A small group of environmentally conscious people at Lincoln Road Chapel recently started thinking about what it might mean for them to honour and worship God in the way they dealt with trash.
Although recycling is a familiar rhythm at home, it doesn’t always translate to life at church.
And yet – isn’t recycling our coffee cups and composting leftover donuts a way in which we also love God?
So, the Green Team was born.
When I spoke to Green Team members Blair and Angelica, they said the initial impulse was simply to recycle properly.
It meant getting a better system in place throughout the church building.
Proper recycling and compost bins, with labels and instructions clearly laid out.
The next step is deciding what to tackle next.
Is it a garbage audit?
Choosing the most environmentally friendly cleaning products?
Reducing power consumption?
Planting additional trees around the building to reduce lawn mowing and increase air quality?
So many things to consider!
One thing for sure – getting more bike racks.
The number of university students and families who regularly bike to church has increased significantly.
And of course, a proper place to park their bikes encourages and affirms their transportation choice.
When the Scriptures tell us to “keep” the earth and to “keep God’s commandments (Gen 2:15 and Exod 15:26), Angelica reminded me that the word “keep” is the same Hebrew word in both instances.
Unfortunately environmental issues have become politicized and dominion has meant something other than stewardship.
Angelica sees the Green Team as part of their collective witness to the community.
It’s a way of saying that they care about the environment.
After all, this is God’s created world!
So, they are caring and keeping, one step at a time.
Photo creds: the blowup (Unsplash)