• St. Paul’s will encourage the protection and nurturing of the earth and all its living beings through relationships and activities that promote creation care.

  • • Increase St. Paul’s parishioners’ understanding of environmental issues and the number of parishioners actively working to address them.

    • Connect St. Paul’s parishioners with an interest in addressing environmental issues around projects that align with their interests.

    • Promote good stewardship of creation at St. Paul’s and reduce the congregation’s carbon footprint.

    o Looking at using compostable plates and cups

    • Promote programs that educate our community on how to better care for and protect our environment, such as:

    o Collaborating with TGIF to show and discuss the film Courage, Brains and Muscle: Our Environmental Champions

    o Hosting Lunch ‘N Learn Hannah Hensel and other speakers with expertise in addressing environmental issues

    o Coordinating a study addressing “The Bible and Creation Care.”

    • Connect St. Paul’s to other locally based Green organizations and coalitions to learn new ideas for our faith community .and share what we are doing

  • Meetings take place in the Roberts Library the first Sunday of each month, unless it is a holiday weekend. Dates for 2023 are as follows:

    October 1, 12:30 p.m.
    November 5, 12:30 p.m.
    December 3, 12:30 p.m.

    Co-Chairs: Mark Carpenter and Robyn Gibboney

    Staff Liaison: Dan Thompson

  • Goal: To provide St. Paul’s parishioners and local food pantries with fresh produce.

    • Started in spring 2022 with two 8 ft by 4 Ft raised garden plots next to the parish hall.

    • Supported by more than 20 parishioners.

    • Expanded the garden to four 8 Ft by 4 Ft raised beds in 2023

    o Tomatoes, peppers zucchini, squash, corn, kale, and egg plants

    • Produce being provided to the Boulevard Place St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at 42nd and Broadway.

    • Exploring whether to install bee boxes, planters for milkweed to attract monarch butterflies, and echinacea to attract bumblebees.

    • Anyone interested in participating should contact George Slenski.

  • Goal: To increase parishioners understanding of environmental issues and how people are working to address them.

    • Started in summer 2022 with discussion of Braiding Sweet Grass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer; led by George Slenski. Met outside at 9 a.m., prior to the 10 a.m. summer service.

    • Summer reading for 2023, The Book of Hope, by Jane Goodall, in summer 2023; led by Robyn and Ted Gibboney; meeting outside at 9:00, prior to the 10 a.m. summer service.

    • Suggestions of other books for groups to read are welcome. Please contact Ted Gibboney.

  • Goal: To encourage families to reduce their carbon footprint by working together.

    • Support the St. Paul’s community garden by watering and weeding.

    • Join the St. Paul’s green committee.

    • Plant your own garden.

    • Only plant native plants just ask your favorite garden store for advice.

    • Don’t use pesticides on your lawn only use organic fertilizers and materials that don’t harm bees and other beneficial insects.

    • Buy veggies and fruits at farmer’s markets and local food stands.

    • Use reusable bags to eliminate plastic bags.

    • Sign-up for the green power option through AES.

    • Recycle, and learn what items to recycle.

    • Join Friends of the White River.

    • Build a composting bin for your green waste or signup for Green Composting Indy to pick up your green waste.

    • Replace any light bulbs with LEDs.

    • Buy only cage free eggs.

    • Limit eating beef and pork and try to buy from local farms.