May: Good News! from Creation Care

Through a subscription with Recycled City, Gina Bowers, our Creation Care ministry leader, has been composting for the past three years in the Phoenix area. Recycled City is a local company serving Phoenix and surrounding communities. Gina recently received a summary of her environmental impact, which highlighted the difference her participation has made. Over the past three years, approximately 450 lbs of food waste from her two-person household was collected that would have otherwise gone to a landfill. Instead, it was composted and used to help grow crops. This is equivalent to not driving 444 miles and offsetting about 20 gallons of gas. From a greenhouse gas perspective, the impact is comparable to growing three urban tree seedlings for 10 years. Bigger households can expect to see even bigger results! Gina feels great knowing that she is having a positive impact on our planet and RCity makes it so easy.

Consider composting yourself OR sign up for this wonderful service at https://recycledcity.com

May: Good News! from Creation Care

Monarch Butterflies are rebounding after years of decline! Why is this important? Butterflies are pollinators and that makes them environmentally and economically important. This last winter, scientists measured a 64% increase in their population. This is possibly due to the reduction in forest degradation within their winter habitat. How can WE help the Monarchs? Stop the use of pesticides in your yard. Also, plant milkweed and flowering plants, one of their main sources of food. Read more about this good news.

April: Good News! from Creation Care

Norway has become the first country to commit to a ban on deforestation. This is a huge step to protecting the “lungs of our planet” and hopefully other countries will follow suit. Read more about this historic ban.

March: Good News! from Creation Care

You have the opportunity and power to elect clean energy candidates to the SRP board. If you own property that is serviced by SRP and are 18 years old, you can request a ballot to vote in the election being held on April 7, 2026. Request a Ballot.

February: Good News! from Creation Care

Researchers have identified and mapped “climate change safe havens”—areas that are more resilient to warming and could help communities adapt over time. As one researcher put it, these places may help us “buy crucial decades” to respond and protect what matters most. Read the article.

As you shop for gifts this December, make sustainability part of the celebration! Choose items that are locally made, reusable, responsibly sourced, or secondhand, and avoid excess packaging whenever possible. When it’s time to wrap, skip the single-use paper and get creative with reusable bags, fabric wraps, baskets, or materials you already have at home. Small choices add up—and help keep the season joyful and gentle on the planet. For thoughtful, eco-friendly gift inspiration, don’t forget to explore the Green Gift Guide!

Let’s get creative without harming the environment! There are many alternatives to using store-bought wrapping paper when preparing gifts for the holidays. Many wrapping papers on the market are not recyclable and end up in landfills. Consider using plain brown packaging paper or pages from the Sunday newspaper, which can be decorated with paint, markers, or rubber stamps. New kitchen towels also make great gift wraps—and they double as an extra gift for the recipient. Finally, gift bags and decorative boxes can be stored and reused each year for a zero-waste Christmas. We hope this gives you some inspiration!

While AI can be a useful tool, it is important to understand that it hurts our environment. Perhaps the most concerning is the large amounts of water needed to cool electrical components.

“According to the Washington Post in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside, writing a single 100-word email in Open AI's ChatGPT is the equivalent of consuming just over one bottle of water.

In a more extreme example, if 1 in 10 Americans used ChatGPT weekly for a year, it would require the amount of water equal to that used by the entirety of Rhode Island — for 1.5 days.”

Check your setting on your search engines so they aren’t programed to use AI automatically when you search. That would help conserve our precious resource.

Tip for the Holidays: Feeling the holiday rush creeping in? Take the stress down a notch and go green! Join us for the Green Gift Guide Event on Sunday, November 2 at 10:00 AM in the Courtyard, or simply browse the guide to spark ideas. You’ll discover creative, eco-friendly gift options that celebrate both your loved ones and the planet. Nothing to buy that day—just inspiration to help you plan ahead with purpose.

As we move into fall, let’s continue caring for God’s creation together! Please make use of the recycling bins on campus or consider bringing items home to recycle, helping to ease the burden on the church. At coffee hour, we encourage everyone to use reusable dishes when possible—or better yet, bring your own favorite mug! Don’t forget to stay hydrated and eco-friendly by refilling your bottles at the water filling station in the Parish Hall. And if you use plastic grocery bags, please return them to your local store for recycling if you can’t reuse them. Every small step makes a big difference!

