The Green Team has been busy compiling ecologically minded tips. Many of them are ecomonically practical as well as earth friendly. If you have a desire to explore your commitment to serve as a faithful steward of God's creation, come and join the team!

As Part Of Our Commitment To Eco-Justice, we no longer use Styrofoam andwe serve organic fair trade coffee and tea at UMC PW gatherings.  We make fair trade products available at our cost to anyone interested.  To find out more about what fair trade means, pick up a brochure any Sunday at Hospitality Hour.  Our “store” is open every other Sunday.

“Going Green . . . 101 Ways To Get Started” and “101 Green Things To Do As A Church”  are two lists that might be of interest if you are looking for things to do as an individual, or, in working together with us at UMC PW as we take steps to go green as a congregation.  They are on the table in the Narthex, printed on recycled paper, on both sides, of course!  Help yourself.

If you want to receive the church newsletter via email make your request to the church office: umcpw@verizon.net

A Cleaner World One Cup at a Time. In an effort to reduce how much we throw away at church, we invite you to bring your own mug to Hospitality Hour on Sunday.  Label it, bring it, use it, wash it out, and store it in the church kitchen until next time.  We have a special storage area ready for the mugs, with eight mugs already stored there, and counting!  There will still be disposable cups available---this program is voluntary---but for every person who “chooses to reuse,” it means one less cup per week in the landfill, and that’s good thing!  We recommend you bring in a mug over which you won’t be heartbroken in case it gets damaged or lost.  We also have extra mugs for anyone to claim and use if they so wish.  See Violet.

Tips from previous meetings:

 Did you know that a near-empty refrigerator must work harder to cool, and so it uses more energy?  A recent LIPA Energy Audit recommended that the church either turn off little used refrigerators, or, fill some of the empty space with bottles of water.  If you look inside the church kitchen fridge, you will see some plastic bottles (reused of course!) filled with water.  If you need to use the space, remove the bottles to a counter, out of your way.  When done, please put them back, so the church can save energy and extend the life of its appliance.  This green tip is useful not only for the church but for your home too.

The best gifts are often the ones that come from your heart and hands.  Here are a few no- or low-cost gift ideas for the holidays to start you thinking:

• A homemade coupon book, offering free services like babysitting, a home-cooked meal, organizing assistance, or a day spent together.
• A photo album containing pictures that are meaningful to both of you
• Handmade crafts: About.com offers great family crafts to make yourself.
• A homemade CD of your favorite music (using a legal download service)
• A jar filled with dry cookie mix and baking instructions.  Embellish the lid with ribbons & scrap fabric.
• A homemade card or note telling your friends and family how much they mean to you.
• A donation in honor of the recipient to a cause or nonprofit he/she cares about.

Have other ideas for “giving green”?” Share them with Violet at shalomviolet@hotmail.com and we’ll print them in the next newsletter.

Reuse bread bags and the plastic bags your newspapers are delivered in . . . they’re a nice size for picking up after you dog or for cleaning your cat’s litter box.

• Did you know that most of the light bulbs at the church are now energy-saving compact fluorescents (CFL’s)?
• Did you know that we no longer use Styrofoam at church function and we serve only fair trade coffee?

Some “Green Tips” For Back To School . . .

Remember the three R’s that can make a real difference
in how we care for God’s creation:
Reduce.  Reuse.  Recycle.

• For sandwiches, use fold-top plastic bags, which use less plastic, or, reusable containers.
• Buy larger sizes of snacks & drinks and pack in reusables.  Avoid single-serving sizes such as juice pouches.  The excess packaging costs more, and pollutes more.
• Carry drinking water in a reusable bottle.
• Don’t idle your car and keep your automobile tires properly inflated for better mileage.
• Walk more.  Reacquaint yourself with the beautiful sights and sounds of the natural world.
• Look for the “Energy Star” on new appliances for home or dorm rooms.
• Try compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) in lamps and fixtures.
• Print on both sides of paper.
• Buy recycled paper (100% post consumer) that uses no new trees.  Staples has it.
• With the holiday season fast approaching, would you like to stop Junk Mail?  Pick up the brief but helpful Native Forest Network’s Guide to Stopping Junk Mail.  It’s in the display racks by the church office and in the narthex of the church.

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