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 was initiated as a part of our 2022 Grace Upon Grace Strategic Plan. This page 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
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 City of Frisco Recycling Center.
Cardboard must be taken twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.
Batteries must be taken once a week on Mondays.
Sign Up using the link below. Contact Mel Caraway at mel.caraway@sbcglobal.net with questions.
Grace Avenue Creation Care Merch
Pick up your limited edition Grace Avenue Creation Care bags and shirts from the church office while supplies last!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - No act of caring for God's creation is too small!
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 contact Amy Maxwell at amy@graceavenue.org.
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 with any questions.
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.
Plarn
You may be thinking "what is plarn??" The Grace Avenue Prayer Shawl Ministry has learned how to reuse plastic shopping bags to make plarn (plastic + yarn). They use the plarn to create mats for our unsheltered neighbors. This is a helpful alternative because the mats are lightweight and water resistant. 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. You can donate your plastic bags in the Prayer Room to be turned to into plarn!
We 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 at home:
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! Check out this video on recycling.
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 documentary film from National Geographic about the life cycle of a walrus and her calf, and a polar bear and her cubs.