Baby, It’s Hot Outside! So why not turn down the heat—on your water heater? Most are set at a steamy 140°F by default, but lowering the temperature to 120°F can save energy and money. It’s a simple change with a big impact. Easy peasy!

Looking for something refreshing during the hot summer months? A cold salad might be just the thing—and it's the perfect excuse to try Meatless Mondays!

Skipping meat just one day a week benefits your health, saves money, and helps the environment. For example, producing one pound of beef uses about 1,700 gallons of water, while a pound of vegetables requires only 39 gallons.

The health benefits are well-documented, and the cost savings add up quickly.

Fun fact: Meatless Mondays began during World War I, when Americans were encouraged to cut back on meat to support the war effort and avoid rationing.

Why not give it a try this summer? Your body, your budget, and the planet will thank you!

Bring Your Refillable Water Bottle!

Refill, Refresh, Rejoice!

This summer, stay cool and eco-conscious with a simple habit: bring your refillable water bottle! We’re thrilled to celebrate our first summer with the new water refill station—you’ll find it just outside the restrooms in the Parish Hall.

Why does it matter? Because every sip from a reusable bottle helps cut down on single-use plastic waste and keeps harmful microplastics out of your body and our environment. It’s a win for your health and the planet.

Forgot your bottle? No worries—just remember to recycle any plastic bottles you do use. Every small choice adds up to big change.

As consumers, we have power—and we can use that power to choose products with Earth-friendly packaging. By selecting compostable packaging, we contribute to the care and preservation of our planet. A great example is egg cartons, which typically come in three materials: cardboard, plastic, and styrofoam. Plastic and styrofoam can take hundreds of years to break down. While plastic may be recyclable depending on your city’s guidelines, the best choice is cardboard, as it is both compostable and recyclable. An added bonus of cardboard egg cartons is that they can be repurposed as natural planters for growing seedlings. We hope you’ll consider packaging choices when shopping. It’s a small change that can lead to a big impact over ti

April Tip: Support Our Parks

April 19-25 is National Park Week, and our Creation Care Committee encourages everyone to support our parks in meaningful ways. You can visit a national park to appreciate its beauty, make a donation to support conservation efforts, pick up litter while practicing Leave No Trace principles, or even contact an elected official to share why our National Parks matter to you. However you choose to celebrate, your efforts help protect these natural treasures for future generations. Find more ways to get involved here: Good Good Good – How to Help National Parks. 

March Tip from Creation Care: Under-the-Sink Hot Water Heater

How long do you have to run the water in your kitchen or bathroom to get hot water? In just three minutes, a traditional water tank can release up to 120 gallons of water. This is our most precious resource, yet it often goes down the drain. An under-the-sink water heater can help save water by heating it more quickly. These units are available at stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. While it’s an investment, it can save hundreds of gallons of water—a valuable tip for anyone living in the desert.

February Tip from Creation Care: Recycling Can Save You Money

Recycling can be both eco-friendly and budget-friendly! Many cities offer recycling services for plastics, cardboard, paper, and aluminum. Check your city's website for the most up-to-date list of accepted items.

Did you know that Staples provides recycling for tech supplies? Items such as adapters, wall chargers, hard drives, headphones, keyboards, and ink cartridges can be recycled there. Plus, you’ll earn rewards points for these items, which can be used for discounts on future purchases. Learn more at Staples Recycling Program.

In addition to Staples, a local nonprofit, AZ Strut, also offers electronic recycling. They have multiple drop-off sites and even a pickup service. AZ Strut is connected with ASU and refurbishes some donated electronics, providing them to other local nonprofits while also teaching students computer repair. Their website, azstrut.org, is a great resource for learning more.

By keeping these items out of landfills, you're not only helping the environment but also reaping personal benefits. It's a win-win! Remember: Reduce, reuse, recycle!

January’s Easy Green Tip: Skip the dry cycle on your dishwasher!

Let your dishes air dry instead—just crack the door open after the wash cycle. It’s a small tweak that can save energy, lower your utility bill, and reduce your carbon footprint. 🌎

Easy peasy, right? Cheers to a greener, cleaner year ahead!

Let's harness our consumer power when gift giving! Choose to purchase positively by supporting sustainable, fair-trade, and ethically sourced products. Together, we can make a difference for the environment, communities, and ethical practices. Check out our curated gift guide to shop consciously and spread goodwill with your purchases.