Latest Green Sanctuary News

A New Year’s Resolution for Living with a Climate CrisisBy Cybelle Shattuck My New Year’s Resolution is to foster the resilience necessary to thrive during the life-long endeavor to address the world’s climate crisis. This begins with giving myself permission to acknowledge my grief and lostness over damage to the ecosystems where I feel most […]

An Update on the Net Zero Project In 2019 the Green Sanctuary Committee spawned a project aimed at getting People’s Church to net zero carbon emissions by the year 2030.  Since that time a lot has been done towards the goal, and a lot still remains if we are to achieve it.  Here’s the status. […]

Cool Congregations Thanks to Cybelle Shattuck, we were introduced to Cool Congregations, a program of Interfaith Power and Light, which rewards congregations for becoming carbon emission responsible. Their Challenge rewards congregations for reducing their carbon footprints and for encouraging their members and community to do the same. Many of you might have noticed changes to […]

Harvest of Hope On September 18, clergy and members of area congregations gathered at Allen Chapel AME on the north side of Kalamazoo to celebrate a Harvest of Unity rooted in the soil of a new garden project. The garden at Allen Chapel grew out of conversations organized by Hope for Creation, the local interfaith group […]

By Nicky Leigh After our May Annual Meeting, the congregation voted for People’s to become an affiliate of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition (KCCC). Thank you to everyone for making this possible. With this we have joined a coalition of over 30 different organizations and businesses interested in curbing greenhouse gases and attempting to reduce […]

By Nicky Leigh I attended two different climate conferences recently, Michigan Climate and Clean Energy Summit and the Michigan Sustainability Conference. MCCE is very much about “where do the various government entities stand and what is happening to mitigate climate change”.  For example, Sen. Stabenow talked about Federal Forestry programs, regenerative agriculture, urban trees, and […]

What the Heck Is Happening to my Electric Bill? Have you noticed some changes to your electric bill recently?  Maybe you’ve just. chalked it up to normal increases in everything, or to variability due to the weather? It turns out to be a little more than that.  Last fall the Michigan Public Service Commission approved […]

Why Your Next Car Should be Electric On Sunday, July 11, People’s Church will be hosting an in-person electric vehicle (EV) event featuring Dr. Paul Pancella, Chair of the WMU Dept. of Physics, as well as an expo of electric vehicles put on by the Kalamazoo Electric Vehicle Association (KEVA).  Like our previous Eco Forums […]

Just before the pandemic, the Green Sanctuary Committee (GSC) shared a letter with the People’s Board of Trustees in support of becoming an affiliate of the Kalamazoo Climate Coalition (KCCC), provided the church membership also supported affiliation during the 2020 Annual Meeting. After a year’s delay, we are once again proposing members consider KCCC affiliation […]

“There Is More Hope Somewhere” An African American hymn we often sing at People’s includes the following verse: “There is more hope somewhere. There is more hope somewhere. I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. There is more hope somewhere.” Reading environmental news may make us feel hopeless about our future, and yet it […]

When I was approached by the Green Sanctuary Committee to lead an eco-forum on backyard gardening, my email response included this: “If I may be somewhat unconventional, heavily philosophical and only a little technical, I’d love to do this.” I hope that compels you to join this interactive forum in which I’ll share what I’ve […]

What is KCCC? The Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition started in mid-2019 as a response to Greta Thunberg’s call for a Global Climate Strike in September of 2019. Led by a group of professors from WMU, a number of organizations got together to plan Kalamazoo’s participation. Over 1500 people participated in the rally held at Arcadia […]

Now that we have solar panels, what should People’s Church do next to reduce our carbon footprint? Rule of thumb:  The best, cleanest, and cheapest source of new energy is conservation and efficiency. People’s Church had a golden opportunity last year to install our solar system at no up-front cost, but now it’s time to […]

  “OMIGOSH!  It’s December, and I haven’t even thought about holiday gifts!” –Anonymous If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.  The Green Sanctuary Committee can help you out with our 2020 edition of Alternative Giving: Earth-Friendly Ideas. This is an unusual year by just about any standard, so why not make it the […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee’s 2020-2021 Eco-Forum Series begins soon!  The monthly presentations will start at 12:30 p.m. on the noted Sundays, giving just enough time after church to participate in “coffee hour” and to grab a quick bite to eat while listening. Each presentation or video will be followed by a discussion. These have been […]

Green Sanctuary Committee Eco-Forum Series

The Green Sanctuary Committee’s 2020-2021 Eco-Forum Series begins soon!  The monthly presentations will start at 12:30 p.m. on the noted Sundays, giving just enough time after church to participate in “coffee hour” and to grab a quick bite to eat while listening. Each presentation or video will be followed by a discussion. These have been well-received in past years, so we hope to keep the momentum going, albeit virtually.

