EARTH CARE

The Earth Care Committee is a group of people committed to caring for the environment.

It organizes activities to:

• increase awareness about our interaction with the natural world and its consequences
• create venues for discussion about environmental issues, solutions and alternatives
• focus collective and individual action to transform our society's unsustainable practices
• inspire advocates and activists to protect and restore our local and global environment.

FCC's EARTH CARE COVENANT

We, the First Congregational Church of Sonoma, United Church of Christ, proclaim our love for God's Creation and profess our belief that the Earth and all its life forms are an interconnected part of the sacred Web of Life.

We therefore covenant together to join in the great work of healing, preservation and justice as we strive to reduce our individual and collective adverse impact on the environment and to repair the damage that has been done to God's Earth. In worship and church life we will express our appreciation and give praise for the Earth and all its forms of life.

We make this covenant in the hope and faith that through our work we will be able to help improve and sustain the health of the land, air and water for the benefit of all current and future inhabitants of this Planet.

EAT LOCAL POTLUCKS

Earth Care sponsors "Eat Local" potlucks throughout the year whereby friends use food produced within 100 miles of here. Earch Care actively supports local growers.

FCC E-Mail & Letter Writing Campaign in Support of Public Polices for Environmental Sustainability& Climate Protection.

On the second Sunday of each month, the Earth Care Committee will provide information for an "action alert" addressing a current environmental policy issue. The monthly Action Alerts will be taken either from our United Church of Christ Justice and Peace Action Network (www.ucc.org/justice/-join-the-network) or from California Interfaith Power and Light (www.interfaithpower.org or www.theregenerationproject.org) of which our FCC has been a member since 2003.

You can find policy action alert information at a table next to the Earth Care Committee’s Fair Trade table in Burlingame Hall. You can take action either by email or by signing and mailing a prepared letter. To send a letter by email, log onto www.theregenerationproject.org, then at top of the homepage, click on the "TAKE ACTION" for the current "Action Item". You may have to register the first time before sending the email letter to Senators Feinstein and Boxer. For more information, contact John Donnelly.

Click here to view our latest Earth Care Action .pdf.

SPOTLIGHT ON EARTH CARE COMMITTEE

The Earth Care Committee consists of members Kathy Jewell, Kathy Aanestad, Cathy Webber, Chey Hendra, John Donnelly and Randy States. Veda Lewis is the Church Council Liason.

The committee meets once a month, on the first Wednesday of the month. Several years ago, in an effort to become more environmentally sensitive and sustainable, FCC adopted an Earth Care Covenant. The purpose of the Earth Care Committee is to help the church live out this covenant, as well as raise consciousness about environmental issues within the church, as well as the greater community.

The Earth Care Committee has been working hard to reduce the church’s environmental footprint. They have implemented a recycling program, and are having energy audits conducted on the facility’s lighting and appliances. Using Ellis Jones’ book, The Better World Shopping Guide, the
committee has prepared guidelines to assist in converting from the use of harmful, toxic and unsustainably produced goods to the use of products that are healthy, safe and sustainably made.

The committee has gotten the minister, church leadership, and church employees, as well as the tenants, Congregation Shir Shalom and Old Adobe School, involved in this process as well.

The Earth Care Committee has been promoting Fair Trade products including coffee and chocolate. Fair Trade allows farmers to earn a fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit, and gain a long-term trading partner they can trust by working with a fair-trade
organization. A new Fair Trade Sales Team which includes Lori Hutchinson, Todd Evans, Joan Huguenard and Margie Mitchell will be selling products and raising awareness on the second Sunday of each month following worship.

In an effort to support local farmers, individuals, business and organizations that embrace environmentally sustainable practices, the committee has organized two Eat Local Potlucks. Church members were encouraged to bring a seasonal, locally grown or produced food to share.
More potlucks are planned for the future. Other future plans include an audit of the church’s landscaping products and planning of Earth Day activities. The Earth Care Committee has been busy promoting many worthwhile efforts. What an asset they are, not only to our church, but to the entire community!

Movie recommendation

For more about Environmental websites, click here.
Recommended Environmental Books - click here
Planet Facts and What You Can Do, click here.
What is Sustainability? Click here.