MCCN VISION: 100 SHADES OF GREEN! Congregations practice sustainability and environmental stewardship appropriate to their contexts. Understanding creation care is valued and taught in all facets of congregational life. Meetinghouses are designed with green and sustainable architectural principles.

MCCN'S CURRENT GOAL:
100 CONGREGATIONS WITH CREATION CARE LIAISONS

• Link 100 Mennonite congregations actively engaged in the care of creation by identifying creation care liaisons in each of them.
• Click here to volunteer to be a creation care liaison. What's that?
  
  
• How can I get my congregation on board?
  Step 1: Download a Congregational Score Sheet for use in your congregation. This one-page document reviews 9 ways that congregations might strengthen their relationship with the earth.
  Step 2: Consult with your pastors or elders' group as to the best way to discuss this sheet with your congregation.
  Step 3: Work through the sheet together, giving your congregation a score for each area listed. Are there areas that need attention or that you'd like to push out further?
  Step 4: Visit the 100 Shades of Green Directory to find out what other churches are doing and get ideas for your own setting.
  Step 5: Join our 100 Shades of Green Directory of congregations actively engaged in the care of creation. This link takes you to a form where you can input your information.
  

CONGREGATIONS IN ACTION

• Find resources for congregations
• Read news stories about congregations caring for creation. Those most recently posted are below. We have a garden theme going at the moment!
• The following congregations currently have a liaison to Mennonite Creation Care Network. Does yours? Tell us if you'd be willing to be an advocate for creation care within your church.

Zion Creation Care Team Builds Partnerships

In the two years since Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, PA, began its Creation Care Team, more than a dozen people have met together monthly and the team has forged ties with a number of other groups. “We believe it is better to partner with others than to work at environmental stewardship alone,” remarks team member Ned Leight. read more

Congregation finds 350 Bible Verses

Hope Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, MB, made a fun video featuring 350 Bible verses that speak about the care of creation. View their creative presentation here. For an interesting youth group activity, watch this UTube video together and then look up the verses.

The number, 350, comes from the number of parts per million of CO2 considered safe for our planet. Currently the concentration is 387 ppm.

More stories about congregations caring for creation.

FEATURED RESOURCES

Want up-to-date ideas on how to encourage green practices within your congregation? Tap into Re-Energize for inspiring events such as the “100 Mile Church Dinner” and “PowerDown Day Energy Fast.” Re-Energize provides simple step-by-step plans to make your creation care events memorable and enjoyable.

Eco-Justice Ministries in Denver, CO, provides green tips for worship, pastoral care, education and administration. The director of this organization, Rev. Peter Sawtell, puts out a weekly E-Newsletter that never fails to be thought-provoking and well-written.

Is God Green? This Bill Moyers documentary examines a movement to embrace care of creation within evangelical churches. An interesting film to view with your congregation. Information is also available at the linked web site.

Also visit our web-searchable Creation Care Resource Library. Search for resources especially for congregations, as well as under a variety of related topics such as green building, worship resources, curriculum, etc.

"We acknowledge that God as Creator is owner of all things."
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Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, 1995 more

Mennonite Creation Care Network

P.O. Box 263 Wolf Lake, IN 46796
PHONE 260-799-5869
FAX 260-799-5875

Luke Gascho provides leadership for MCCN.
Contact him at 260-799-5869 or by email at lukeag@goshen.edu.

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