Michigan Absentee Ballots will be in the mail next week if you are registered and have requested one.  Remember that all Michigan voters are now able to vote by mail, but you need to be pro-active about it.  Don’t delay, make sure that your vote counts, and BE A CLIMATE VOTER!  Here’s a how-to guide […]

People’s Church will be collecting foam for recycling on Wednesday, September 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 24 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the back parking lot, near the shed.

Is People’s Church ready to be a Cool Congregation ? Cool Congregations is a stewardship program developed by Interfaith Power and Light that provides certification for congregations that achieve different levels of greenhouse gas reductions in their facilities. It offers a structured approach and support resources, and also includes a challenge to individual congregants to engage in lowering […]

What Do We Know About Our Solar Panels After (nearly) 2 Months? The People’s Church solar photovoltaic system was fully installed on June 1, and the first full day of generating electricity was June 2.  We now have a lot of data, and 1 ½ billing cycles to help us begin to understand the impact […]

The Regenerative Neighborhood By Daniel Z. Bair Sometimes it seems so close at hand. I can feel it under my feet in the wooded edge of my backyard. Below I’m presenting a small part of my vision for what I’m calling the regenerative neighborhood. This idea stems primarily from my 14 years working in agriculture, […]

Coronavirus and Climate Justice by Cybelle Shattuck In the midst of this pandemic, while home-bound and spending (too much) time online, people are excitedly sharing videos of nature “recovering” in the absence of humans. We marvel at majestic mountains unobscured by air pollution and delight at wild animals romping through towns. Our hearts lift—we feel […]

How you can fight the climate crisis. HOW TO STAY AT HOME AND SAVE THE EARTH Friday, April 24 is Arbor Day – PLANT TREES FROM HOME!  For a small donation, ArborDay.org and 8Billiontrees.com will plant 10 trees for you in a part of the world where deforestation is causing the climate to […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee recommends that People’s Church join the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition (KCCC) to affirm our commitment to work actively toward alleviating and remediating Climate Change.  Part of the business at the People’s Church annual meeting on May 17 will be to consider and vote on this proposal. This aligns well with much […]

Last year the Green Sanctuary Committee created the Net Zero Task Force to work with the Finance and Building & Grounds Committees, to explore the possibilities for People’s Church achieving net zero carbon emissions. After several months of discussions, interviews with outside experts and contractors, and examination of the church building components, a plan of […]

Get Motivated Lights blazing away? This is a great time of the year to save money and reduce your personal carbon footprint by switching to LED light bulbs.  Even if you’ve been changing over to LEDs, take an inventory to see which bulbs you still need to replace.  Then go straight to your favorite hardware […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is pleased to participate in the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Reading Together 2020 by sponsoring a book discussion of Jonathon Saffron Foer’s We Are the Weather.   All are welcome to this discussion, whether you have read the book or not. Join us in Room L2 to learn about the […]

Presentation: “The Green New Deal” with Dr. Denise Keele Snacks will be available.  We’ll meet in Room 19.  

Climate Forum in 2020 The tide is rising, and so are we. The task is mighty, and so are we. The land is holy, and so are we. This is where we are called to be. —Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman and Yotam Schachter 2020 is going to be a year for climate action, a time […]

Alternative Giving 2019 This year you can resolve to have a greener, cheaper, more meaningful holiday season through alternative giving! Instead of just going to the mall and spending more than you should, create your own original presents, purchase green products that express your values, or make a donation in someone’s name. Use your imagination! […]

How are we both as individuals and a faith community called to respond to the reality of climate change?

