Go Green!!!               

A burning bush caught Moses’ attention—a burning earth caught our attention! God reminded Moses that he was standing on “holy ground.” Like Moses, we are standing on holy ground. God called an unlikely Moses into action—God calls unlikely us into action now. Like Moses, we have God’s assurance “I will be with you,” when we answer God’s call.

​

God created us in God’s image and dedicated us to keep watch over, to guard, to protect, and to have charge of planet earth, God’s good creation. We re-imagine our discipleship journey to do that! Serve God and participate in these annual and on-going creation-respecting events.

 

March 2 and 3  (Sun and Mon)—Annual Light Bulb Recycling Drive, 9:15-9:40 a.m. and 9:30-11:30 a.m./SUMC Portico on east side of building

• Accept Christmas lights and all other kinds of light bulbs/tubes; we deliver them to Computer Recycling Center and Lowe's in Springfield.-rescheduled

 

Apr 19 (Sat)—12th Annual Electronics and Appliances Recycling Drive, 8:30-11:30 a.m./SUMC Parking Lot

• Collect all kinds of electronics, appliances, rechargeable battery packs, small batteries, cords, CDs/DVDs, and pristine EPS foam packaging blocks and coolers. Meredith Recycling, Montrose, Mo., picks up most items; we deliver some items to Computer Recycling Center in Springfield and Altor Solutions in El Dorado Springs. 

​

Aug 1 (Fri)—SAMA Back-to-School Fair Set-up Recycling, 9:30 a.m.-noon/Middle School Cafeteria

• Collect school supply packaging waste for recycling.

 

Aug 2 (Sat)—SAMA Back-to-School Fair Recycling, 9-11 a.m./Middle School Cafeteria

• Collect school supply packaging waste and plastic water bottles for recycling, deliver recyclables to city recycling center and wherever else they need to go.

​

Aug—Stockton R-1 Schools Appreciation Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m./Family Life Center

• Serve full breakfast with re-usable plates, bowls, glasses, cups, and silverware to make this a near-zero-waste event.

 

Sep 25-27 (Thu-Sat)—Black Walnut Festival Recycling, times vary/Stockton City Park

• Set out 20 recycling units, monitor units, collect and sort plastic and aluminum beverage bottles, clean and store 20 units.

• Festival-goers can refill water bottles or drink a cup of unbottled water at one of our free drinking water fountains.

​

​Ongoing—Maintain “green” church and church kitchen practices

• SUMC, Proud to be “Styrofoam Free!”

• With a goal of low-waste (ideally zero-waste) SUMC meals, prioritize serving eat-in meals on re-usable plates, bowls, glasses, cups, silverware

• Serve carry-out meals in Eco-friendly disposable, compostable clamshells made from renewable wheat straw fiber or sugarcane bagasse, sans PFAS Vender:  https://greenpaperproducts.com/

• Wash Sunday morning fellowship reusable coffee cups and water glasses

• Collect and compost food waste, including coffee and tea grounds

• Turn lights off when not in use

• Replacing light bulbs with LEDs

• Reduce air leaks by monitoring and replacing door sweeps and astragals, as needed

• Collect and recycle or reuse

  • Crayons, markers, highlighters, pens, and pencils | deliver to Staples Office Supply

  • Clean, untorn single-use plastic bags

  • SUMC-generated paper, paper board, and corrugated cardboard

  • SUMC-generated aluminum pans and foil

  • Clean, capped-pill bottles (all sizes) | deliver to Cramer Veterinary in Stockton

  • Bread wire twist-ties | deliver to Computer Recycling Center in Springfield

  • Printer ink/toner cartridges (all sizes) |deliver to Staples or Computer Recycling Center

  • Aluminum cans | deliver to Scott’s Recycling, Fair Play

  • Christmas lights (collect December-January) | deliver to Computer Recycling Center

 

• Ongoing—Pollinator Victory Garden/south church grounds

 

• Ongoing—Facilitate recycling beverage bottles and cans by loaning our portable recycling units for community events. Call the church office at (417) 276-4717.

​

Learn more about Creation Care Ministry Here. Read our 2023 Creation Care Ministry Annual Report.

​

We welcome new creation care ideas, projects, and events that help us change our way of being in the world.

​

Creation Care Ministry Leader: Cheryl Y. Marcum, commissioned United Methodist EarthKeeper | renew.creation@gmail.com| (417) 955-2885 (m)