Uxbridge Church Monkeys Around When it Comes to the Environment

Summer worship held at Southwick's Zoo

The First Evangelical Congregational Church of Uxbridge chose to move outside their church building for worship services this summer. But unlike some churches who hold service in their friendship gardens, First Evangelical went beyond their meetinghouse gates.

In an effort to embrace stewardship of the environment and to honor their covenant with the earth and its creatures, members were invited to join Rev. Gordon Merten and EARTH ltd. in a partnership of worship and ecology at the Earth Discovery Center at Southwick's Zoo in nearby Mendon.

For eight weeks, attendees proceeded to the presentation area -- which houses a stage and pavilions normally used for special nature programs -- instead of a sanctuary.

Rev. Gordon Merten, interim pastor, felt it was an ideal spot for worship. "Being around the habitats and creatures themselves proved to be an appropriate setting to focus our faith on the environment, conservation and protection of animals," he said.

Merten, along with church member Betsey Brewer, developed the program, which included hymns, prayers, offering, scripture, a message and a nature segment. The Brewer family has a very strong presence in the Uxbridge congregation, and since Betsey is the founder and executive director of the Earth Limited Eco-education Center at Southwick's, it seemed a natural partnership. EARTH Limited (Environmental Awareness of Resources and Threatened Habitats) is a grassroots, non-profit educational organization which provides environmental and conservation education with an emphasis on animal ecology, endangered species and threatened habitats.

Animals played an integral part in the service. For example, on one Sunday in July, the sermon focused on the rain forest and "our lost medical resources." The special guests that day were macaws. Chimpanzees helped relay the message of the "turmoil in Africa" during another service.

Over 50 people from all over the area attended each week. Merten believes that all who participated enjoyed the setting and the chance to share their faith amidst the beauty of God's creatures. Several people commented about the educational and religious impact of the call to be good stewards of the earth. Many other people found the worship a refreshing change from sanctuary services -- being out in nature itself with animals all around.

"We had a chance to worship with families from other churches and communities," he said. "Every week there were new faces and families to be greeted and welcomed."

The program was so successful, Merten expects to do it again next year. Members served as guides, carryall drivers and ushers. The gates opened at 8:30am, and worship started at 9:00am; but the zoo opened at 10:00am, so if one chose to experience worship only, you were greeted at the parking lot, directed to the center, and could return to your car afterward. Group rates were offered to attendees who wanted to stay and enter the zoo after worship, and several families took advantage of this opportunity and enjoyed a day at the zoo after worship. The zoo even provided a carryall vehicle to transport folks to and from the Resource Area if they didn't want to or couldn't walk.

In addition to highlighting the animals, Brewer's challenge to the group was to stop using plastic shopping bags. That request resulted in the church giving out more than 700 cloth bags over the eight weeks. Bag donations came from local grocery stores, businesses, and members.

"Our goal was to raise awareness of our earth, its animals and resources as faithful stewards of God's Creation, said Merten.

"As it says in Psalm 24:1, 'The earth is the Lord's and all that dwell in it, the world and those that live in it.' What better way to focus on that responsibility than to invite those who care deeply for our environment and the animals who share the planet than to join with them in worship? Massachusetts Conference UCC churches once again show that all are welcome -- even non-humans.

Merten can be reached at the First Evangelical Congregational Church in Uxbridge at 508-278-3071 or by sending an email.

Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.

You may reprint this story by including the following line in your article:
"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"

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Uxbridge Church Monkeys Around When it Comes to the Environment

Summer worship held at Southwick's Zoo

The First Evangelical Congregational Church of Uxbridge chose to move outside their church building for worship services this summer. But unlike some churches who hold service in their friendship gardens, First Evangelical went beyond their meetinghouse gates.

In an effort to embrace stewardship of the environment and to honor their covenant with the earth and its creatures, members were invited to join Rev. Gordon Merten and EARTH ltd. in a partnership of worship and ecology at the Earth Discovery Center at Southwick's Zoo in nearby Mendon.

For eight weeks, attendees proceeded to the presentation area -- which houses a stage and pavilions normally used for special nature programs -- instead of a sanctuary.

Rev. Gordon Merten, interim pastor, felt it was an ideal spot for worship. "Being around the habitats and creatures themselves proved to be an appropriate setting to focus our faith on the environment, conservation and protection of animals," he said.

Merten, along with church member Betsey Brewer, developed the program, which included hymns, prayers, offering, scripture, a message and a nature segment. The Brewer family has a very strong presence in the Uxbridge congregation, and since Betsey is the founder and executive director of the Earth Limited Eco-education Center at Southwick's, it seemed a natural partnership. EARTH Limited (Environmental Awareness of Resources and Threatened Habitats) is a grassroots, non-profit educational organization which provides environmental and conservation education with an emphasis on animal ecology, endangered species and threatened habitats.

Animals played an integral part in the service. For example, on one Sunday in July, the sermon focused on the rain forest and "our lost medical resources." The special guests that day were macaws. Chimpanzees helped relay the message of the "turmoil in Africa" during another service.

Over 50 people from all over the area attended each week. Merten believes that all who participated enjoyed the setting and the chance to share their faith amidst the beauty of God's creatures. Several people commented about the educational and religious impact of the call to be good stewards of the earth. Many other people found the worship a refreshing change from sanctuary services -- being out in nature itself with animals all around.

"We had a chance to worship with families from other churches and communities," he said. "Every week there were new faces and families to be greeted and welcomed."

The program was so successful, Merten expects to do it again next year. Members served as guides, carryall drivers and ushers. The gates opened at 8:30am, and worship started at 9:00am; but the zoo opened at 10:00am, so if one chose to experience worship only, you were greeted at the parking lot, directed to the center, and could return to your car afterward. Group rates were offered to attendees who wanted to stay and enter the zoo after worship, and several families took advantage of this opportunity and enjoyed a day at the zoo after worship. The zoo even provided a carryall vehicle to transport folks to and from the Resource Area if they didn't want to or couldn't walk.

In addition to highlighting the animals, Brewer's challenge to the group was to stop using plastic shopping bags. That request resulted in the church giving out more than 700 cloth bags over the eight weeks. Bag donations came from local grocery stores, businesses, and members.

"Our goal was to raise awareness of our earth, its animals and resources as faithful stewards of God's Creation, said Merten.

"As it says in Psalm 24:1, 'The earth is the Lord's and all that dwell in it, the world and those that live in it.' What better way to focus on that responsibility than to invite those who care deeply for our environment and the animals who share the planet than to join with them in worship? Massachusetts Conference UCC churches once again show that all are welcome -- even non-humans.

Merten can be reached at the First Evangelical Congregational Church in Uxbridge at 508-278-3071 or by sending an email.

Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.

You may reprint this story by including the following line in your article:
"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"

• Talk with others about how God is Still Speaking at your church. Send us your story at spotlight@macucc.org. Suggest to others that they subscribe to Spotlight.
• Forward this email to your members.