A Climate of Change: Creating a Net-Zero Church, by Tom Hackley What is Net Zero? If oil company A, natural gas company B, and coal company C provide 100% of the energy needed to operate your home, you are using 100% carbon based energy, or Net 100.  But, if you can conserve 30% of your energy needs by […]

The Climate Strike Was Just the Beginning of Local Climate Action When a crowd of about 1,500 gathered at Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Festival Place on September 20, a number of People’s people were there to emphasize the need for significant and prompt action to combat climate change. There were inspiring and informative speakers, including several of […]

Help Available for Some with Lead-based Paint in their Homes Do you live in an older home? Do you have young children? Are you wondering whether you have lead-based paint in your home that may be putting your children at risk? The City of Kalamazoo has received a grant for lead-based paint hazard intervention. You […]

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) promotes wildlife habitats in many ways. One is through the Wildlife Habitat Certification Program. This involves the property owner surveying an area for elements that promote wildlife survival, such as sources of food, water, cover, and places animals could raise their young . The property owner also adds elements, if […]

Which grocery bag leaves the smallest carbon footprint on the planet?

By Allen Webb Join in on Kalamazoo Earth Day, Saturday April 20, noon to 5 pm in Bronson Park! Three years ago, myself and a group of people concerned about climate change decided to resurrect Earth Day in Kalamazoo and make it a fun and educational event where people could learn about the dangers facing […]

Using Food System Education to Promote Agroecology (a talk, with film clips), Sunday, March 24, 12:30 p.m. Join us in Room 19 at 12:30 pm on March 24 as Green Sanctuary presents Bruce Ferguson and Helda Morales discussing their work in agroecology at ECOSUR, a research center in Chiapas, Mexico. Using clips from their newly […]

On February 24, we will dig deeper into the growth of renewable energy generation with Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution.  Solar and wind energy installations have increased and costs have decreased dramatically over recent years. After the film, we will hold a discussion about the potential for solar energy in our church and community.

The Styrofoam collection was a big success! Next drop-off date will be March 23 so plan to bring materials to church March 10 and 17. The Green Sanctuary Committee is presenting an Environmental Film Series over the next few months. We start with Paris to Pittsburgh on January 27. This documentary describes exciting climate actions […]

Our Board of Trustees has adopted a new policy, the Land Management Plan for People’s Church. The introductory paragraph states our vision and the goal of the plan. The grounds surrounding People’s Church form an outdoor church space that is important for the religious life of the church members. Unitarian Universalism encourages people to recognize […]

Styrofoam Recycling! Just in time for the holidays, there is a new option for dealing with polystyrene (brand name Styrofoam). Cooper Township has opened their quarterly foam recycling program to people outside the township. They accept peanuts, packing materials (e.g. the foam that protects electronics during shipping), egg cartons, and food containers that have been […]

The Coffee Cart is Open Want an easy way to help you live your values? Make sure you buy and drink fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee. The coffee we sell and serve on Sundays is from Higher Grounds, a Michigan company that buys its beans from small farmer cooperatives thus helping them get a […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is sponsoring the Fall Clean-Up of 10th Street from West Main to H Street on Sunday, October 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Come and pick up trash along the road to help beautify our church neighborhood. A light lunch will be provided as well as materials needed […]

PFAS 101 New stories about PFAS contamination in Michigan seem to be in the news every week, so here is a brief introduction to the issue. PFAS is short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyls, a large collection of chemical compounds that repel moisture and resist heat. Two subgroups mentioned in news reports are PFOA and PFOS. […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee, along with the Michigan Nature Association, is sponsoring a hike through parts of the Palmer Sanctuary on Sunday, August 19. The hike will be led by a Michigan Nature Association naturalist, and is sure to be a great time. Following a bring-your-own sack lunch after the Sunday service, we will carpool […]

Help the Homeless While Recycling! St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on West Lovell Street in Kalamazoo has a very interesting social justice program called “Partners in Housing Transition.” It provides basic home furnishings for formerly homeless families after they have secured access to housing. They work with 11 partner agencies who provide referrals of families with […]

Citizenship Advocacy Opportunity: Changes to Michigan Environmental Policy The Michigan State Legislature is about to pass some bills that affect the Department of Environmental Quality’s ability to protect our environment. The House just passed bills creating an Environmental Rules and Review Committee and a permit appeal panel that would have authority over the DEQ. The […]

Sustainable Living with Building and Grounds The Building and Grounds crew at People’s Church continuously looks for ways to be good earth stewards while caring for our nearly fifty-year old church. Much of this work takes place behind the scenes and may not be obvious, but it is vital to our congregation’s efforts to live […]

As part of our commitment to the 7th principle—caring for all life—People’s Church worked through the process to become certified as a Green Sanctuary. Now there is another certification on the horizon! Within the next year, the church property will be certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. Green Sanctuary Committee […]

