Environmental Action

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

ABOUT

The mission of the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) of Village Church is to be a bold witness by advocating environmental justice for all creation. We are committed to making Village Church more environmentally aware and sustainable as an institution by reducing its environmental impact and by practicing, modeling and teaching faithful and responsible stewardship of God's Creation. Our call is to promote earth-keeping within and beyond the walls of our church. Our hope is to raise people’s awareness and to stir their conscience so that they might incorporate creation care into their daily living.

Throughout the year, EAC oversees the ongoing recycling efforts of the church and offers environmental education opportunities through Village U, Sunday school classes and displays.

Under the leadership of EAC, Village Church is certified as an Earth Care Congregation. Earth Care Congregations is a program sponsored by PC(USA)'s Department of Environmental Ministries. Certification means our church is one of 124 Presbyterian Churches nationally that have integrated environmental practices and thinking into its church life by completing projects and activities in the four fields of worship, education, facilities and outreach. The purpose of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way by incorporating earth care into their mission and ministry.

JOIN US

The Environmental Action Committee welcomes your participation. We are always looking for new members to join our committee as well as volunteers to help with activities and events. We typically meet at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every other month at the church. Contact Jerry Rees (913-568-4250) or Al Pugsley (913-226-7225) for more information or to learn how you can get involved.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Monarch Waystation & Butterfly Garden

EAC is in its second year of creating and maintaining a Monarch Waystation & Butterfly Garden west of the Food Pantry. This spring, the following actions occurred: clearing deadwood, pulling weeds, planting milkweeds & nectar plants, building cages, creating a map and establishing a watering rotation of eight people.

In early June, the Village youth showed up unexpectedly and performed the gift of weeding and mulching the path. Thank you to our youth!

If you are interested in helping with this garden, contact Jerry Rees or Dr. Rodger Nishioka.

Let the Sun Shine In!
Solar Panels Can Do Just That

The Village Church Child and Family Development Center (VCCFDC) at 9900 Mission Road in Overland Park has been designed to accommodate an expandable array of 270 solar panels, capable of supplying 2/3 of the building's electrical demand. In November 2016, 45 solar panels were installed as part of its initial construction. In November 2017, 36 panels were retrofitted, bringing the total number of installed solar panels to 81.

The cost of these solar panels was paid for by funds raised by the Environmental Action Committee. EAC estimates that the cost of 30 additional panels will be $19,200. With $12,318 currently in the solar account, EAC’s fundraising is already 64% toward that goal.

EAC invites you to help purchase these 30 panels. To contribute, send a check payable to “Village Church” to Marianne Weber, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Write “SOLAR” on the memo line. Like all donations to the church, this donation will be tax deductible.

As an investment that will eventually pay for itself in dollars, the use of solar panels will reduce the annual operating costs of the Center during the 25-year life of the panels, resulting in savings that will support our mission and ministry. By contributing to the purchase of additional panels, you can make an immediate and tangible investment in clean, renewable, inexhaustible energy. During the 50+ year life of this building, these solar panels will constitute a legacy for the VCCFDC children and their children.

EARTH CARE CONGREGATION RECERTIFICATION

In March 2016, Village Church was certified as an Earth Care Congregation for the sixth year in a row! Earth Care Congregations is a program sponsored by PC(USA)'s Department of Environmental Ministries. The purpose of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way by incorporating earth care into their mission and ministry.

To become certified, a church affirms an Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into all aspects of its church life and to complete projects and activities in the four fields of worship, education, facilities and outreach.

Certification is based on a scoring system that counts sustainable practices and earth care actions. Re-certification requires 50 points with a minimum of 5 points in each category.

Using a scoring sheet, the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) performed an environmental audit of activities and projects between April and December 2015. Village Church earned the following points:

Worship 22
Education 83
Facilities 63
Outreach 104

With 272 total points, re-certification is recognition of what has been accomplished by various groups within the church (not just EAC). The Earth Care Congregation certificate hangs above the drinking fountain between the Chapel and Friendship Hall.

Since the program's launch in July 2010, 191 Presbyterian churches across the U.S. have become certified as an Earth Care Congregation. Four of them are from Heartland Presbytery: Village Church, Grace Covenant, Rolling Hills and Second Presbyterian.

Certification honors churches that make the commitment to be stewards of God’s Good Green earth and encourages other churches to follow their lead. Also, congregational members are invited to participate as individuals by completing similar actions in their homes.

Contact Jerry Rees at 913-568-4250 or reesveenstra@aol.com if you have questions.