Dear Friends,
Everywhere, the Fellowship is brighter—in the entryway, in the sanctuary, in the Faith Development spaces, in the fellowship hall, in the kitchen, even in the restrooms. Your leadership made a commitment and contracted for this energy efficient lighting. The next phase of this ambitious project involves installation of photovoltaic panels, which is happening this week! Our spaces are lighter and also greener.
Each of these projects fulfills an obligation the Fellowship made when it received from the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2015 our certification as a Green Sanctuary. “Created in 1989, the Green Sanctuary (GS) program historically provided a path for congregational study, reflection, and action in response to environmental challenges, worshiping and acting – grounded in justice and Unitarian Universalist values.” Ours is one of the 25% of UU congregations which has achieved GS accreditation, of which we can be rightly proud and which we should celebrate.
And yet we are called to more. “Given the increasingly urgent need for courageous action to fight climate change and the environmental and human injustices that it causes (climate justice), [the UUA Green Sanctuary Program] now requires a new level of congregational engagement [with] Green Sanctuary congregations that are infused with a spirit and passion to join others in life- and planet-saving work.”
In the coming year, we can begin planning for how our Fellowship can be more deeply engaged in climate justice beyond our efforts at sustainability and lowering our carbon footprint. In the meantime, Our Lighting Project Task Force has developed a fundraiser to offset the costs of our green efforts. You will hear more about this initiative elsewhere in the Weekly and in worship on May 5. As a kickoff, let me say that I have subsidized the six lights over the chancel in the sanctuary. Please do your part to the extent that you are able. All donations in any amount show that your heart is with the Fellowship.
Looking forward to seeing you soon, even in church—Rev. Rita
Quotations from https://www.uua.org/