Update on Kalamazoo River Superfund Site The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the ”Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River site” as a Superfund Site in 1990. This site includes 80 miles of the Kalamazoo River from Morrow Dam to Lake Michigan and 3 miles of Portage Creek between Cork Street and the Kalamazoo River. The […]

Palmer Memorial Nature Sanctuary The Palmer Memorial Nature Sanctuary is maintained by the Michigan Nature Association (MNA), and is located west of Schoolcraft.  Its land was donated by the Palmer Family; Reverend Palmer was minister at People’s Church from 1934-1956.  This land provides a great place to hike, learn, and practice stewardship. A large part […]

How much risk should we take with the Great Lakes?  by guest author Rev. Deb Hansen When it comes to Enbridge’s Line 5, a broad section of businesses, local and tribal governments, organizations, editorial boards, and faith communities across the political spectrum are saying publicly — none.  As we’ve seen with lead in Flint’s drinking […]

Citizen Science—Join a Christmas Bird Count! Each December and early January, birders help record the numbers and species of birds in specific areas by participating in a Christmas Bird Count project that began in 1900. This information is compiled to give researchers an idea of how many birds there are and where they are. The […]

Alternative Giving This year you can resolve to have a greener, cheaper, more meaningful holiday season through alternative giving! Instead of just going to the mall and spending more than you should, be creative by creating your own original presents, purchasing green products that express your values, or making a donation in someone’s name. Here […]

We are planning to clean the trash from both sides of 10th Street from West Main (M43) to H Avenue after the service on Sunday, October 8. Your help is needed! A light lunch will be provided for volunteers. Bring a reflective vest and protective gloves if you have them. We will follow MDOT guidelines […]

Come along for a guided tour of the Palmer Memorial Nature Preserve on Saturday afternoon. John Bagley, of the Michigan Nature Association will lead us through this rare prairie fen ecosystem, home to 25 percent of the state’s endangered plants, animals, and insects. We will get a chance to see how the native fire-adapted plants […]

Environmental Stewardship and Activism By Cybelle Shattuck For people who care deeply about being in right relationship with nature, these are worrisome times. The foxes (climate deniers, fossil fuel CEOs) are in charge of the hen house and there are weekly stories about new threats to the environment. But all is not lost. As citizens, […]

Caring for Our Outdoor Church By Cybelle Shattuck This summer, the Green Sanctuary and Building and Grounds Committees are developing a land management plan for People’s Church. The grounds are a part of our church; they provide space for spiritual practices, religious education, remembering loved ones, and cultivating right relationships with animals, insects, and plants. […]

By Julia Kirkwood To Know Your Water Is to Love Your Water Michigan is blessed with water! MI is water rich.  You are within 5 miles of water anywhere in MI! Clichés about Michigan water but nevertheless true. By the numbers; MI is surrounded by 4 Great Lakes with 3,049 miles of shoreline, 10,000 inland […]

Earth Day. Spring. April Showers. They all prompt us to think about gardens. The daffodils and tulips are blooming. So are the forget-me-nots. Lilies, hostas, and other later blooming varieties are making their presence known. Where are the native plants? If you’re lucky you might have some blood root or Virginia bluebells blooming, but maybe […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is sponsoring a Spring Clean-Up of 10th Street from West Main to H Street on Sunday, April 30 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. All necessary gear and material will be provided along with the MDOT safety training video. Youth are encouraged to volunteer, but parental permission is required […]

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 7PM Schneider Hall, Room 2000, WMU Haworth College of Business Communities in Michigan are developing Climate Action Plans (CAPs), in which they assess the best ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that destabilize the global climate and plan ahead so they are ready to protect citizens from the effects of […]

Composting 101 Recap On Sunday, January 15, the Green Sanctuary Committee sponsored a composting workshop presented by Tomme Maile and Amy Newday.  About a dozen People’s people attended. Composting involves layering carbon sources (leaves and other brown, woody material); wet, fresh vegetable scraps; and dirt.  This helps the food scraps decompose, and results in rich […]

Composting 101 Recap On Sunday, January 15, the Green Sanctuary Committee sponsored a composting workshop presented by Tomme Maile and Amy Newday.  About a dozen People’s people attended. Composting involves layering carbon sources (leaves and other brown, woody material); wet, fresh vegetable scraps; and dirt.  This helps the food scraps decompose, and results in rich […]

