In early 2008, a small but passionate group met to begin discussions on green living. The starting point was a book by J. Matthew Sleeth called Serve God Save The Planet, but we all wanted this to be more than a book study. And so the meetings also became a place to talk about practical ways to apply the concepts to our individual lives; to our church; to our community. And last, but not least, to pray about the issues facing our planet.
We very much feel like beginners in this and our goal is not to preach or put forward an agenda. Rather, we wish to call God's people to joyfully consider what it means to be proper stewards of creation and all the many resources God has given us.
Unfortunately, the church often has the reputation of being the last people to care about the environment. There are many reasons for this; some theological, some cultural and maybe some ignorance thrown in for good measure. But we feel there is no better time than now to reclaim God's call dating all the way back to the beginning of Genesis to steward the world He has given us. Francis Schaeffer understood this way back in 1970 when he wrote in Pollution and the Death of Man the following
But Christians who believe the Bible are not simply called to say that “one day” there will be healing, but that by God’s grace, upon the basis of the work of Christ, substantial healing can be a reality here and now.
For Your Calendar
| Date |
Time |
Location |
Info |
| July 13th |
12-2 PM |
First Free |
Freecycle/eWaste Recycle - Bring your e-Waste (old computers, cellphones, CFLs, printers) and we'll take it to the proper recycling/disposal facilities. We'll also have a "free-cycle" event. Bring the extra stuff you have around the house for someone else. This should be nice stuff that you just don't have room for anymore, you have more than you need, etc. |
| August 9 |
9:00AM-3:00PM |
Northeastern Illinois Univ (3701 W Bryn Mawr) |
Drop-off: old/unused prescriptions, e-waste, hazardous household chemicals/paints, old gas can or gas powered mower
Pick-up your*:
(1) rain barrel** ($40 payable by check or money order only)
(1) compost bin** ($30 payable by check or money order only)
(1) free compact fluorescent light bulb
(1) free environmentally-friendly gas can (when you trade in an old one)
$100 rebate towards an electric or push mower (when you drop-off your old gas-powered mower)
*Available while supplies last (no reservations accepted), limit 1 per household per year.
**Available to City of Chicago residents only; bring check payable to "City of Chicago" with current Chicago address; cash will not be accepted.
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| August 17 |
1:00PM |
First Free |
Urban Composting Workshop - We'll discuss various options for urban composting. We also plan to make some simple worm composting bins while you watch and give them away to some lucky winners. |
| Sept 20 |
9:00AM-3:00PM |
City Parking Facility (900 E 103rd St) |
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Drop-off: old/unused prescriptions, e-waste, hazardous household chemicals/paints, old gas can or gas powered mower
Pick-up your*:
(1) rain barrel** ($40 payable by check or money order only)
(1) compost bin** ($30 payable by check or money order only)
(1) free compact fluorescent light bulb
(1) free environmentally-friendly gas can (when you trade in an old one)
$100 rebate towards an electric or push mower (when you drop-off your old gas-powered mower)
*Available while supplies last (no reservations accepted), limit 1 per household per year.
**Available to City of Chicago residents only; bring check payable to "City of Chicago" with current Chicago address; cash will not be accepted.
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News
You can now dispose of CFLs (compact fluorescents) at any Home Depot location!
Coming Wednesday nights this fall, a "Green Urban Living" class taught by Steve Slaughter. Begins September 24th and runs throughout the fall.
More Info
Sign Up
The city of Chicago has a lot of programs to help with recycling and disposing of various items properly. From our friends in the 48th Ward, here's a document with lots of good information about how to properly dispose of various household items, answers to frequently asked questions and the locations of drop-off centers for all kinds of things. This is a Microsoft Word document.
48th Ward Recycling Manual
Green Neighbors
Ideas
Worm Composting - Want some great organic fertilizer for those house plants or the little garden on your deck, but have little space? Take a look at vermi-composting with "red wiggler" worms. Here are some links to get started.
