The Creation Care Ministry Team

The Creation Care Ministry Team at Southminster

As a faithful community at Southminster, we need to express our love for God by showing reverence for the Earth and all its creatures. Toward this end, we will seek a greater understanding of our right relationship with creation, steward Earth’s resources more justly and sustainably, and partner with neighbors near and far to advocate for the personal and public practices which advance these aims. We seek to understand, protect, preserve, and conserve God’s good Earth.

The Creation Care Team encourages you to do all that you can do to serve God as a faithful steward of God ‘s Creation.

Upcoming Events

Caring for Creation – Spring 2024 Educational Opportunities

Home Composting

Wednesday May 8, 2024 at 7 pm

Composting can be used as a metaphor towards a richer spiritual life.  As we take materials we might consider trash or rubbish, we make a rich fertile material that grows life changing plants.  Composting is also an activity critical for our environment as highlighted in Luke 13:8 “The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer.”

This program will provide knowledge on how to compost at home. Not a gardener? You will still want to attend to learn how you can begin composting and supporting God’s great earth, and help a few gardeners.

Education and Initiatives

Protecting the Environment Through Gardening Techniques – Led by Jeanie Bond

Sunday, April 14 – As Spring approaches, many of us begin to think about working in our gardens. Did you know that growing native plants is good for the environment? The Creation Care Team is honored to present our own Jeanie Bond, Master Gardener, to speak to us about gardening techniques that protect our environment. Click Here for the Video

Luke 12:27-28) states “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!”

Wildflowers are attractive, but often we have to reframe what we have been taught about home landscaping.  According to the U.S. Dept of Agriculture and other sources, there are many advantages to using native plants in gardening.  Not only are they beautiful, they promote biodiversity, support wildlife, reduce air pollution, and use less water.  Learn more about how to include native plants in your garden and containers. 

Advocacy 101

On Sunday, March 17, two teams – the Social Justice Team and the Creation Care Team – hosted Legislative Advocacy 101. It was led by Rev. Lindsey Hammond and James Swansey, and attendees came away well equipped to advocate for the social issues that matter.

Click here for the link to the recording: Legislative Advocacy 101, Lindsey Hammond & James Swansey from Restore Justice

Click here for the powerpoint presentation.

Recycling at SPC

One of our first initiatives is to review the recycling program at Southminster. Our first step is to educate ourselves about what is acceptable/what is not acceptable curbside. Theresa Greinig, Education Director at SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County) presented an interesting and informative talk on recycling on Sunday, August 20. Please watch the video of Theresa’s presentation if you missed it, please click here for that presentation.

Click Here for the link from Sunday, September 17  when Dan Huntsha, the North and West Suburbs Senior Outreach Coordinator for Faith in Place,  presented a Home Energy Audit Workshop. How efficiently are you running your home? Dan helped participants discover how much energy their home uses, where their home is inefficient and which problem areas and fixes they should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of their home.

Here are the resources that were offered in the presentation. 

If you would like to learn more about getting a free home audit, take advantage of peak time savings or hourly pricing:
https://comed.org or call (855) 433-2700

If you would like information about free solar (for low income) or community solar (for all income levels):
https://illinoisSFA.com or call (888) 970-4732

Here’s another source of information for discounted solar and community solar:
https://Illinoisshines.com.

PFAS

Contamination from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) chemicals is a national public health and environmental emergency. PFAS negatively affect the blood and organs of nearly every living being, and are called “forever chemicals” because they resist degradation and remain in the body for decades. Southminster is helping to increase awareness of these chemicals and support for legislation on the national and state level that would declare these substances hazardous. Click Here for more information.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can take action to protect our environment, please contact Barb Taylor at barbtaylor1616@gmail.com or Janet Thompson at jct216@gmail.com.