Environmental care resources

​As a supplement to the sermon series "The World That God So Loved Is This World," we offer these resources for further study on environmental care. 

Environmental Action Committee

The EAC of Village Church is 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.

We are always looking for new members to join our committee as well as volunteers to help with activities and events. Contact Jerry Rees or Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka for more information or to learn how you can get involved.

“The World That God So Loved is This World” 
A Village Church sermon series

Explore this sermon series on environmental care Oct. 24 and 31, 2021.

Book ​recommendations

​
​Climate Church, Climate World: How the People of Faith Must Work for Change, Jim Antal (2018)
Jim Antal shows how the church can engage the urgent moral crisis of climate change. This book will inspire both the courage and conviction people of faith need to provide the leadership necessary to realize God's dream of a just world in which humanity is reconciled to all of creation.

​Eaarth, Making Life on a Tough New Planet​, Bill McKibben (2010)
Bill McKibben leads readers to the devastatingly comprehensive conclusion that we no longer inhabit the world in which we've flourished for most of human history: we've passed the tipping point for dramatic climate change, and even if we could stop emissions yesterday, our world will keep warming, triggering more extreme storms, droughts, and other erratic catastrophes, for centuries to come. This is not just our grandchildren's problem, or our children's—we're living through the effects of climate change now, and it's time for us to get creative about our survival.

​The Ethics of What We Eat, Peter Singer and Jim Mason (2007)
“The Ethics of What We Eat" explores the impact our food choices have on humans, animals and the environment. Recognizing that not all of us will become vegetarians, Singer and Mason offer ways to make healthful, humane food choices. As they point out: You can be ethical without being fanatical.

​The Global Warming Reader: A Century of Writing about Climate Change, edited by Bill McKibben (2012)
With the rise of extreme weather events worldwide—witness the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Sandy, Irene, and Katrina, and the sustained drought across the American West—global warming has become increasingly difficult to deny. What is happening to our planet? And what can we do about it? “The Global Warming Reader” provides more than 35 answers to these burning questions, from more than 100 years of engagement with the topic.
​
​Just Water: Theology, Ethics, and the Global Water Crisis, Christiana Z. Peppard (2014)
An interdisciplinary analysis of the value of fresh water that generates timely and principled conclusions at the intersections of hydrology, ecology, ethics, theology, and Catholic social thought.

​When the Rivers Run Dry: Water—The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century, Fred Pearce (2007)
Veteran science correspondent Fred Pearce travels to more than thirty countries to examine the current state of crucial water sources. Deftly weaving together the complicated scientific, economic, and historic dimensions of the world water crisis, Pearce provides our most complete portrait yet of this growing danger.
A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and Rev. Handrew Farley (2009)
In Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis, Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho (2022)

Sermons on earth care

For Lent & beyond

For those who observe the season of Lent and care about creation, the Environmental Action Committee suggests reading the 2021 Tread Lightly for Lent daily calendar that provides daily reflections and actions during Lent.

Creation care video series

The Environmental Action Committee of Village Church presents this video series as a cross-section of Village members share why caring for Creation is important to them. ​

