United Church of Christ

Green Team

Let's Be Better Stewards of God's Creation!

Mission Statement

To Educate and inspire us as a congregation to be better stewards of God's creation by preserving our Earth and its resources. Using the trinity of reduce, reuse, and recycle as our guide, we aim to empower each of us with the tools to consider our role in conservation both within the walls of the church and as members of the society at large.

MISSION 4/1 EARTH

ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down and shouting out for the environment! Launching on Easter Monday, April 1, it continues through Pentecost, May 19 - the 50 great days of Eastertide. During Mission 4/1 Earth, the United Church of Christ will offer 1 million hours of caring for the earth, plant more than 100,000 trees and send more than 100,000 advocacy letters on environmental concerns.

Suggested Mission 4/1 Earth participation:

Annual Wildflower Walk, New London - Friday, May 3 ~ Noon - 1:00 p.m.
(A Wildflower Walk with Glenn Dreyer, Arboretum Director)
Don�t miss the annual wildflower walk in the Edgerton and Stengle Wildflower Garden located just south of the Laurel Walk. Bring a bag lunch to eat by the pond, and then enjoy a 45-minute walk in this beautiful woodland garden. The garden should be at peak bloom. Meet in the Outdoor Theater in the Native Plant Collection on Williams Street in New London. Free. Registration suggested; call 860-439-5060.

Family Day at Florence Griswold Museum - Saturday, May 4 ~ 10 am - 5 pm
The Museum is open free to everyone for this 10th annual community day. It is a great time to gather family and friends for a day of exciting programs, great art, and beautiful views. Visitors can explore new exhibitions of art, tour the Griswold House, and wander historic gardens; http://www.flogris.org

What is Happening in Bolleswood?, New London - Saturday, May 4, 10 am - 11:30 am
An Information Walk with Professor Chad Jones. What effects have the past sixty years of hurricanes, gypsy moth, wooly adelgid infestations, and invasions of exotic plants had on the Bolleswood Natural Area, located west of the Native Plant Collection and the pond? This area was established for research and teaching purposes in 1952 on seventy-five acres of land that included hemlock and hardwood forests, a ravine and stream, abandoned pastures, and shrubland. Every ten years since that time, faculty and student research teams have performed detailed inventories of all the plant life along four 20��1000� strips of ground through this site. In this guided walk, Chad Jones will discuss some of the results from the 2012 survey and some of the changes in Bolleswood that have taken place during the past sixty years. Wear sturdy walking shoes, and be prepared to clamber over an occasional fallen tree. Meet at the main gate of the Native Plant Collection Williams Street. Registration required. Free. To register call 860-439-5060.

Family Earth Day, Hungerford Park, New Britain - Saturday, May 4 ~ 11am - 2 pm
11:30 Riverside Reptiles; 12:30 Birds of Prey; TrailWalks; Special Nature Presentations; Lunch Items for Sale; Animal Programs; Crafts for Kids; Adults $4, Children $2 (under 2 free); Free to Members. www.newbritainyouthmuseum.com

Early Morning Bird Walk - Hammonassett Beach State Park, Madison ~ Sunday, May 5 @ 6 am

Meigs Point Nature Center; Meet for a guided bird walk near the beach. Spotting scopes and experts will be available to help ID birds; an easy walk for all ages; Russ Miller, Director: Meigs Point Nature Center 860-462-9643 or 203-245-8743; rangermpnc@gmail.com; Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. No dogs please.

Recycled and Green Craft Ideas

Click on the link below to view a variety of craft ideas that you can make by recycling items that you may have in your home. Join our mission and become a better steward of God's creation!

GREEN CRAFT IDEAS

CALLING ALL GREETING CARDS!

The Green Team is collecting all occasion greeting cards which will be sent to the St. Jude Ranch for Children. They recycle your used cards and create new holiday and greeting cards for any occasion. At the moment they have an increased need for both Birthday and Thank You card donations.

For more information about St. Jude Ranch for Children, visit their website http://www.stjudesranch.org/shop/recycled-card-program, where you can also purchase some of the recycled cards!

Earth Day Celebration - UCC Article

Not only was DRCC's Earth Day spectacular on April 21, but it was featured in the United Church of Christ conference news section! Click here to read about "Deep River's Good "Green" Shepherds"! We were fortunate to have Drew Page from the UCC visit our church for this celebration, where he featured our church in an article.

We thank everyone who is taking part in the Mission 4/1 Earth program of 1 million hours in 50 days.

Earth Day Celebration

What a joyous Earth Day celebration we had in April. The Green Team hosted a variety of activities so we could all learn what each and every one of us can do to protect our planet to include displays and handouts on environmental issues and a biodegradable game. We also gave out seedlings obtained from the National Wildlife Federation. Information was available for congregational members to write letters as part of the UCC Mission 4/1 Earth campaign.

WHO WANTS TO BE GREENER

We thank all those who participated in the Lenten Supper program of Who Wants to be Greener. We appreciate the positive feedback from those who played the game to those who were in the audience. Many of you stated you learned some interesting facts and will be more aware of God�s creation!

Meeting Dates:

The Green Team thought the best way to start was to compile a list of ideas on how we can help the world, by become more Green in our own lives as well as in the life of the Church. Many suggestions were made and we look forward to implementing some of them in the very near future.

Our next meeting dates in the Upper Room at 7 pm:
Monday, May 20

Please join us for all are welcome!

GREEN TEAM - OUR CHALLENGE CONTINUES

DRCC's Green Team put forth a challenge and asked church attendees to bring in there own beverage container. Many responded positive to this idea and I hope you continue to bring in those mugs/cups so we can save on paper products. Our upcoming meeting dates are posted on the website and in the bulletin. We are eager to hear your ideas. Please join us for all are welcome!

DRCC's Green Team was formed in February 2012 to compliment the Sunday School recycling program, which was implemented in March of 2010 and the Board of Christian Education's goal of reaching the various levels of Green Action Steps set forth by the United Church of Christ.

We look forward to working with all the Boards and Committees of DRCC and encourage all congregational members to support our Green Team efforts!

Our current team members: Kari Petrovic (Chairperson), Donna Dione (Secretary), Claudia Hardy and Sybil Higgins

All are welcome and encouraged to join our team!