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Recycle. Renew. Restore. |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 7/16/2008 2:46 PM | Greetings!
When God created the heavens and the earth, humans were given dominion over all living things. The animals of the ground, the birds of the air, the fish in the seas. The plants that beautify and sustain. All of these things are important to God’s awesome creation. All of these things are under our care. They are under our care because we have the ability to make good use of these things. And because if we don’t take wise care of these things, we will ultimately suffer. How might that be? If we hunt animals to depletion, if we abuse the land through bad planting processes, if we pollute the earth so that plants and birds and animals can’t survive…well, we won’t either. I once heard someone scoff at the idea that if we don’t do something to clean up our environment the earth would not survive. Until I heard their reasoning: “Believe me, we don’t need to clean up the environment to save the earth. The earth will survive. We need clean up the environment to save ourselves, because if we don’t, we may not survive.”
It is our duty as people of faith to do what we can. Something that has been discussed around BCC for awhile was a way we could help in this effort, and one of the things that we have decided to do is to focus some attention on recycling materials that we use in worship and other activities. Think about the things we can recycle with hardly any effort at all: old bulletins and inserts, plastic communion cups, office paper of all kinds, plastic utensils, plates and cups used in the fellowship lunches and other meals, the aluminum cans from the soda machine, the plastic bottles from iced tea and soda. I may have actually missed a couple of things, but how’s that for a start? On a Sunday like the one we have coming up, we may have 150 people here for Sunday School and worship. How many bulletins do we leave behind? Well, a few people take them to Chick – Fil – A on Monday for a free sandwich (which is also a wise use of resources!) but let’s say we get back 100 bulletins. Then we have to take into consideration 150 plastic cups from communion. Then we head down the hall to the fellowship hall. Not everyone comes, but let’s say half do. That’s 75 plastic forks, 75 plastic spoons, 75 plastic cups, 75 plastic plates. Add all that up and how many pounds of waste do you think we have generated? And just where does that waste go now? It goes to the dumpster, and then to a landfill where it is encased in plastic bags and takes up acres and acres of land. But what if we recycled it? It would go to making more paper, more communion cups, more plastic forks, spoons, cups and plates, without the pollution or energy of producing new “stuff.” It seems clear to me – and to lots of people at BCC – that recycling is the way to go.
So, starting this Sunday, there will be a recycling receptacle in the narthex for your unwanted bulletins and inserts. (Take your prayer list with you – it is very useful during the week. But bring it back the next week and recycle it!) We are asking the deacons to deposit the used communion cups in a receptacle in the communion prep room. And when it comes time to clean up from the fellowship lunch, dump any leftovers and liquid in the garbage can and put all the plastic utensils, cups and plates in the specially marked bin. That’s all there is to it. They will be taken to a recycling center and we will have done our small part in honoring God’s creation through wise use of the resources.
As we move along, we will assess how much recyclable material we are generating. If we have enough material, there are companies that will come and pick it up for us on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, and in some cases, actually pay us for our recyclable materials. Michael McKelvey has agreed to take the lead in assessing our situation, seeking out organizations that might pick up, etc., in the coming weeks. We will keep you informed as we move forward. And if you print off this missive, be sure to recycle it!
For an updated prayer list and list of upcoming activities, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer lists:
Please continue to pray for our Building Committee as they begin the process of evaluating our renovation needs and capabilities. As they labor, undergird them with your prayer so that all that anything we do with this property would serve to strengthen our witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Announcements:
Welcome Back, Rev. Jennifer! It was so great to have Jennifer back with us in worship this past Sunday after a much deserved sabbatical break. I think I speak for everyone when I say, “we are glad you’re back!”
Please keep those canned and dry goods coming on Sunday morning! I stopped by to drop off some food at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Food Pantry and they were so thankful. When I went into the pantry it was clear why: the shelves were virtually empty! The rising price of gasoline and food has hit families hard and they are turning to places like Oglethorpe to help get through these difficult times. Your continued participation in “The Miracle of Abundance” will keep a family in need going, so please give.
Don’t forget that this Sunday is the third Sunday of the month, so bring a dish or two to pass as we gather for the Third Sunday Fellowship Pot Luck Luncheon. Come for the food, stay for the fellowship!
Immediately following worship this Sunday, Carol and I leave for two weeks in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan and our cottage on the St. Mary’s River. We are looking forward to relaxation, time with family and friends, and cooler weather…weather.com tells me that the average daily high for the next two weeks fluctuates between 73 and 75….ahhhhhhhhh. Please keep us in your prayers as we put some 2000 miles on our car in the next couple of weeks. I hope you have a wonderful two weeks as well. If an emergency arises, contact your elder, or the Elder Chair, Jaye Atkinson. If you cannot get them, Rev. Jennifer will be on hand. They will know how to contact me in the event they need to.
But before we leave, I hope you can join us for worship as once again we celebrate the Lord’s Day together this Sunday! The sermon is titled “Picking Your Spots” and the scripture is Acts 9:20-31. Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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