Locate resources in Kansas City

There are so many ways to become more environmentally friendly right here in Kansas City. Explore the map for more information and see below for a complete index of locations.
Locations on the map
  1. Adelante Thrift. Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  2. Arizona Trading Co. Shop here or sell them your vintage items and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  3. Blessings Abound Thrift Store. Donate, shop, or volunteer. Donations are either resold or redistributed to other ministries in need such as transitional housing programs and multi-cultural ministries. Proceeds go to Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries.
  4. Bridging the Gap: Deramus Recycling Center. Volunteer at the Deramus Recycling Center sorting items for recycling (and bring your own items to recycle!). BTG has plenty of other opportunities to volunteer with environmental causes too, like tree planting, assembling rain barrels, and litter cleanup. See their website for more details.
  5. Bridging the Gap: Red Bridge Recycling Center. Volunteer at the Red Bridge Community Recycling Center sorting items for recycling (and bring your own items to recycle!). BTG has plenty of other opportunities to volunteer with environmental causes too, like tree planting, assembling rain barrels, and litter cleanup. See their website for more details.
  6. Brookside Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  7. Cell Phone Recycling Program (Prairie Village Police Department). Drop off your old cell phones (it's okay if they are broken) and PVPD will recycle them and use the proceeds to help sponsor the Shop with a Cop Christmas program. Keep old electronics out of landfills and also help underserved KC kids get Christmas presents?! Sounds like a no-brainer.
  8. City Market Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  9. City Thrift (Overland Park). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  10.  City Thrift (Shawnee). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  11.  City Thrift (Waldo). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  12.  Clothz Minded. Clothz Minded is a higher-end secondhand boutique that deals in designer and name brand items. Look incredible while keeping used clothing out of landfills!
  13. Cross-Lines Thrift Store. Cross-Lines is always in need of furniture and large appliances (in good working condition) such as stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers. The store helps low-income families purchase household items at a minimal cost. They will come to your house and pick up your large household items.
  14. Flourish Furnishings. Flourish Furnishings is the only furniture bank in the Kansas City area. They collect, prepare, and distribute donated furnishings and home essentials to offer a “hand up” by meeting the household furnishings needs in Kansas City’s urban and suburban communities. Volunteer to sort, stock, and assemble in their warehouse or donate your gently used furnishings to keep them out of KC's landfills.
  15. Goodwill (Downtown). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  16. Goodwill (Overland Park). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  17. Goodwill (Shawnee). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  18. Goodwill Donation Center (Leawood). Donate used items here and keep them out of landfills!
  19. Habitat for Humaity ReStore. Habitat ReStores sell quality new and used surplus building materials and appliances that are priced at 20% to 80% off retail. All items in the store are donated, including fixtures, furniture, appliances and construction materials. Donate furniture, appliances, and building materials, volunteer in the store sorting and stocking, or shop here next time you're working on a home improvement project or repairs. Shopping at ReStore diverts reusable household items and building materials from area landfills.
  20. Hillcrest Transitional Housing: Thrift Store. Volunteer your time sorting and stocking, donate used clothing and household goods, or shop here instead of in retail stores to keep clothing and other items out of the landfills! Hillcrest Thrift directly benefits Hillcrest Transitional Housing, a program that helps houseless families get back on their feet and become financially independent. Serve the community two ways in one!
  21. Hope Faith Ministries. Hope Faith Ministries collects donations of furniture, household items and clothing for houseless individuals and families moving into permanent housing.
  22. Jewish Vocational Service. Donations of household items are used to outfit the homes of JVS refugee clients. JVS provides such items like new bed frames, dressers, tables and chairs, couches and clothing for refugees. You can drop items off at their warehouse or schedule pickup.
  23. Johnson County Free Store. Why buy new when you can get usable products for free? Stop by the Free Store at the Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Free to the public, even to those living outside of Johnson County. Many types of free household products are available: stain and paint, home improvement, cleaning products, automotive, arts and crafts, and more. Keep household supplies out of KC landfills: reuse and recycle discarded items!
  24. Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Make sure your hazardous waste says out of the environment! Recycle and dispose of your unwanted paint and household chemicals. Free to Johnson County residents by appointment only. All items are recycled or properly disposed of.
  25. KC Organics Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  26. KCK Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  27. Lenexa Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  28. Lucy’s Thrift LLC. Shop or donate and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  29. Manheim Park Community Garden. Help maintain KC's green spaces! Manheim Gardens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing vegetables, flowers, and gardening know-how back to urban KC. Come on a Sunday morning at 10am to help garden, or come to a special event throughout the year.
  30. Merriam Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  31. Midwest Recycling Center. MRC's goal is properly diverting electronic waste from the landfill while offering convenient solutions to the ongoing issues of identity theft and environmental liability. They accept power tools, yard tools, kitchen appliances, practically all electronics and electronic supplies, and much more. Keep your household waste out of the landfill and bring it to MRC! They also specialize in corporate recycling.
  32. Mission Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  33. Overland Park Farmer's Market. Support your local green economy!
  34. Plato’s Closet (Mission). Shop here or bring in old clothes for consignment and keep clothing items out of landfills! Clothing is geared towards teen and twenties ages.
  35. Project C.U.R.E. This nonprofit accepts donations of gently used medical equipment (see their website for details about what they accept) and distribute the equipment internationally to hospitals and other organizations in need. Those crutches, walkers, shower chairs, splints, and more that are sitting in the basement? Take them to the Project C.U.R.E. warehouse! You can volunteer your time at the warehouse as well. Donations are accepted from individuals as well as organizations and institutions.
  36. Red Racks DAV Thrift Store (Waldo). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills! All proceeds benefit the Disabled American Veterans.
  37. Reset KC. Shop here and keep used clothing items out of landfills!
  38. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Corinth Square. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  39. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Ikea. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  40. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Johnson County Central Resource Library. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  41. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: KU Med. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  42. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: MDL Wine & Spirits. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  43. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Mission HyVee. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  44. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Price Chopper. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  45. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Research Medical Center Brookside. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  46. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Rockhurst University. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  47. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Village Shoppes. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  48. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Watts Mill Price Chopper. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  49. Ripple Glass Drop-Off Location: Westport SunFresh. Drop off your glass for recycling in the purple Ripple Glass dumpster.
  50. Salvation Army Thrift Store (Downtown). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  51. Salvation Army Thrift Store (Mission). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  52. Salvation Army Thrift Store (Overland Park). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  53. Savers (Overland Park). Shop or donate and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  54. Savers (Shawnee). Shop or donate and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  55. Scraps KC As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creative reuse center and retail store, ScrapsKC cares for Kansas City's environment, education and homeless through creative reuse. Donate craft supplies and odds and ends, volunteer in the store sorting and stocking, or shop to supply your classroom, Scout Troop, or personal crafting needs.
  56. Shawnee Moonlight Farmer’s Market. Support your local green economy!
  57. Sleepyhead Beds. Sleepyhead Beds takes gently-used, donated beds and bedding and distributes them to KC area children and families in need, free of charge. They also contribute to the health and environment of the community by sanitizing beds and keeping them out of landfills. Volunteer in their warehouse or donate gently used mattresses, bed frames, and bedding.
  58. Thrifter’s Paradise. Shop or donate and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  59. Troost39 Thrift Store. Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  60. TurnStyles Thrift (Mission). Donate, shop, or volunteer. Proceeds support programs and services of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.  Visit the link for a list of accepted items.
  61. TurnStyles Thrift (Overland Park). Shop, donate, or volunteer and keep clothing items out of landfills!
  62. TurnStyles Thrift Donation Center (Overland Park). Donate here to keep clothing items and household goods out of landfills.
  63. Village Church Food Pantry & Clothes Closet. The Village Clothes Closet accepts freshly laundered, gently used, in-season men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. Small household and kitchen items, small kitchen appliances and linens are also accepted. Due to lack of available space, furniture is not accepted. The food pantry accepts almost all unexpired, unopened items, so reduce food waste and help the community.
 
