Creation Care

 

Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship is a congregational member of Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN).

MCCN encourages the Church to:

  • Claim its biblical and theological foundation regarding the care of God’s Creation.
  • Discover the ties that link all created beings to each other and to God.
  • Confess the harm we have caused the natural world and our neighbors.
  • Act faithfully to restore the earth.

Receive monthly E-Newsletters from MCCN.


Creation Care at Berkey

Did you know that since 2010 Berkey has done many things to care for creation in more responsible ways? Here’s a list:

Installed 26kw solar system: View solar production information.

                     

To save energy:

  • Insulated the floor under the sanctuary
  • Added insulation over the office areas
  • Purchased a more efficient refrigerator
  • Removed less efficient bulbs and replaced them with more efficient bulbs
  • Installed “smart” thermostats
  • Installed timer switches in the restrooms
  • Installed electronic ballasts for many fluorescent fixtures

Recycling:

  • Installed a metal roof over the sanctuary (which can be recycled, unlike asphalt)
  • Cardboard, cans, and bottles
  • Compost coffee grounds

Using our land well:

  • In 2009 we started a community garden.  Currently there are 27 plots.  Approximately 50 percent who have garden plots are occupied by non-Berkey attenders.
  • In 2016 planted a wildflower garden.

  • From 2013 to 2017 we raised and sold 500 pds. of potatoes per year raise money for Model School and MCC (2013-2017).

Education:

  • Held a summer intergenerational class related to creation
  • Taught the “Every Creature Singing” adult elective
  • Taught a series on the stewardship of creation for the MYF

Worship:

  • Used the “Creation Waits” worship series

Creation Care Congregational Survey: 2019 

Berkey identified the following priorities for Creation Care:

  • Continue to provide space for a community garden for attenders and Berkey neighbors
  • Continue to provide play space for children
  • Install additional solar panels to offset the burning of fossil fuels
  • Plant additional trees that would eventually become a wooded area
  • Create a memorial garden
  • Create outdoor spaces for meditation and worship
  • Install walking paths and trails

Congregational Action

  • August, 2021,the congregation approved a plan to raise money $150,000. for the creation of a columbarium, outdoor worship space, and a wooded area to go along with our community garden and our wildflower garden. (Image to right provided by Rafael Barahona.)

Tree Planting: April  15 &16, 2022 – (Good Friday and Saturday)

  • Thanks to generous grant by JoinTrees of Mennonite Men 100 volunteers, ages 4 to 84 participated in the planting of 700 trees.
  • To view a video of the planting click here. 
  • To view a list of trees planted and a profile of their personalities click here. 

By January 2023, StoneRidge Landscaping had completed the majority of the work of installing the memorial garden, columbarium and outdoor worship space.

Creation of a Labyrinth and Walking Paths

  • In June of 2023 Berkey members installed a labyrinth in the wildflower garden and created walking paths.