can use the concepts set forth by Rebekah Simon-Peter in Green Church: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rejoice.
- REDUCE our consumption of energy and materials
- REUSE items by donating or repurposing unwanted items
- RECYCLE through processing old, used items to make new material
- REJOICE in knowing that we are caring for people and our planet!
We will celebrate the number of points gathered by each class at our Earth Day event on April 28.
Attached is a check list of possible ways we can preserve and protect our Earth. Each Sunday School family is asked to complete and return the checklist to your child’s teacher by April 7, 2019.
Thank you for your support in teaching our youth about caring for God’s creation through this program!
Each activity listed below is assigned a number of points based on its envrionmental impact. If you are currently doing the activity, or commit to starting, put the assigned number of points in the applicable column (“we already do this” or “we will start”). Total all points earned and enter the number in the “TOTAL PTS” area below.
| We already do this | Wewill start | Activity |
| Recycle newspaper, scrap paper and mail (5PTs) | ||
| Turn off faucet while brushing teeth, showering, washing dishes (1PT) | ||
| Take short showers – 5 minutes or less (1 PT) | ||
| Use recharqeable batteries (2PTs) | ||
| Use a compost pile for food scraps, yard clippings (2PTS) | ||
| idea bike or walk instead of using a car (1 OPTs) | ||
| car pool to school or work (2PTS) | ||
| Put litter in its proper place (5PTs) | ||
| Recycle aluminum, cans, glass and plastic {1 PT) | ||
| Avoid pesticides in the home or garden (2PTS) | ||
| Use public transportation instead of driving , or drive an electric vehicle (10 PTs | ||
| Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer (2PTs) | ||
| Turn off lights when not needed, turn off TV if not watching it (1 PT) | ||
| Hang clothes out to dry rather than using the dryer (1 OPTs) | ||
| Plant a garden or buy locally grown organic food (5PTs) | ||
| Use the blank back sides of waste paper for scratch (1 PT) | ||
| Donate used clothing, furniture, anything someone else can use! (5PTs) | ||
| Grow indoor plants to purify air (2PTs) | ||
| Use reusable containers to cut down on use of plastic and foil (5PTs) | ||
| Make your own reusable bags to the grocery store (5PTs) | ||
| Usecold water to wash clothes (1 PT) | ||
| Use solar panels to cut eneroy use (10PTs) | ||
| Buy recycled products (paper towels, toilet paper) (SPTs) | ||
| Use cloth rags and napkins instead of paper towels and napkins (2PTs) | ||
| Eat less meat – skip meat 1X or more per week (5PTs) | ||
| Use eco-friendly cleaning products (5PTS) , | ||
| Do not use plastic straws (5PTS) | ||
| Unsubscribe from paper catalogs (2PTS) | ||
| Do not bag leaves/grass c1ipping (5P IS) |
Total Pts = _____
Student’s Name & Sunday School Class
Parent Signature