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Earth Care

Posted: Sun, Jul 13, 2014
First Presbyterian is an Earth Care Congregation advocating for creation care and environmental justice. The volunteers behind this work is First Presbyterian’s Green Team. They meet the first Wednesday of each month, 10a, in the First Presbyerian Prayer Room. Contact Thiel Larson at [email protected]. Caring For Earth What We’re DOING To Care For Earth. Re-certification as an Earth [...]

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First Presbyterian is an Earth Care Congregation advocating for creation care and environmental justice. The volunteers behind this work is First Presbyterian’s Green Team. They meet the first Wednesday of each month, 10a, in the First Presbyerian Prayer Room.

Contact Thiel Larson at [email protected].


Caring For Earth

What We’re DOING To Care For Earth.
  1. Re-certification as an Earth Care Congregation for the 3rd year in a row.
  2. Use of biodegradable tableware at church functions, composting and bring your own mug vs. paper cups.
  3. Created recycling bins and compost bins around the church. Additionally, any plastic, glass or tins cans found in building are recycled weekly through maintenance clean up.
  4. Green Team monthly movie nights raise awareness/discussion of environmental and social justice issues within the congregation and community.
  5. Improvements in energy conservation in the church buildings (i.e. replacing incandescent lighting w/ CFLs, installing motion detector lighting in certain rooms, pre-programmed HVAC systems set only for rooms scheduled to be used so the entire building doesn’t have to be heated/cooled, purchasing Blue Sky energy)
  6. Reducing paper usage by moving away from printed Faith Notes to online editions; recycle weekly all paper used in church office and Sunday bulletins.
  7. Reducing water usage used in irrigation by half; significantly lowered hot water settings and seasonally turn off hot water in bathrooms.
  8. We have drawn attention to and discouraged the use of plastic water bottles; congregation purchased 180 reusable bottles with church logo on them.
  9. Teaming with the Peace and Justice team we provide education to the congregation regarding the child slavery that is involved in the providing of chocolate for all the major chocolate manufacturers and encouraged people to buy only Fair Trade Chocolate.
  10. Partnering with churches and environmental organizations on issues of importance to the environment.  ONDA (Oregon Natural Desert Association) on issues of wilderness preservation.  “Ring the Bell’s/ Sound the Alarm for Climate Change” to call attention to Global Warming and a community action march.
  11. Mobilizing our faith community to write letters and sign petitions on political issues that affect our community and nation such as “coal shipped through Oregon and Washington on it’s way to China,  Nestle’ Water wanting to build a Water Bottling plant in the Columbia Gorge, “Ban the Bag”,  support public transportation, etc.
  12. Engaging the congregation in reflection and commitment to changing everyday habits to reflect a more sustainable way of living.  Keeping in mind that every decision we make affects others and determines their quality of life.  We make available items that will help them make changes like clothing racks, reusable bags and at times compact florescent light bulbs, and non-toxic cleaning products.