Do you want to learn more about how to compost at home?  Green Sanctuary is presenting Tomme Maile, experienced composter indeed, in a workshop on January 15.  Plan to stay after church, enjoy the potluck and then come to Tomme’s workshop at 1 pm in Room 19.  You’ll get practical information and hands-on demonstrations to […]

Stewardship of Our Church Land Last year, a group of People’s people gathered to share visions for the use and care of our outdoor church home, the grounds surrounding our building. We discussed challenges such as lack of space for adding trees to the Memorial Garden, the children’s need for a large grassy area, […]

Please join the discussion about the future of our church lands. We are beginning the process of developing a Land Management Plan for the church grounds. It will outline short-term and long-term goals for care and use of the lands, with attention to enhancing use of our “outdoor church.” The Plan will build on […]

On September 25, the Green Sanctuary Committee had signature sheets at a table in the foyer to sign in a Letter of Support for the Standing Rock Sioux, and invited anybody who would like to participate to add their name. The tribe is protesting installation of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is being routed […]

Michigan’s Natural Wonders On July 10, a group of People’s people spent an afternoon exploring an extraordinary prairie fen ecosystem—and getting a bit muddy. Prairie fens like the Palmer Memorial Nature Sanctuary are particularly valuable areas for conservation because they comprise 0.01% of the land in Michigan, yet 26% of the state’s endangered, threatened, […]

By Sue Salvat As I write this, I await the arrival of the monarch butterflies on their journey north.  Last year I first saw them in my yard at the end of June, and that was the start of an amazing summer.  My neighbor and I had only four milkweed plants between us, but […]

People’s people and their friends are invited on a tour of the Edwin and Margarita Palmer Memorial Nature Sanctuary. This rare prairie fen is a haven for endangered plants and animals. Come experience the beauty of this special ecosystem on lands where Rev. Palmer spent his summers. Noon: Potluck salad lunch at the church […]

What About Our Water? The lead poisoning in Flint has increased people’s awareness of issues with water quality and quantity.  On April 16, the Kalamazoo Environmental Council hosted a discussion featuring John Paquin, Environmental Services Program Manager for the City of Kalamazoo; Duane Hampton, Associate Professor of Geosciences at WMU; and Pat Crowley, Kalamazoo […]

Ethical Eating for Omnivores By Pat Nelson and Bob Swicker Vegetarianism may be the “greenest” diet, but omnivores can also eat more sustainably. Triple benefits may accrue from considering how we buy our meat.  Buying local (1) helps the environment; (2) is healthier; and (3) offers options that are more humane than the incredibly […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is pleased to announce that we will be returning to 10th Street as our Adopt-A-Highway project this year. We will pick up roadside trash from People’s Church to West Main (M-43). If there are more than 8 volunteers, we will extend along 10th Street to the North […]

Click here for the Land Visioning notes from the January 24, 2016 gathering.

Stewardship of Our Outdoor Church Home On January 24, members of People’s Church gathered to discuss visions for the use and care of our outdoor church home. The gathering included members of committees that maintain our grounds and Memorial Garden as well as folks from Religious Education, Peace and Nature Camp, Green Sanctuary, Archives, […]

Please join the Green Sanctuary Committee for a day of stewardship in the beautiful prairie fen that once belonged to Rev. Edwin and Margarita Palmer. We will be trimming invasive buckthorn. Requirements: waterproof boots, ability to hike 1/4 mile over uneven ground, and a joyful spirit.  March 5, 10:00am-1:00pm (carpooling from People’s Church at […]

Responding to Climate Change In December 2015, representatives from 195 nations met in Paris for the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) and developed an international agreement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. After 20 years of effort, the world community finally reached an accord! This February, members of the Kalamazoo […]

Eating Seasonally in Kalamazoo By Aliisa Lahti One of my favorite ways to celebrate the cooling weather and changing of seasons is to bake whole sweet potatoes and halved squash to share with my family.  The house is warmed by the oven and that first taste of creamy, savory, sweet squash is so good […]

This year you can resolve to have a greener, cheaper, more meaningful holiday season through alternative giving! Instead of just going to the mall and spending too much, be creative by inventing your own original presents, purchasing green products that express your values, or making a donation in someone’s name. Here are some suggestions. […]

We will hold a brief Sunday service, followed by a service project. Please bring in any old computers to donate to computer literacy training.

