What is this committee's focus?
The Beloved Community's Creation Care Stewards focus is to make sure that we are caring for God's creation.
Climate change is a factor that is affecting all of us around the world. As a worldwide population, all of us need to make environmental changes; if we do not, then our current and future quality of life will be compromised. The goal of environmental sustainability is not only to conserve natural resources but to develop alternate sources of power that lessen our worldwide pollution. It is not only looking at conserving natural resources, but also preserving and expanding native plant life worldwide.
Do we have any obligation as Christians to care for what God has made?
The World’s faith communities state that climate change is a moral issue for all of us. Statements from the heads of the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches all agree that it is a moral issue and nations and their people must address reversing global warming.
Our love for God must be reflected in fulfilling the role God gave to humanity. God appointed us to bear God’s image (Gen 1:27) and entrusted this world to our care(Gen. 2:15). So caring for God’s creation is one of the most fundamental things we are called to do as Christians.
· Genesis 1:1-31 God made the heavens and the earth and it was good.
· Genesis 2:15 Humans are commanded to care for God’s creation.
On what issues is the committee focused?
Our current focus is to see what steps we can take as a congregation to help reduce global warming by making our building more energy efficient along with exploring sustainable energy options.
Can I be a part of the committee?
Absolutely! All are welcome. Looking to join? Contact contact Gary Cumley at garycumley@gmail.com or (715) 310-9295
Current News from Creation Care Steward Team
The Beloved Community's Creation Care Stewards focus is to make sure that we are caring for God's creation.
Climate change is a factor that is affecting all of us around the world. As a worldwide population, all of us need to make environmental changes; if we do not, then our current and future quality of life will be compromised. The goal of environmental sustainability is not only to conserve natural resources but to develop alternate sources of power that lessen our worldwide pollution. It is not only looking at conserving natural resources, but also preserving and expanding native plant life worldwide.
Do we have any obligation as Christians to care for what God has made?
The World’s faith communities state that climate change is a moral issue for all of us. Statements from the heads of the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches all agree that it is a moral issue and nations and their people must address reversing global warming.
Our love for God must be reflected in fulfilling the role God gave to humanity. God appointed us to bear God’s image (Gen 1:27) and entrusted this world to our care(Gen. 2:15). So caring for God’s creation is one of the most fundamental things we are called to do as Christians.
· Genesis 1:1-31 God made the heavens and the earth and it was good.
· Genesis 2:15 Humans are commanded to care for God’s creation.
On what issues is the committee focused?
Our current focus is to see what steps we can take as a congregation to help reduce global warming by making our building more energy efficient along with exploring sustainable energy options.
Can I be a part of the committee?
Absolutely! All are welcome. Looking to join? Contact contact Gary Cumley at garycumley@gmail.com or (715) 310-9295
Current News from Creation Care Steward Team
- Climate Change is a real thing and BC Creation Care groups are helping to take care of what God has given us.
- BC has 3 phases to our Creative Care plan
- Members of the Alternative Energy Task Force – We have worked closely with Ryan Negro from Focus on Energy -Dorey and Jamie Delikowski, John Rendall, Larry Kind, Tom Orden, Gary Cumley.
- Phase One- all outdoor and indoor lights have been upgraded to LED lights except for the gym area.
- Savings for the lighting upgrade- saving 11,758 kWh; Annual $ savings= $1295.79 Cost payback 3.38 years, $741.29 incentive from Focus on Energy.
- Final Cost $4383.71 for lighting upgrade. Funds from both churches in the Capital Account were used to pay the final costs.
- Phase one- Replacement of the refrigerators and dishwashers are the only thing needs to finish Phase One. If upgraded to Energy Star then we would save 2,202 kWh.
- The approximate cost of replacing the refrigerators and dishwashers would be about $3000. We are looking for donations and/or other funding sources.
- Members of the Prairie Planting Task Force- We have worked closely with Brendan Woodall, Wisconsin Private Lands Biologist from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife services. -Carol Moore, Judy Orden, Mary Schoonover, Paul Dorsee, Ann Keifer, and Ellen Christenson
- Phase Two- bringing back our natural environment by native plantings. See Carol Moore’s article
- Phase Two –project has been fully funded and will be completed by May 2023.
