I love nature. In its beauty and wonder, I realize that nature is the handiwork of God. The majesty of God‘s creation is something of which we are all a part, therefore, the destiny of the earth is also the destiny of us all.
God blessed us with the privilege of being the caretakers of all that God has created. When we care for the environment, we are participating in a spiritual practice just as significant as prayer, Bible study, Sacramental participation and acts of mercy and giving. Loving God includes loving the earth God created. Creation Care is, therefore, first and foremost a spiritual and theological matter.
The Creation Care ministry is being initiated as a part our Grace Upon Grace Strategic Plan. This webpage outlines several opportunities which are beginning steps in this ministry. I encourage you to consider how we as a church, and all of us as individual households, can do our part to be stewards of God’s creation. No act of caring for God’s creation is too small.
With you on Grace Avenue,
Billy Echols-Richter
Pastor
Trail Clean Up
Please join our Green Team to help beautify our city and clean up Cottonwood Creek Trail and our Adopt-a-Street. All ages are welcome! Bring a friend! We will meet in the Grace Avenue north parking lot on the designated date at 8:30 a.m. and then drive to the area to be cleaned. Water and all equipment required to pick up trash will be provided. If you would like to bring your own gloves to make it easier, that's fine.
If you have any questions, please contactTiffany Krieg at 214-718-4535, or email tiffany.d.krieg@gmail.com
Recycling Volunteers Needed
In the past Grace Avenue has not been able maintain an adequate recycling program because of the lack of a large recycling container. Once our partnership with the Sting Soccer team is complete, we will have a new, large container. In the mean time, we are coordinating volunteers to take cardboard and other recyclables to the Frisco Environmental Collection Center.
Contact Tami Craighead at tami.craighead@gmail.com to volunteer.
Global Ministries Earthkeepers
United Methodist Global Ministries is seeking U.S.-based United Methodists to lead grassroots environmental projects that are action-oriented, antiracist, bold and entrepreneurial.
Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training program
that equips US-based United Methodists to launch and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training.
Currently there are only about 500 certified Earthkeepers in the U.S, one of whom is Grace Avenue’s own Mel Caraway. Contact Mel at mel.caraway@sbcglobal.net
Community Garden
Every year the Community Garden provides fresh produce to local food pantries to support our neighbors in need. We need help watering, weeding and keeping up with the garden.
Contact Holly Hanson at hollyhansond@gmail.com to volunteer.
What is Plarn?
We certainly want you to use your Grace Avenue fabric bags for shopping. However, we still have a lot of plastic bags in our lives. The Grace Avenue Prayer Shawl Ministry has learned how to reuse them to make Plarn (Plastic + Yarn) mats. These are useful for our unsheltered neighbors because they are lightweight and water resistant. You can donate your plastic bags in the Prayer Room to be turned to into plarn!
Green Kids!
We also want to engage our children in caring for our planet. They likely have a lot to teach us! Here are some resources and ideas to help get started!
Go On a Recycling Scavenger Hunt- Head out to your local park and see how much you can collect from the environment that can be recycled. If you’re super competitive, you can make it a race!
Donate Toys and Clothes- Instead of throwing away toys your children no longer play with, help them choose some to be donated and reused by other children.
Plant a Garden with your Kids- Engage your kids in the process or even give them a small plot of their own to care for. Take them to the library and look for age appropriate books on gardening to build the excitement!
Arctic Tale
This is a 2007 American documentary film from the National Geographic Society about the life cycle of a walrus and her calf, and a polar bear and her cubs.
Grace Avenue Merch
Pick up your limited edition Grace Avenue Creation Care bags and shirts on Sundays in the Worship Center Lobby or the Sanctuary Narthex starting April 16th!
Shirts are $15
(please contact communications@graceavenue.org to purchase a shirt)
Bags are $10 or 3 for $25
(Purchase Online HERE)
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- No act of caring for God's creation is too small!