Green Congregations Challenge

Completing a Green Congregations Challenge Level in 2019? Please read: 

Because this is a Tri-Conference transition year and there is no June annual meeting (when we have traditionally bestowed Green Congregation awards) there is also no particular deadline for 2019. The Environmental Ministries team is accepting step lists and reports as churches complete them; awards will be presented at each church on an individual basis. Please contact Karen Methot with completed materials, or with any questions. Thank you!

 

THE CHALLENGE

Today's environmental realities call us to examine how we live. As people of faith, we look to the scriptures for guidance for the choices we make in our lives. Genesis 1 says that when God created the heavens and the earth, God saw that everything was "very good." We learn in Genesis 3 that as humankind has the freedom to make moral choices, each of us lives with the responsibility for our personal actions or in-actions. With God’s gift of  free will, the prophet Micah guides us towards moral and responsible lifestyle choices: we are to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God [Micah 6:8].

Massachusetts Conference Environmental Ministries certifies participating local churches as Green Congregations with three levels of achievement. Churches are invited to complete 12 action steps of their choice (see brochure below); once complete, the church submits a list of those steps and a brief write up highlighting one or two actions that proved most meaningful to their congregation. Churches satisfying the requirements at each level will be presented with an award commensurate with their achievement. 

For information on this program please view the printable guide below or contact Karen Methot  methotk@macucc.org.

Tri-fold brochure                                                    

 

 THE HONOR ROLL

Level 1

South Acton Congregational Church, Acton - 2013

First Congregational Church, Amherst - 2012

South Congregational Church, Amherst - 2015

South Church in Andover - 2013

Church of the Covenant, Federated, Boston - 2013

UCC Congregational, Burlington - 2017

Canaan Congregational Church - 2016

Edwards Church, Framingham - 2017

Waquoit Congregational Church, Falmouth - 2018

Grace Congregational Church, Framingham - 2012

First Congregational Church, Holliston - 2014

First Church of Christ, Longmeadow - 2018

First Congregational Church of Natick - 2016

Congregational Church of Needham - 2012

First Parish Church, Newbury - 2012

Eliot Church of Newton - 2016

Union Congregational Church, North Reading - 2014

Federated Church of Orleans - 2017

First Congregational Church, Shrewsbury - 2012

First Congregational Church, Stockbridge - 2016

Trinitarian Congregational Church, Warwick - 2015

Wellesley Congregational Church - 2013

First Congregational Church of West Tisbury - 2017

The Congregational Church of Weston - 2012

First Congregational Church, Winchester - 2018

Level 2

First Congregational Church, Amherst  - 2016

South Congregational Church, Amherst - 2015

South Church in Andover - 2013

Edwards Church, Framingham - 2018

Grace Congregational Church, Framingham - 2013

First Church in Natick - 2018

Eliot Church of Newton - 2016

Federated Church of Orleans - 2018

First Congregational Church, Shrewsbury - 2014

Trinitarian Congregational Church, Warwick - 2015

Level 3

South Congregational Church, Amherst - 2017

South Church in Andover - 2013

Grace Congregational Church, Framingham - 2015

Eliot Church of Newton - 2016

Trinitarian Congregational Church, Warwick - 2015

 

THE STORIES

Click one of the following links to read about the environmental ministries of the Massachusetts congregations honored as Green Congregations at past Annual Meetings:
 
Congregations honored at the June 16-17, 2017 Annual Meeting.
Congregations honored at the June 17-18, 2016 Annual Meeting.
Congregations honored at the June 12-13, 2015 Annual Meeting.
Congregations honored at the June 13-14, 2014 Annual Meeting.
Congregations honored at the June 14-15, 2013 Annual Meeting.
Congregations honored at the June 15-16, 2012 Annual Meeting.

TAKING ACTION

See this document for tips on "How to Start a Green Team at your Church."

BE PART OF A LARGER MOVEMENT!

Green Congregations are part of a larger UCC movement, view other churches across the UCC here:  http://www.ucc.org/creation_champions_church_environmental_recognitions