- Phase Three- We will be working closely with Ryan Negro from Focus on Energy to investigate the possibility of installing solar panels. We will be scheduling a time with Ryan to make a presentation to the congregation about energy conservation and the feasibility of installing solar panels. Securing funding for Phase Three will be through investigating grant opportunities through Focus on Energy, non-profit grant opportunities and from donations.
- If you have any questions about the Beloved Community’s Creation Care please contact Gary Cumley at garycumley@gmail.com or 715-310-9295.
Phase Two has started for our Creation Care Team!
Creation Care – Our Landscape
A new committee has been formed under Creation Care. Members are Mary Schoonover, Judy Ordens, Paul Doxsee, Ellen Christensen, Ann Kiefer and Carol Moore.
Our goal is to help bring back the rapidly diminishing wild space that God has created for us to enjoy and care for, and to help us instill an appreciation for nature in the next generation. In order to reach our goal we plan to develop additional sections of our grounds into native plantings, following the Creation Care work the Vacation Bible School children did in 2019, planting trees, and the planting of pollinator plants by Ann Kiefer.
Recently, three bluebird nest boxes have been added to our grounds. In addition, planting of native pollinator plants and the border to enclose the native plants, using what had been the Basil Garden, will be underway in late May. Following that installation, developing a prairie grounds south of the parking lot and rain garden in the north drainage ditch is planned. The plan and the seeds for both gardens will be provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Our part is to pay for the preparation and planting installation.
The estimated start-up cost is $1700.00. with the see cost of $400.00 paid by the USFWS. The remainder $1300.00 is our share of the preparation and planting of the prairie and rain garden. Our share of the start-up costs has been paid for by the generosity of our Beloved Community membership. We will continue to need help to purchase additional native pollinator plants to help complete the plantings, as well as signage featuring the Prairie and Rain Gardens, and educational components of the project. Your help with these areas will be greatly appreciated by the Creation Care Committee.
We plan to start the prairie and rain garden project this summer, with seeding in October. We will see the benefits of the pollinator garden as early as Fall, 2022 and the prairie and rain garden not until 2024, but well worth the wait!
Please feel free to ask me for the details of both projects. I can be reached at 715-340-3362, text or phone, or at cacmoo@gmail.com
Creation Care – Our Landscape
A new committee has been formed under Creation Care. Members are Mary Schoonover, Judy Ordens, Paul Doxsee, Ellen Christensen, Ann Kiefer and Carol Moore.
Our goal is to help bring back the rapidly diminishing wild space that God has created for us to enjoy and care for, and to help us instill an appreciation for nature in the next generation. In order to reach our goal we plan to develop additional sections of our grounds into native plantings, following the Creation Care work the Vacation Bible School children did in 2019, planting trees, and the planting of pollinator plants by Ann Kiefer.
Recently, three bluebird nest boxes have been added to our grounds. In addition, planting of native pollinator plants and the border to enclose the native plants, using what had been the Basil Garden, will be underway in late May. Following that installation, developing a prairie grounds south of the parking lot and rain garden in the north drainage ditch is planned. The plan and the seeds for both gardens will be provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Our part is to pay for the preparation and planting installation.
The estimated start-up cost is $1700.00. with the see cost of $400.00 paid by the USFWS. The remainder $1300.00 is our share of the preparation and planting of the prairie and rain garden. Our share of the start-up costs has been paid for by the generosity of our Beloved Community membership. We will continue to need help to purchase additional native pollinator plants to help complete the plantings, as well as signage featuring the Prairie and Rain Gardens, and educational components of the project. Your help with these areas will be greatly appreciated by the Creation Care Committee.
We plan to start the prairie and rain garden project this summer, with seeding in October. We will see the benefits of the pollinator garden as early as Fall, 2022 and the prairie and rain garden not until 2024, but well worth the wait!
Please feel free to ask me for the details of both projects. I can be reached at 715-340-3362, text or phone, or at cacmoo@gmail.com
The Creation Care Team has started planting! Our Prairie Pollinators have been started. We look forward to watching these grow and see what is added through the growing season.