Walking Our Talk

Our Unitarian Universalist faith is covenantal where many other religions are creedal.  Rather than committing to a creed that expresses a set of beliefs determined by the denomination, our beliefs are diverse and inclusive.  Instead of a creed, we share a covenant to live by seven principles that express our values. The Green Team at our church was formed to put our seventh principle into action: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Visitors to our church are often curious when they see the hub of activity around our Green Living table on Sundays where we sell sustainable and fair-trade products.  I feel safe in betting that no other congregation in our Village has people sitting in the pews during service with bags of coffee, laundry detergent sheets or rolls of toilet paper! But the Green Team is so much more than a Sunday store. Our quest to become a certified “Green Sanctuary” by the UUA is not just so we can have another plaque to place on our wall.  It is our commitment to sustained effort to  respond to the crisis of climate change. It is our commitment to be leaders in the Village and inspire others to follow our example.

To date, we have made multiple improvements to our building that have made it more energy efficient.  We have increased our recycling efforts and begun composting.  We had a fun and educational Eco Fair and luncheon that introduced many of us to delicious meatless recipes. We have increased our awareness of the climate crisis in our worship services and educational offerings. The C4K program is an important part of the effort as is the Sleeping Mat Project. Michael Dowd provided a sobering talk and discussion about the need for action.  And we have so much more planned!  Workshops, classes, an Earth Day celebration event  (delayed because of the pandemic but no matter because every day should be Earth Day) and special projects. And, of course, we’ll continue to operate the Green Living products table every Sunday.

Our human disregard for other species and the health of our planet affects every one of us and will determine the quality of life for future generations.  It may very well determine if there is life for future generations. We need everyone on the Green Team and everything you do matters.  Start today by committing to just one change. Then another. Then another. Encourage everyone you know to do the same. The world is changed one mind and one heart  at a time.  Please join us and let’s all walk our talk.