Not listed on the map (but still great to know about!)
  1. Compost Collective KC Imagine a world where you threw your food waste into a lined bucket and every week, it was swiftly collected and turned into nutrient rich soil. Lucky for you, it's happening in KC right now. Sign up and start saving the world. Either sign up for weekly compost pickup, or participate in "bin swap" where you fill your compost bucket at your own pace and drop off when you're ready.
  2. Hillcrest Transitional Housing. Hillcrest is a housing program that helps houseless families get back on their feet and become financially independent. They accept donated furniture for their apartments and program residents. Contact their offices to arrange drop-off location.
  3. KC Curbside Glass. For $10 a month, KC Curbside Glass will come pick up your glass recyclables twice a week, eliminate the hassle of recycling your empty glass bottles, jars, and containers. No more trips to the Ripple Glass dumpsters!
  4. Johnson County Parks & Recreation. Volunteer with JoCo Parks & Rec to help keep Johnson County a clean, beautiful place to live that is friendly to the natural environment. Volunteer opportunities include park maintenance (general cleaning, painting, trail maintenance, maintenance of flower beds, especially someone with specialized experience and interest in the care of rose bushes), maintaining streamway park trails (picking up trash, painting, and trail maintenance), and much more.
  5. Kansas City Community Gardens. Be a part of a gardening community that fosters an awareness of the environment, transforms empty lots into green, productive living spaces, and cultivates physical and social health. Volunteer in a community garden around KC with tasks like weeding, preparing beds, watering, harvesting, creating tomato cages, and so much more.
  6. RecycleSpot.org. Peruse this website for a one-stop resource center for recycling information around the Kansas City metro area. Find out where you can recycle almost anything!

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