STEWARDS OF THE EARTH

Our Covenant:

“We pledge to be more mindful of and responsible for the integrity of God’s Creation.”

Stewards of the Earth

Stewards of the Earth works to support and sponsor CCC activities that promote stewardship of the environment by CCC members and friends. Additionally, we work towards environmental equity and social justice for all of God’s people and creation. The group encompasses several smaller teams that promote environmental education, encourage the CCC community to purchase renewable energy, improve home energy efficiency, and coordinate environmental activism including participation in peaceful demonstrations and support of environmental legislation.

Green Team

The Green Team is a group within Stewards of the Earth that is dedicated to providing information on how to live sustainability and protect Mother Earth. Their current focus is the planting of native plants on CCC grounds and encouraging CCC members to do the same in their own gardens as an effort to care for the Sligo Creek watershed.

Resources

Apply for a Certified Wildlife Habitat – https://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat
Apply for a Garden for Wildlife – https://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife
Apply for a Rainscapes Rebate (up to $7,500) – https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/water/rainscapes/index.html
Get trees planted for free:MCDOT – Trees https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-highway/tree/index.html#Plantingmontgomerycountymd.govIf you have backyard space for a larger shade tree, you can also request a tree at: https://treemontgomery.org/request-a-tree/.

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

In 2021, Christ Congregational Church signed the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Partner Congregation Pledge which states:

As a community of faith, we are called to honor our sacred bond with our Creator, serve as good stewards of the land and waters of the Chesapeake, and sustain the life and health of all creatures.

Through our words and actions, we pledge to:

Celebrate, respect, and revere the Earth’s blessings
Demonstrate good stewardship in how we manage our land and facilities
Engage members of our community in the work of caring for the environment.
Embrace the mission of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake to work together to protect and
restore our shared watershed.

Rooted in faith and hope, we will:

Take actions to:
- educate ourselves on ways to live in harmony with the Earth and teach our
  congregations to be faithful stewards of the Earth and thus magnify our impact,
- reduce our impact on the Earth at our facilities and within our institution,
- restore our watershed through cleanups, reducing pollution, and restoration,
Promote local, state, and federal policies that protect natural resources for generations to
come.
Reinforce our commitment as part of our liturgical calendar.
Cultivate leaders among our members who will champion watershed stewardship.
Use our financial, volunteer, and other resources to help in this work to restore the Earth.
Build connections with our broader community and share the message of restoration and
respect of the Earth beyond our congregation.
Advocate for all communities to have access to a healthy environment.
Display this pledge so community members and visitors are inspired to take action.

We do all of this with gratitude for the creation which sustains all life. May we be guided by grace and compassion so that our actions may restore the beauty and balance of the Chesapeake Bay watershed – and all the Earth. May our efforts give inspiration to others, calling them toward a path of respect and reverence for all God’s creation.