People’s Church is conducting a trash clean-up on 10th Street between West Main Street and H Avenue. This event is expected to last from about 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 25. It will begin after the lunch that will be provided by the Green Sanctuary Committee. Participants must be […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s church is pleased to announce that we will continue our stewardship of 10th St. as our Adopt-A-Highway project. Our Autumn Road Clean-up will take place on Oct. 25. There will be a lunch for volunteers after the Sunday service and we’ll head out to the road at 12:30. […]

To become a Green Sanctuary, a church must complete two environmental justice projects. The Green Sanctuary Committee’s challenge was to explain the complex justice work at People’s Church. “Environmental justice” is the antithesis of injustice. The idea emerged in recognition that environmental benefits and burdens are unequal in the US. Some neighborhoods have parks and […]

The following is a letter from the UUA. Dear Connie and members and friends of People’s Church, It is my deep pleasure to tell you that your congregation has achieved Accreditation as a Green Sanctuary. Congratulations! Getting to this place requires so much dedication, skill and care which seem to abound in your community. […]

Winter snows have melted and it is time to tidy our church grounds. Please come share the joy of time outdoors working alongside friends. Bonus benefits: building friendships, putting down roots in the community, and a sense of accomplishment as our combined efforts beautify our church home. Tasks: mostly weeding and trimming. Most tools […]

With the Green Sanctuary Committee
The Green Sanctuary Committee will describe projects that have been undertaken to help the church be more environmentally sustainable.

Spring Adopt-A-Highway The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is pleased to announce that we will be returning to 10th Street as our Adopt-A-Highway project this year. Our tentative plan is to hold our first clean-up along 10th street from People’s Church to West Main (M-43) on Sunday, April 19. If there are more […]

People’s Church will be hosting a clean-up of 10th Street on Sunday, April 19.  Youth are encouraged to volunteer, but parental permission is required for those from 12 to 17 years old (see below).  Please let Cybelle Shattuck (scybelle@umich.edu) or Allan Hunt (hahunt@gmail.com) know if you can help out. Parental Permission […]

Spring Adopt-A-Highway The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is pleased to announce that we will be returning to 10th Street as our Adopt-A-Highway project this year. Our tentative plan is to hold our first clean-up along 10th street from People’s Church to West Main (M-43) on Sunday, April 19. If there are more than […]

UUs Commit2Respond to Climate Justice UUs played a big part in the People’s Climate March in New York last September 21, and the action continues. Climate Justice Month will be observed from March 22 to April 22, between World Water Day and Earth Day. Each week has a theme: reveling in connection with the […]

Stewardship of the environment is a deep-rooted value in the People’s Church community. Several ministers who have served our church knew that spending time in nature was important for restoring body and spirit. Each year, Caroline Bartlett Crane took refuge in a lakeside cottage to rest so she could persevere in her social work. And Rev. […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee invites you to stay after the service next week, on Feb. 8, to attend a presentation about the Edwin & Margaretta Palmer Memorial Sanctuary.  John Bagley, a representative of the Michigan Nature Association will be on hand to describe the rare plants, insects, and animals in this unique prairie fen nature […]

American homes use approximately 25 percent of all the energy consumed in the U.S. Natural gas prices remain low and heating oil and propane prices are dropping. Still, most of us can improve efficiency and reduce our heating costs with just a little attention to detail. As an additional benefit, using less energy also […]

People’s Church has renewed its membership in Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, a non-profit organization that works to help faith communities become better stewards of the earth. Its primary focus is on mitigating climate change through two key actions:   Helping faith communities reduce energy use in houses of worship and members’ homes Advocating […]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of People’s Church is delighted to announce that we are taking on 10th street as our Adopt-A-Highway project this year. Our tentative plan is to hold our first clean-up along 10th street from People’s Church to West Main (M-43) on Sunday, October 12 following the Second Sunday lunch (around 1:30). […]

Most of you know that the Kalamazoo River is a “superfund site” due to all the PCBs from the historical paper mills. This has also resulted in unsafe fish to eat as PCBs build up in the fat of fish. The PCBs then get transferred to whatever eats them. There are certain species of […]

When: Wednesday, April 9th 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Where: Western Michigan University – Southwest Campus, Bronco Room, 2785 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Featured Speaker: Dr. Steve Kohler Director of Environmental Studies Program at Western Michigan University (WMU) . He will talk about sustainable uses of freshwater, that is one of the […]